OS/2 and the Mainframe

The IBM Mainframe, also known as S/390 or zSeries has some relationship with OS/2. Some mainframes came with IBM Thinkpad laptop or PC with OS/2 Warp (Warp 3, Warp 4 and even Warp Server for e-business). This PC has a connectivity to the mainframe and included an OS/2 software to administrate some functions of the mainframe hardware. That software was called Support Element (SE) for OS/2.

OS/2 does multiple different things for mainframes, depending on what model the mainframe is. The common thing is OS/2 running on a ThinkPad as what is called a "Support Element". P/390(-E) / Integrated Server / MP3000* use OS/2 for device emulation. The MP3000 uses OS/2 as both emulation for some devices and double duty as a Support Element like role for non-emulated hardware. The MP3000 is a hybrid crossing from pure emulation to real hardware. OS/2 on the SEs is to run configuration / management programs specific to the mainframe hardware. OS/2 Warp usually runs on a standard PC with a PCI slot for the P/390-E card. You have to install the P/390-E program (6 disks) / diagnostic (1 disk) / LIC (µ code) (1 disk) diskettes to be able to use the P/390-E card.

The last machines to use OS/2 for"Support Element" was the z990 and z890. z9 and later models switched to Linux.

Known mainframes with OS/2 relation

 * Multiprise 3000
 * z990
 * IBM eServer zSeries 890

Hardware

 * IBM PC Server System/390 or P/390

Mainframe relates Software that Runs on OS/2

 * Support Element
 * P/390 Tool
 * Open Systems Adapter/Support Facility (OSA/SF)

Links

 * Arca Noae's "S/390 Backup Facility based on ArcaOS"

Acknowledgement

 * @DrScriptt / @jrSYSPROG . Grant Taylor