OS/2 and the Mainframe
The IBM Mainframe, also known as S/390 or zSeries has some relationship with OS/2. Some IBM 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". 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.
The last machines to use OS/2 for"Support Element" was the z990 and z890. z9 and later models switched to Linux.
The P/390(-E) / Integrated Server / MP3000* use OS/2 for device emulation. 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.
Known mainframes with OS/2 relation
Hardware
- IBM PC Server System/390 or P/390 [1]
Mainframe relates Software that Runs on OS/2
- Support Element
- P/390 Tool
- Open Systems Adapter/Support Facility (OSA/SF) (Java 1.6)
Links
Acknowledgement
- @DrScriptt / @jrSYSPROG . Grant Taylor