【Fujitsu】FUJITSU GS8800 Model Group

Fujitsu announced a new high-end model group for its GS8000 (global server) series in January 1998. This was the first time standard CMOS processors were used in ultra-large Fujitsu mainframe computers. On a single CPU basis, the GS8800 models outperformed the previous ultra-large GS8600 models by 1.8 times, and the flagship 12-CPU model outperformed its counterpart by about 2.3 times. With the addition of the GS8800 model group, the GS8000 series covered a 3,400-fold performance range.

Features of the GS8800 model group:

(1)Employed the latest CMOS*1 technology (0.25 micron process)
On a single CPU basis, CMOS technology achieved about 1.5 times the performance of the M-1900, Fujitsu’s top model with ECL*2 technology.
(2)Achieved 12-CPU TCMP*3 with advanced high-density mounting technologies such as MCM*4 and system boards.
(3)Greater scalability with paralleling SCMP*5 technology
With models expandable up to eight-node clusters, this model group covered a 23-fold performance range.
(4)Models needed only a third of the previous models’ installation space, and the new OCLINK*6 station (F9160B) was expandable to as many as 240 connection ports.
*1. CMOS: Complementary metal oxide semiconductor.
*2. ECL: Emitter coupled logic.
*3. TCMP: Tightly coupled multiprocessing
*4. MCM: Multichip module. A module that mounts multiple LSI chips on a thin-film ceramic substrate.
*5. SCMP: SSU-Coupled Multiprocessors. SSU: System storage unit.
A parallel-processing methodology first provided with the M-1800 model group (1990).
*6. OCLINK: Optical channel link.
Fujitsu’s own storage-connection interface standard for high-speed data transfers between global servers and storage units. The standard’s maximum transfer speed was 17 MB/s.

Fujitsu announced the even more advanced GS8900 model group, consisting of 12 models, in October 1999. The GS8900 group featured 0.18-micron CMOS technology, faster single CPU performance (about 1.5 times better than existing models), and scalability up to 16 CPUs in a TCMP configuration. Performance exceeded 2,000 MIPS in the 16-CPU configuration.

FUJITSU GS8800 model group (single-cluster models) specifications
Model name 10A 20AS 20A 30A 40A 40B 60B 80B 100B 120B 120T
Introduced May 1998 January 1998 February 1999
Relative performance*1 3.0 4.2 5.4 7.7 9.8 14.8 20.3 25.6 30.2 34.0 38.9
No. of CPUs 1 2 3 4 6 8 10 12
Main memory capacity 512MB
- 8GB
1GB
- 8GB
1GB
- 16GB
System memory capacity 5124MB - 16GB
Channels 16 - 256

Model name 10P 10Q 10R 10S 10 20S 20 60A 80A 100A 120A
Introduced *2 May 1998 January 1998
Relative performance*1 1 1.3 1.7 2.3 3.0 4.2 5.4 13.5 17.2 19.9 22.4
No. of CPUs 1 2 6 8 10 12
Main memory capacity 256MB
- 4GB
256MB
- 8GB
512MB
- 8GB
1GB
- 16GB
System memory capacity 5124MB - 16GB 5124MB - 16GB
Channels 16 - 128 16 - 256

*1. Taking the performance of the GS8800/10P as the baseline.
*2. This model was not announced in May 1998 but went on sale in October 1998. Models 60A through 120A (shaded area above) were replaced by models 60B through 120B in February 1999.


FUJITSU GS8800 model group (multi-cluster models) specifications
Model name 200 300 400 500 600 700 800
Introduced January 1998
No. of clusters 2 3 4 5 6 7 8
No. of CPUs 1 - 12/cluster
System memory capacity 512MB - 16GB (dual redundancy and quad redundancy optional)
Cluster connection units 2 (redundant architecture standard)

Model name 900 1000 1100 1200 1300 1400 1500 1600
Introduced February 1999
No. of clusters 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
No. of CPUs 1 - 12/cluster
System memory capacity 512MB - 16GB(dual redundancy and quad redundancy optional)
Cluster connection units 2 (redundant architecture standard)

The specifications above were correct at the time the products were announced. Some specifications were later revised due to product upgrades.


  
FUJITSU GS8800
A multi-cluster configuration is shown