HiperSocket
Encyclopedia
HiperSockets is an IBM
technology for high-speed communications between partitions on a server with a hypervisor
. The term is most commonly associated with zSeries
, System z9
and System z10 mainframes which can provide in-memory TCP/IP connections between and among LPAR
s running several different operating systems, including z/OS
, z/VM
, and Linux on zSeries.
Although applications perceive no functional differences, HiperSockets require less processing overhead on either side of the connections, improving performance. Since they are memory-based they operate at memory speeds, reducing network latency and improving end-user performance, especially for complex applications which would otherwise require multiple network hops to fulfill requests. HiperSockets also provide security benefits, especially on the memory key-protected mainframe, even without encryption, because there is no opportunity to intercept a network connection. Moreover, HiperSockets improve reliability and availability because there are no network hubs, routers, adapters, or wires to break.
The main disadvantage to HiperSockets is that they can only exist within a single physical system, so they are not applicable between and among physical systems. Server consolidation can help more applications use HiperSockets.
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
technology for high-speed communications between partitions on a server with a hypervisor
Hypervisor
In computing, a hypervisor, also called virtual machine manager , is one of many hardware virtualization techniques that allow multiple operating systems, termed guests, to run concurrently on a host computer. It is so named because it is conceptually one level higher than a supervisory program...
. The term is most commonly associated with zSeries
ZSeries
IBM System z, or earlier IBM eServer zSeries, is a brand name designated by IBM to all its mainframe computers.In 2000, IBM rebranded the existing System/390 to IBM eServer zSeries with the e depicted in IBM's red trademarked symbol, but because no specific machine names were changed for...
, System z9
System z9
IBM System z9 is a line of IBM mainframe. It was announced on July 25, 2005 and the first models were available on September 16, 2005. The System z9 also marks the end of the previously used eServer zSeries naming convention, and it is the last z/Architecture 1 machine.- Background :System z9 is a...
and System z10 mainframes which can provide in-memory TCP/IP connections between and among LPAR
LPAR
A logical partition, commonly called an LPAR, is a subset of computer's hardware resources, virtualized as a separate computer. In effect, a physical machine can be partitioned into multiple logical partitions, each hosting a separate operating system....
s running several different operating systems, including z/OS
Z/OS
z/OS is a 64-bit operating system for mainframe computers, produced by IBM. It derives from and is the successor to OS/390, which in turn followed a string of MVS versions.Starting with earliest:*OS/VS2 Release 2 through Release 3.8...
, z/VM
Z/VM
z/VM is the current version in IBM's VM family of virtual machine operating systems. z/VM was first released in October 2000 and remains in active use and development . It is directly based on technology and concepts dating back to the 1960s, with IBM's CP/CMS on the IBM System/360-67...
, and Linux on zSeries.
Although applications perceive no functional differences, HiperSockets require less processing overhead on either side of the connections, improving performance. Since they are memory-based they operate at memory speeds, reducing network latency and improving end-user performance, especially for complex applications which would otherwise require multiple network hops to fulfill requests. HiperSockets also provide security benefits, especially on the memory key-protected mainframe, even without encryption, because there is no opportunity to intercept a network connection. Moreover, HiperSockets improve reliability and availability because there are no network hubs, routers, adapters, or wires to break.
The main disadvantage to HiperSockets is that they can only exist within a single physical system, so they are not applicable between and among physical systems. Server consolidation can help more applications use HiperSockets.
External links
- [ftp://public.dhe.ibm.com/common/ssi/pm/sp/n/zsd03016usen/ZSD03016USEN.PDF IBM eServer zSeries HiperSockets]
- HiperSockets Implementation Guide - IBM Redbooks