
Chapter 2. Mainframe hardware systems 51
a special instruction (SIGP, for Signal Processor). Again, this is typically used
only for error recovery.
2.6 Disk devices
IBM 3390 disk drives are commonly used on current mainframes. Conceptually,
this is a simple arrangement, as shown in Figure 2-7.
Figure 2-7 Initial IBM 3390 disk implementation
The associated control unit (3990) typically has four channels connected to one
or more processors (probably with a switch), and the 3390 unit typically has eight
or more disk drives. Each disk drive has the characteristics explained earlier.
This illustration shows 3990 and 3390 units, and it also represents ...