The IBM eServer z990 advances mainframe computing into the era of e-business on demand. The preceding zSeries generation delivered improvements in performance and flexibility to meet the needs of e-business. With a new system design structure, the z990 equips customers with the greater versatility required for the more rigorous challenges of the on-demand era.

Many of the architecture limitations and system constraints that persisted for two decades have now been dramatically reduced or eliminated. The nodal structure of the z990 makes it possible for system configurations to give each customer an entirely new range of capacity growth on a single system. The addition of multiple logical channel subsystems enables customers to readily accommodate the new workloads characteristic of on-demand environments.

The z990 was created by a superb worldwide development team, and the program was marked by great innovation and collaboration that will carry forward into many other projects. The ultimate validation of all our efforts comes from the marketplace, and the response to date indicates that customers both recognize and appreciate the results of this work.

Michael A. Desens Vice President Systems Hardware Development IBM Systems and Technology Group