1990s line of RISC servers and workstations from IBM
The RISC System/6000 (RS/6000 ) is a family of RISC -based Unix servers , workstations and supercomputers made by IBM in the 1990s. The RS/6000 family replaced the IBM RT PC computer platform in February 1990 and is the first computer line to see the use of IBM's POWER and PowerPC based microprocessors. In October 2000, the RS/6000 brand was retired for POWER-based servers and replaced by the eServer pSeries . Workstations continued under the RS/6000 brand until 2002, when new POWER-based workstations were released under the IntelliStation POWER brand.
AIX RS/6000 servers running ibm.com in early 1998 The first RS/6000 models used the Micro Channel bus, later models used PCI . Some later models conformed to the PReP and CHRP standard platforms, which were co-developed with Apple and Motorola , with Open Firmware . The plan was to enable the RS/6000 to run multiple operating systems such as Windows NT , NetWare , OS/2 , Solaris , Taligent , AIX and Mac OS but in the end only IBM's Unix variant AIX was used and supported on RS/6000. Linux is widely used on CHRP based RS/6000s, but support was added after the RS/6000 name was changed to eServer pSeries in 2000.
The RS/6000 family also included the POWERserver servers, POWERstation workstations and Scalable POWERparallel supercomputer platform. While most machines were desktops, desksides, or rack-mounted, there were laptop models too. Famous RS/6000s include the PowerPC 604e -based Deep Blue supercomputer that beat world champion Garry Kasparov at chess in 1997, and the POWER3 -based ASCI White which was the fastest supercomputer in the world during 2000–2002.
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Many RS/6000 and subsequent pSeries machines came with a service processor, which booted itself when power was applied and continuously ran its own firmware, independent of the operating system. The service processor could call a phone number (via a modem) in case of serious failure with the machine.[ 1] Early advertisements and documentation called the service processor "System Guard",[ 2] (or SystemGuard[ 3] ) although this name was apparently dropped later on, roughly around the same time that the simplified RS/6000 name was adopted for the computer line itself.
Late in the RS/6000 cycle, the service processor was "converged" with the one used on the AS/400 machines.[ 4]
POWER machines typically ran AIX . Solaris, OS/2 and Windows NT were also ported to PowerPC. Later Linux was also used.
Some AIX systems support IBM Web-based System Manager .
Some models were marketed under the RS/6000 POWERstation and POWERserver names.
Micro Channel-based lines [ edit ] The early lines were based on an IBM proprietary Micro Channel architecture ; the same architecture that was used in the high end PS/2 x86 desktop line. MCA-based lines were produced until 1999.
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced[ 5] Discontinued[ 5] 41T PowerPC 601 80 0 or 512 KB 16 to 256 MB Desktop 1994-06-03[ 6] 1997-01-10[ 6] 41W 1997-07-18[ 7] 42T PowerPC 604 120 0 or 512 KB Up to 256 MB Desktop 1995-06-19[ 8] [ 9] 1997-09-24[ 8] [ 9] 42W
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued M20 POWER1 33 none 16 to 64 MB All-in-one 1993-02-02 1995-01-06 M2A [ 10] POWER1 33 none 16 to 64 MB All-in-one 1993-02-02 1994-10-26
These workstations were marketed under the PowerStation name.
RS/6000 C10 small server Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued C10 PowerPC 601 80 0 or 1 MB 16 to 256 MB Desktop 1994-05-24 1997-07-18 C1L ? ? ? ? ? ? ? C20 PowerPC 604 120 1 MB 16 to 256 MB Desktop 1995-06-19 1998-01-30
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued 150 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 160 PowerPC 603 66 ? 8 MB Xstation ? ? 220 PowerPC 604 120 ? 32 MB ? ? ?
This type was for Xstations, IBM's line of X terminal .
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced[ 5] Discontinued[ 5] 220 RSC 33 none ? Slimline Desktop 1992-01-21 1995-01-06 22G ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 22W POWER1 33 none Up to 64 MB ? 1993-09-21 1996-10-25 223 ? ? ? Up to 64 MB ? ? ? 230 RSC 45 128 KB ? Slimline Desktop 1993-05-18 1995-01-06 23E ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 23S POWER1 45 none ? ? 1993-05-18 1994-10-26 23T POWER1 45 none Up to 64 MB ? 1993-05-18 1994-10-26 23W POWER1 45 none Up to 64 MB ? 1993-05-18 1994-10-26 250 PowerPC 601 66/80 [ 11] none 16 to 256 MB Slimline Desktop 1993-09-21 1997-07-18 25E PowerPC 601 66 ? 16 to 256 MB Planar upgrade (for 220 and 230 families) ? ? 25F PowerPC 601 80[ 12] ? 16 to 256 MB Planar upgrade (for 220, 230, and 66 MHz 250 families) ? ? 25S PowerPC 601 66/80 ? Up to 256 MB ? 1993-09-21 1996-10-25 25T PowerPC 601 66/80 ? Up to 256 MB ? 1993-09-21 1997-07-18 25W PowerPC 601 66/80 ? Up to 256 MB ? 1993-09-21 1996-10-25
RS/6000 type 7012-320 Type 7030 servers (model 3BT) Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced[ 5] Discontinued[ 5] Type 7012 320 POWER1 20 none 8 to 32 MB Desktop 1990-02-15 1992-10-28 32E ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 32T POWER1 20 none 8 to 64 MB Tower ? 1992-10-28 32H POWER1 25 none Up to 128 MB Desktop 1991-03-12 1994-10-26 340 POWER1 33 none Up to 256 MB Desktop 1992-01-21 1994-11-04 34H POWER1 41.6 none Up to 256 MB Desktop 1993-07-13 1994-10-26 34L ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 34R ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 350 POWER1 41 none Up to 128 MB Desktop 1992-01-21 1993-08-18 355 POWER1 41 none ? ? 1993-02-02 1994-10-26 35R ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 360 POWER1+ 50 none Up to 256 MB Desktop 1993-02-02 1994-11-04 365 POWER1+ 50 none Up to 128 MB Desktop 1993-02-02 1994-10-26 36T POWER1+ 50 none Up to 256 MB ? 1993-05-18 1994-10-26 370 POWER1++ 62.5 none Up to 256 MB ? 1993-02-02 1996-05-20 375 POWER1++ 62.5 none Up to 128 MB ? 1993-02-02 1994-10-26 37T POWER1++ 62.5 none Up to 256 MB ? 1993-05-18 1996-05-20 380 POWER2+ 59 none/0.5/1 MB 32 to 512 MB Desktop 1994-05-24 1996-05-20 390 POWER2+ 67 1 MB 32 to 512 MB Desktop 1994-05-24 1997-07-18 397 P2SC 160 ? 128 to 1024 MB Desktop 1997-10-06 1999-03-19 39H POWER2 67 none/1/2 MB[ 13] 64 to 512 MB Desktop 1995-02-07 1998-01-30 39T ? ? ? ? ? ? ? G02 ? ? ? ? Tower ? ? G30 PowerPC 601 (2 or 4) 75 ? 32 to 512 MB Tower[ 12] 1994-10-04 1996-10-23 G40 PowerPC 604 (2 or 4) 112 0.5 MB per CPU[ 14] 64 MB to 1 GB Tower 1996-07-23 1998-01-08 type 7030 355 POWER1 41 ? ? ? ? ? 375 POWER1++ 62.5 ? ? ? ? ? 37T ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 397 P2SC 160 ? ? Desktop 1997-10-06 1999-01-19 3AT POWER2+ 59 none 32 to 512 MB Desktop 1994-05-24 1997-01-10 3BT POWER2+ 67 0.5 or 1 MB 32 to 512 MB Desktop 1994-05-24 1998-01-08 3CT POWER2 67 none/1/2 MB[ 15] 64 to 512 MB Desktop 1995-02-07 1998-01-08
The 380, 390, and 39H servers correspond to the 3AT, 3BT, and 3CT workstations.
Early RS/6000 7013 RS/6000 7013 J-series The 7016-730 model was a version of 7013-530 model, but with licensed by Silicon Graphics graphics card.[ 16]
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced[ 5] Discontinued[ 5] Type 7013 520 POWER1 20 none 8 to 128 MB Deskside 1990-02-15 1992-04-21 52E ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 52H POWER1 25 none Up to 512 MB Deskside 1992-01-21 1995-01-06 530 POWER1 25 none 16 to 128 MB Deskside 1990-02-15 1992-01-02 53H POWER1 33 none 32 to 512 MB HD3 (33 MHz) Deskside 1991-10-02 1993-08-18 53E POWER1 [ 17] 33 none 32 to 512 MB HD3 (33 MHz) Deskside 1992-01-21 ? 540 POWER1 30 none 64 to 256 MB Deskside 1990-02-15 1992-01-02 550 POWER1 41.6 none 64 MB to 1 GB Deskside 1990-10-30 1993-08-18 55E ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 55L POWER1 41.6 none Up to 256 MB Deskside 1993-05-18 1994-10-26 55S ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 560 POWER1+ 50 none Up to 1 GB Deskside 1992-01-21 1993-12-21 56F ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 570 POWER1+ 50 none Up to 1 GB Deskside 1993-02-02 1996-05-20 571 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 57F ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 57L ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 580 POWER1++ 62.5 none 64 MB to 1 GB Deskside 1992-09-22 1996-05-20 58F POWER1++ [ 18] 62.5 none 64 MB to 1 GB Deskside 1992-11-27 ? 58H POWER2 55.6 none 64 MB to 2 GB Deskside 1993-09-21 1996-10-25 590 POWER2 66.7 none 64 MB to 2 GB Deskside 1993-09-21 1997-09-24 591 POWER2 77 none 64 MB to 2 GB Deskside 1995-07-25 1997-07-18 595 P2SC 135 none 64 MB to 2 GB Deskside 1996-10-08 1999-01-08 59H POWER2+ 66.7 1 MB 64 MB to 2 GB Deskside 1994-05-24 1997-01-10 J01 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? J30 PowerPC 601 (2 or 4) 75 ? 128 MB to 2 GB Deskside 1994-10-04 1996-10-23 J40 PowerPC 604 (2 to 8) 112 1 MB 128 MB to 2 GB Deskside 1996-08-30 1998-01-08 J50 PowerPC 604e (2 to 8) 200 ? ? Deskside 1997-04-30 1999-01-08 Type 7016 730 POWER1 25 none 16 to 128 MB Deskside 1990 ? 731 ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Uses a IBM 9309 Rack Enclosure; this a first generation RS/6000 server running AIX. These units were configured by IBM as experimental "NSS" ("Network Switching Subsystem") routers, and used on the NSFnet T3 backbone in the early/mid-90s.
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced[ 5] Discontinued[ 5] 920 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 930 POWER1 25 none 16 to 128 MB Rack tower 1990-02-15 1992-07-15 950 POWER1 41 ? Up to 512 MB Rack tower 1991-05-07 1993-12-21 95E ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 960 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 970 POWER1+ 50 ? Up to 1 GB Rack tower 1992-04-21 1993-08-18 97B POWER1+ 50 ? ? Rack tower 1993-02-02 1995-01-06 97E ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 97F ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 980 POWER1++ 62.5 none Up to 1 GB Rack tower 1992-09-22 1993-08-18 98B POWER1++ 62.5 ? ? Rack tower 1993-02-02 1996-05-20 98E ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 98F ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 990 POWER2 71.5 none 128 MB to 2 GB Rack tower 1993-09-21 1996-05-20 99E ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 99F ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 99J ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 99K ? ? ? ? ? ? ? R10 POWER1+ 50 none 128 MB to 1 GB 6U racks 1994-05-24 1996-05-20 R20 POWER2+ 66 1 MB 128 MB to 2 GB 6U racks 1994-05-24 1998-01-30 R21 POWER2 77 ? ? 6U racks 1995-07-25 1996-10-25 R24 POWER2+ 71.5 2 MB 128 MB to 2 GB 10U racks 1994-05-24 1998-01-30 R30 PowerPC 601 (2 or 4) 75 ? 128 MB to 2 GB 6U racks 1994-10-04 1996-10-23 R40 PowerPC 604 (2 to 8) 112 ? 128 MB to 2 GB 6U racks 1996-07-23 1998-01-08 R4U ? ? ? ? ? ? ? R50 PowerPC 604e (2 to 8) 200 ? Up to 4 GB 6U racks 1997-04-15 2000-08-15 R5U ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Produced since 1994 until the time were the RS/6000 line was rebranded to System P.
Model CPU # of CPUs MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued S70 RS64 4, 8 or 12 125 ? ? 2+ racks 1997-10-31 1999-12-13 RS64-II 262 ? ? 1998-10-05 S7A RS64-II 4 to 12 262 8 MB 1 to 32 GB 2+ racks 1998-10-23 2000-12-01 S80 RS64-III [ 19] 6 to 24 450[ 19] 8 MB[ 19] 2 to 64 GB[ 19] 2+ racks[ 19] 1999-09-24 2001-08-31 S85 RS64-III / IV 4 to 24 450/600 8/16 MB 2 to 96 GB Racks 2000-11-17 ?
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued 0U0 PowerPC 601 66 ? ? Desktop 1994-10-04 1996-01-19 40P[ 20] PowerPC 601 66 ? 16 to 192 MB Desktop ? ? B1B PowerPC 601 66 ? ? Desktop 1994-10-04 1996-01-19 B1C PowerPC 601 66 ? ? Desktop 1994-10-04 1996-01-19 D1D PowerPC 601 66 ? ? Desktop 1994-10-04 1996-01-19 D2D PowerPC 601 66 ? ? Desktop 1994-10-04 1996-01-19 D4E ? ? ? ? Desktop 1995-02-07 1996-01-19 SPE PowerPC 601 66 ? ? Desktop 1994-10-04 1996-01-19
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued E20 PowerPC 604 100/133 512 KB 16 to 512 MB Tower 1995-10-10 1997-07-18 PowerPC 604e 233 1997-04-?? ? E30 PowerPC 604 133/166 ? 64 to 1024 MB Tower 1996-04-23 1999-03-19 PowerPC 604e 233 1997-04-?? 1999-03-19
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued F30 PowerPC 604 133/166 ? Up to 1 GB Tower 1996-02-20 1998-01-08 F40 PowerPC 604e (1 or 2) 166/233 ? Up to 1 GB Tower 1996-10-08 2000-05-08 F50 PowerPC 604e (1 to 4) 166/332 256 KB 128 MB to 3 GB Tower 1997-04-25[ 21] 2001-07-17[ 21] F80 [ 22] RS64-III (1 to 6) 450/500 2/4 MB (SMP) 8/16 GB (SMP) Deskside[ 22] 2000-05-09 2001-07-13 F85 ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
An H70 Enterprise Server rack, 2001 Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued H10 PowerPC 604e (1 or 2) 166/233 ? Up to 1 GB 7U racks 1997-02-14 1998-02-27 H50 PowerPC 604e (1 to 4) 332 ? Up to 3 GB 8U racks 1998-02-20 2000-12-01 H70 RS64-II (1 to 4) 340 ? Up to 8 GB 8U racks 1999-04-23 2001-07-17 H80 RS64-III/IV (1 to 6) 450/500 ? Up to 16 GB 5U racks 2000-06-09 2001-07-13 M80 RS64-III/IV (2 to 8) 500/750 ? ? 8U racks 2000-06-09 2002-01-31 B80 ? ? ? ? 5U racks ? ?
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued Type 7248 43P PowerPC 604 100/120/132/166[ 23] 256/512 KB 16 to 192 MB Desktop 1995-06-19 1997-07-18 Type 7043 43P-140 PowerPC 604e 166/200/233/332 1 MB 32 to 768 MB Desktop 1996-10-08 2000-12-01 43P-150 PowerPC 604e 250/375 1 MB 64 MB to 1 GB Desktop 1998-10-05 2003-12-12 43P-240 PowerPC 604e (1 or 2) 166/233 512 KB/1 MB per CPU[ 24] 64 MB to 1 GB Desktop 1996-10-08 1999-03-19 43P-260 POWER3 (1 or 2) 200 4 MB per CPU 128 MB to 4 GB Tower 1998-10-05 2000-12-01 43P-270[ 25] [ 26] POWER3-II (up to 4) 200/375/450 4/8 MB per CPU up to 8 GB Tower 2000-02-25 2003-09-12
IBM RS6000 44P: model 170 and model 270
Dual 375 MHz IBM POWER3-II processors on the CPU module of a RS/6000 44P 270 Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued 44P-170 POWER3-II 333/400/450 1/4/8 MB 256 MB to 2 GB Tower 2000-02-07 2003-12-12 44P-270[ 27] POWER3-II (Up to 4) 375/450 4/8 MB 256 MB to 16 GB Tower 2000-02-07 2003-09-12
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued B50 PowerPC 604e 375 1 MB Up to 1 GB 2U racks 1999-09-13 2003-09-12
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued F3L[ 28] PowerPC 604 133 512 KB 32 to 960 MB 17U racks 1996-10-08 1999-12-13 PowerPC 604e 166 1 MB 32 MB to 1 GB 233 512 KB
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued N40 PowerPC 601 50 ? 16 to 64 MB[ 29] Laptop 1994-03-08 1997-06-30
The Model N40 was a PowerPC-based laptop developed and manufactured by Tadpole Technology in conjunction with IBM.[ 30] It was released on 25 March 1994, priced at US$12,000. The internal batteries could power the system for 45 minutes only and an external battery pack that lasted for 4 hours was available for this reason.[ 31]
Model CPU MHz L2/L3 Cache Memory Enclosure Introduced Discontinued 851 PowerPC 603e 100 256 KB 32 to 96 MB Laptop 1996-02-20 1996-11-08 860[ 32] PowerPC 603e 166 256 KB 32 to 96 MB Laptop 1996-10-08 1998-01-30
Preceded by IBM RS/6000 1990 - 2000 Succeeded by
^ RS/6000 Enterprise Server Model M80, Eserver pSeries 660 Model 6M1. Service Guide , p. 69 ^ IDG Enterprise (3 April 1995). Computerworld . IDG Enterprise. p. 61. ISSN 0010-4841 . ^ IBM RISC System/6000 SMP Servers Architecture and Implementation (PDF) . IBM. November 1995. SG24-2583-00. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2 February 2015. ^ "REDP0195.book" (PDF) . Csee.umbc.edu . Retrieved 10 September 2016 . ^ a b c d e f g h i j "RS/6000 Machine Type Models" . Archive.rootvg.net . Archived from the original on 11 October 2013. Retrieved 2016-09-10 . ^ a b "7006-41T IBM RS/6000 Model 41T" . www-01.ibm.com . 14 September 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2020 . ^ "7006-41W IBM RS/6000 Model 41W" . www-01.ibm.com . 14 September 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2020 . ^ a b "7006-42T IBM RS/6000 Workstation Model 42T" . www-01.ibm.com . 14 September 2010. Retrieved 13 December 2020 . ^ a b "7006-42W IBM RS/6000 Workstation Model 42W" . www-01.ibm.com . 8 December 2020. Retrieved 13 December 2020 . ^ "Powerstation * 16MB, Graphics, 33MHz, desktop, S.Hem" . 01.ibm.com . Retrieved 10 September 2016 . ^ "7011-250 IBM RS/6000 Model 250" . 01.ibm.com . Retrieved 10 September 2016 . ^ a b "How can I get the clock speed of an AIX machine? (Text of DW7410)" . Sdsc.edu . Archived from the original on 21 May 2013. Retrieved 2016-09-10 . ^ "7012-39H IBM RS/6000 Model 39H" . 01.ibm.com . Retrieved 10 September 2016 . ^ "7012-G40 IBM RS/6000 Enterprise Server Model G40" . www-01.ibm.com . 11 February 2015. Retrieved 4 January 2021 . ^ "7030-3CT IBM RS/6000 Model 3CT" . 01.ibm.com . Retrieved 10 September 2016 . ^ Name (15 February 1990). "IBM'S RS/6000 ANNOUNCEMENTS" . Tech Monitor . Retrieved 17 October 2021 . ^ Model 53E is a special designation for Models 520 and 52H converted to 53H functionality (33 MHz Processor and 33 MHz memory) as on-site upgrade. See US Announcement Letter 192-005 Archived 7 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine ^ Model 58F is a special designation for Models 530H, 550 and 560 converted to Model 580 functionality (62.5 MHz Processor) as on-site upgrade. See US Announcement Letter C92-016 Archived 7 October 2012 at the Wayback Machine ^ a b c d e The RS/6000 Enterprise Server Model S80 Technology and Architecture. IBM. ^ "IBM RISC SYSTEM/6000 MODEL 40P ENTRY WORKSTATION" . www.ibm.com . 4 October 1994. Retrieved 17 October 2021 . ^ a b "7025-F50 IBM RS/6000 Server Model F50" . 01.ibm.com . Archived from the original on 7 October 2012. Retrieved 2016-09-10 . ^ a b Stephen Lutz; Shyam Manohar; Scott Vetter (9 May 2000). "RS/6000 7025 Model F80 Technical Overview and Introduction" (PDF) . IBM. Archived from the original (PDF) on 17 June 2011. ^ "EMEA - IBM RS/6000 43P Series Model 132" . 01.ibm.com . 5 October 2004. Retrieved 10 September 2016 . ^ "7043-240 IBM RS/6000 43P Model 240" . 01.ibm.com . Retrieved 10 September 2016 . ^ "7043-270 IBM RS/6000 7043 Model 270" . 01.ibm.com . Retrieved 10 September 2016 . ^ "Workstation/Entry Server * Power3 II 375MHz, 1-4way SMP, 256MB" . 01.ibm.com . Retrieved 10 September 2016 . ^ "7044-270 IBM RS/6000 Model 270" . 01.ibm.com . 7 June 2016. Retrieved 10 September 2016 . ^ "7317-F3L IBM RS/6000 Telecommunications Server Model F3L" . 01.ibm.com . Retrieved 10 September 2016 . ^ "7007-N40" . Archived from the original on 13 July 2011. ^ Nadel, Brian (31 May 1994). "RISC Workstations on the Go" . PC Magazine . Vol. 13, no. 10. p. 137. ^ "IBM RISC System/6000 N40 Notebook Workstation" . Archived from the original on 28 March 2018. ^ "Category:860 - ThinkWiki" . www.thinkwiki.org . Retrieved 11 December 2020 . General