IBM RS/6000


The RISC System/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.
The RS/6000 floating-point execution unit enabled major improvements in the speed and accuracy of floating-point operations. The key feature of the FPU was introducing the MAF operation, which has since become standard in most modern processors.

History

IBM's announcement of RS/6000 in February 1990 was its reentry into Unix workstations—the fastest-growing segment of the PC market—after the failed RT PC, and its use of AIX was the company's official endorsement of Unix. About 70 vendors demonstrated early versions of software at the introduction. About 100 more announced ports to the system, and IBM said it expected 1500 applications from 700 companies by the end of 1990.
InfoWorld said that while RT PC "caused only laughter among competitors... This time no one is laughing" at RS/6000, with performance superior to Sun Microsystems and comparable prices. IBM said during the announcement that it was faster than competing systems from Sun, Hewlett-Packard, and Digital Equipment Corporation, and hoped that the company would have 15% of the workstation market by 1992. RS/6000's RISC technology also had a much better price/performance ratio than IBM's existing proprietary AS/400. Although the company described RS/6000 as being for scientific and engineering users, observers said that IBM intended it and AS/400 to compete with each other in the midrange system market, with non-technical software announcements beyond those available for competing workstations. The AS/400 division at IBM Rochester reportedly attempted to prevent the RS/6000 division at IBM Austin from selling the product at such a competitive price, and wanted to change its name to a number smaller than "400". An uninvolved company source said "The last thing IBM wanted to do was compete with itself. But it looks like that kind of thinking isn't going to work anymore".
The first RS/6000 models use the IBM Standard Micro Channel bus; later models use PCI. Some later models conform to the PReP and CHRP standard platforms, 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 includes the POWERserver servers, POWERstation workstations, and the IBM RS/6000 SP supercomputer platform. While most machines are desktops, desksides, or rack-mounted, there are 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 20002002.

Architecture

Hardware

Service processor

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 in case of serious failure with the machine. Early advertisements and documentation called the service processor "System Guard", 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.

Software

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.

Models

TypeModelCPUMHzL2/L3 CacheBusMemoryEnclosureIntroducedDiscontinued
700641TPowerPC 601/601e800 or 512 KBMicrochannel16 to 256 MBDesktop1994-06-031997-01-10
700641WPowerPC 601/601e800 or 512 KBMicrochannel16 to 256 MBDesktop1994-06-031997-07-18
700642TPowerPC 604/604e1200 or 512 KBMicrochannelUp to 256 MBDesktop1995-06-191997-09-24
700642WPowerPC 604/604e1200 or 512 KBMicrochannelUp to 256 MBDesktop1995-06-191997-09-24
7008M20POWER133Microchannel16 to 64 MBAll-in-one1993-02-021995-01-06
7008M2APOWER133Microchannel16 to 64 MBAll-in-one1993-02-021994-10-26
7009C10PowerPC 601800 or 1 MBMicrochannel16 to 256 MBDesktop1994-05-241997-07-18
7009C1LUnknownUnknownUnknownMicrochannelUnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
7009C20PowerPC 6041201 MBMicrochannel16 to 256 MBDesktop1995-06-191998-01-30
7010150UnknownUnknownUnknownMicrochannelUnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
7010160PowerPC 60366UnknownMicrochannel8 MBXstationUnknownUnknown
7010220PowerPC 604120UnknownMicrochannel32 MBUnknownUnknownUnknown
7011220RSC33Microchannel?Slimline Desktop1992-01-211995-01-06
701122GRSC33Microchannel?Slimline Desktop??
701122WRSC33MicrochannelUp to 64 MB?1993-09-211996-10-25
7011223RSC?MicrochannelUp to 64 MB???
7011230RSC45128 KBMicrochannel?Slimline Desktop1993-05-181995-01-06
701123ERSC45128 KBMicrochannel????
701123SRSC45Microchannel??1993-05-181994-10-26
701123TRSC45MicrochannelUp to 64 MB?1993-05-181994-10-26
701123WRSC45MicrochannelUp to 64 MB?1993-05-181994-10-26
7011250PowerPC 60166/80Microchannel16 to 256 MBSlimline Desktop1993-09-211997-07-18
701125EPowerPC 60166?Microchannel16 to 256 MBPlanar upgrade ??
701125FPowerPC 60180?Microchannel16 to 256 MBPlanar upgrade ??
701125SPowerPC 60166/80?MicrochannelUp to 256 MB?1993-09-211996-10-25
701125TPowerPC 60166/80?MicrochannelUp to 256 MB?1993-09-211997-07-18
701125WPowerPC 60166/80?MicrochannelUp to 256 MB?1993-09-211996-10-25
7012320POWER120Microchannel8 to 32 MBDesktop1990-02-151992-10-28
701232E???Microchannel????
701232TPOWER120Microchannel8 to 64 MBTower?1992-10-28
701232HPOWER125MicrochannelUp to 128 MBDesktop1991-03-121994-10-26
7012340POWER133MicrochannelUp to 256 MBDesktop1992-01-211994-11-04
701234HPOWER141.6MicrochannelUp to 256 MBDesktop1993-07-131994-10-26
701234L???Microchannel????
701234R???Microchannel????
7012350POWER141MicrochannelUp to 128 MBDesktop1992-01-211993-08-18
7012355POWER141Microchannel??1993-02-021994-10-26
701235R???Microchannel????
7012360POWER1+50MicrochannelUp to 256 MBDesktop1993-02-021994-11-04
7012365POWER1+50MicrochannelUp to 128 MBDesktop1993-02-021994-10-26
701236TPOWER1+50MicrochannelUp to 256 MB?1993-05-181994-10-26
7012370POWER1++62.5MicrochannelUp to 256 MB?1993-02-021996-05-20
7012375POWER1++62.5MicrochannelUp to 128 MB?1993-02-021994-10-26
701237TPOWER1++62.5MicrochannelUp to 256 MB?1993-05-181996-05-20
7012380POWER2+59none/0.5/1 MBMicrochannel32 to 512 MBDesktop1994-05-241996-05-20
7012390POWER2+671 MBMicrochannel32 to 512 MBDesktop1994-05-241997-07-18
7012397P2SC160?Microchannel128 to 1024 MBDesktop1997-10-061999-03-19
701239HPOWER267none/1/2 MBMicrochannel64 to 512 MBDesktop1995-02-071998-01-30
701239T???Microchannel????
7012G02???Microchannel?Tower??
7012G30PowerPC 601 75?Microchannel32 to 512 MBTower1994-10-041996-10-23
7012G40PowerPC 604 1120.5 MB per CPUMicrochannel64 MB to 1 GBTower1996-07-231998-01-08
7030355POWER141?Microchannel????
7030375POWER1++62.5?Microchannel????
703037T???Microchannel????
7030397P2SC160?Microchannel?Desktop1997-10-061999-01-19
70303ATPOWER2+59Microchannel32 to 512 MBDesktop1994-05-241997-01-10
70303BTPOWER2+670.5 or 1 MBMicrochannel32 to 512 MBDesktop1994-05-241998-01-08
70303CTPOWER267none/1/2 MBMicrochannel64 to 512 MBDesktop1995-02-071998-01-08
7013520POWER120Microchannel8 to 128 MBDeskside1990-02-151992-04-21
701352E???Microchannel????
701352HPOWER125MicrochannelUp to 512 MBDeskside1992-01-211995-01-06
7013530POWER125Microchannel16 to 128 MBDeskside1990-02-151992-01-02
701353HPOWER133Microchannel32 to 512 MB HD3 Deskside1991-10-021993-08-18
701353EPOWER133Microchannel32 to 512 MB HD3 Deskside1992-01-21?
7013540POWER130Microchannel64 to 256 MBDeskside1990-02-151992-01-02
7013550POWER141.6Microchannel64 MB to 1 GBDeskside1990-10-301993-08-18
701355E???Microchannel????
701355LPOWER141.6MicrochannelUp to 256 MBDeskside1993-05-181994-10-26
701355S???Microchannel????
7013560POWER1+50MicrochannelUp to 1 GBDeskside1992-01-211993-12-21
701356F???Microchannel????
7013570POWER1+50MicrochannelUp to 1 GBDeskside1993-02-021996-05-20
7013571???Microchannel????
701357F???Microchannel????
701357L???Microchannel????
7013580POWER1++62.5Microchannel64 MB to 1 GBDeskside1992-09-221996-05-20
701358FPOWER1++62.5Microchannel64 MB to 1 GBDeskside1992-11-27?
701358HPOWER255.6Microchannel64 MB to 2 GBDeskside1993-09-211996-10-25
7013590POWER266.7Microchannel64 MB to 2 GBDeskside1993-09-211997-09-24
7013591POWER277Microchannel64 MB to 2 GBDeskside1995-07-251997-07-18
7013595P2SC135Microchannel64 MB to 2 GBDeskside1996-10-081999-01-08
701359HPOWER2+66.71 MBMicrochannel64 MB to 2 GBDeskside1994-05-241997-01-10
7013J01???Microchannel????
7013J30PowerPC 601 75?Microchannel128 MB to 2 GBDeskside1994-10-041996-10-23
7013J40PowerPC 604 1121 MBMicrochannel128 MB to 2 GBDeskside1996-08-301998-01-08
7013J50PowerPC 604e 200?Microchannel?Deskside1997-04-301999-01-08
7016730POWER125Microchannel16 to 128 MBDeskside1990?
7016731???Microchannel????
7015920???Microchannel????
7015930POWER125Microchannel16 to 128 MBRack tower1990-02-151992-07-15
7015950POWER141?MicrochannelUp to 512 MBRack tower1991-05-071993-12-21
701595E???Microchannel????
7015960???Microchannel????
7015970POWER1+50?MicrochannelUp to 1 GBRack tower1992-04-211993-08-18
701597BPOWER1+50?Microchannel?Rack tower1993-02-021995-01-06
701597E???Microchannel????
701597F???Microchannel????
7015980POWER1++62.5MicrochannelUp to 1 GBRack tower1992-09-221993-08-18
701598BPOWER1++62.5?Microchannel?Rack tower1993-02-021996-05-20
701598E???Microchannel????
701598F???Microchannel????
7015990POWER271.5Microchannel128 MB to 2 GBRack tower1993-09-211996-05-20
701599EUnknownUnknownUnknownMicrochannelUnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
701599FUnknownUnknownUnknownMicrochannelUnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
701599JUnknownUnknownUnknownMicrochannelUnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
701599KUnknownUnknownUnknownMicrochannelUnknownUnknownUnknownUnknown
7015R10POWER1+50Microchannel128 MB to 1 GB6U racks1994-05-241996-05-20
7015R20POWER2+661 MBMicrochannel128 MB to 2 GB6U racks1994-05-241998-01-30
7015R21POWER277?Microchannel?6U racks1995-07-251996-10-25
7015R24POWER2+71.52 MBMicrochannel128 MB to 2 GB10U racks1994-05-241998-01-30
7015R30PowerPC 601 75?Microchannel128 MB to 2 GB6U racks1994-10-041996-10-23
7015R40PowerPC 604 112?Microchannel128 MB to 2 GB6U racks1996-07-231998-01-08
7015R4U???Microchannel????
7015R50PowerPC 604e 200?MicrochannelUp to 4 GB6U racks1997-04-152000-08-15
7015R5U???Microchannel????
7017S70RS64125?PCI?2+ racks1997-10-311999-12-13
7017S70RS64-II262?PCI?2+ racks1998-10-051999-12-13
7017S7ARS64-II2628 MBPCI1 to 32 GB2+ racks1998-10-232000-12-01
7017S80RS64-III4508 MBPCI2 to 64 GB2+ racks1999-09-242001-08-31
7017S85RS64-III / IV450/6008/16 MBPCI2 to 96 GBRacks2000-11-17?
70200U0PowerPC 60166?PCI?Desktop1994-10-041996-01-19
702040PPowerPC 60166?PCI16 to 192 MBDesktop??
7020B1BPowerPC 60166?PCI?Desktop1994-10-041996-01-19
7020B1CPowerPC 60166?PCI?Desktop1994-10-041996-01-19
7020D1DPowerPC 60166?PCI?Desktop1994-10-041996-01-19
7020D2DPowerPC 60166?PCI?Desktop1994-10-041996-01-19
7020D4E???PCI?Desktop1995-02-071996-01-19
7020SPEPowerPC 60166?PCI?Desktop1994-10-041996-01-19
7024E20PowerPC 604100/133512 KBPCI16 to 512 MBTower1995-10-101997-07-18
7024E20PowerPC 604e233512 KBPCI16 to 512 MBTower1997-04-???
7024E30PowerPC 604133/166?PCI64 to 1024 MBTower1996-04-231999-03-19
7024E30PowerPC 604e233?PCI64 to 1024 MBTower1997-04-??1999-03-19
7025F30PowerPC 604133/166?PCIUp to 1 GBTower1996-02-201998-01-08
7025F40PowerPC 604e 166/233?PCIUp to 1 GBTower1996-10-082000-05-08
7025F50PowerPC 604e 166/332256 KBPCI128 MB to 3 GBTower1997-04-252001-07-17
7025F80RS64-III 450/5002/4 MB PCI8/16 GB Deskside2000-05-092001-07-13
7025F85???PCI????
7026H10PowerPC 604e 166/233?PCIUp to 1 GB7U racks1997-02-141998-02-27
7026H50PowerPC 604e 332?PCIUp to 3 GB8U racks1998-02-202000-12-01
7026H70RS64-II 340?PCIUp to 8 GB8U racks1999-04-232001-07-17
7026H80RS64-III/IV 450/500?PCIUp to 16 GB5U racks2000-06-092001-07-13
7026M80RS64-III/IV 500/750?PCI?8U racks2000-06-092002-01-31
7026B80???PCI?5U racks??
724843PPowerPC 604100/120/132/166256/512 KBPCI16 to 192 MBDesktop1995-06-191997-07-18
704343P-140PowerPC 604e166/200/233/3321 MBPCI32 to 768 MBDesktop1996-10-082000-12-01
704343P-150PowerPC 604e250/3751 MBPCI64 MB to 1 GBDesktop1998-10-052003-12-12
704343P-240PowerPC 604e 166/233512 KB/1 MB per CPUPCI64 MB to 1 GBDesktop1996-10-081999-03-19
704343P-260POWER3 2004 MB per CPUPCI128 MB to 4 GBTower1998-10-052000-12-01
704343P-270POWER3-II 200/375/4504/8 MB per CPUPCIup to 8 GBTower2000-02-252003-09-12
704444P-170POWER3-II333/400/4501/4/8 MBPCI256 MB to 2 GBTower2000-02-072003-12-12
704444P-270POWER3-II 375/4504/8 MBPCI256 MB to 16 GBTower2000-02-072003-09-12
7046B50PowerPC 604e3751 MBPCIUp to 1 GB2U racks1999-09-132003-09-12
7317F3LPowerPC 604133512 KBPCI32 to 960 MB17U racks1996-10-081999-12-13
7317F3LPowerPC 604e1661 MBPCI32 MB to 1 GB17U racks1996-10-081999-12-13
7317F3LPowerPC 604e233512 KBPCI32 MB to 1 GB17U racks1996-10-081999-12-13
7007N40PowerPC 60150?Unknown16 to 64 MBLaptop1994-03-081997-06-30
7249851PowerPC 603e100256 KBUnknown32 to 96 MBLaptop1996-02-201996-11-08
7249860PowerPC 603e166256 KBUnknown32 to 96 MBLaptop1996-10-081998-01-30

The Model N40 was a PowerPC-based laptop developed and manufactured by Tadpole Technology in conjunction with IBM. 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.