The IBM z Systems Coupling Facility exploitation of storage-class memory

Abstract

This paper describes the new support in the IBM zEnterprise® EC12 and BC12 mainframes, as well as the IBM z13™, which allows Coupling Facility partitions to use storage-class memory. This use of storage-class memory improves the scalability and availability of the implementation of the IBM WebSphere® MQ shared message queues in a Parallel Sysplex® configuration. By providing a new level in the storage hierarchy in the Coupling Facility to which MQ messages may be offloaded and from which they may be later retrieved, storage-class memory augments capacity and scale within the MQ shared message queue environment. This in turn provides availability benefits for the Parallel Sysplex by allowing shared queue message content to remain available and grow as needed to accommodate interruptions in service on the part of one or more of the MQ queue managers.