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AS problems and workloads grow or
change, the System/360 can easily
be
expanded o.r changed to handle additional
or different operations.
Storage can
be
added and input/output and processing
speeds increased -- in small increments,
as needed.
This adaptability makes
provision for the inclusion, either
initially or subsequently, of a broad
range of input/output devices.
Versatile performance characteristics
permit handling of data in virtually any
desired character representation.
Instead of the usual six-bit character,
the System/360 employs a new eight-bit
coding structure to represent data.
An
8-bit unit of data is called a byte.
This 8-bit coding structure allows 256
possible combinations for letters,
digits and symbols, providing greate.r
versatility in both binary and decimal
operations.
It also means that
System/360 can accept a character code
of fewer bits, such as a telegraph code.
More important than the modularity
and adaptability of the System/360 is
its compatibility.
A program written
for one configuration will run on any
other, if there is enough memory capaci-
ty and input/output equipment, and if
the program is not geared to the operat-
ing speed of any particular unit. Sub-
ject to these constraints, a program
written for a smaller System/360 will
run without modification on a larger
one.
While this -upward- compatibility
is certainly an advantage, -downward-
compatibility can be even more valuable;
for example, a small user can utilize
1-2
programs written for larger systems.
This places a total library of programs
at all users' disposal.
Compatibility further allows a
System/360to be tailored to fit either
centralization or decentralization.
That is, a company'sinstallation can be
either a large central processor or a
number of smaller processors.
Shifts
between the extremes are possible within
the same system.
Traditionally there have been
constraints on computer versatility, so
that one processor has lent itself to
scientific and engineering application,
another to commercial data processing
applications, another to process
control, and still another to communi-
cations.
The System/360 provides a versatile
set of instructions that permit operat-
ing quickly and efficiently regardless
of the system application.
MODELS AND SPEEDS
-
Different processor models provide a
variety of processing speeds and
core storage siz.es.
-The 2030 is the processor for the
System/360, Model 30 (Figure 1-2).
-
The 2030 is available in four core
storage sizes, represented as
System/360, Models C30, D30, E30,
and F30.
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