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Definition: IBM mainframes
Following is the IBM mainframe evolution starting with the System/360 introduced in 1964. The IBM mainframe is the longest running computer family in history. Although current IBM mainframes are vastly superior in technology to the System/360, they are highly compatible with it. Programs written for the System/360 more than four decades ago may still run on the latest models with only minor modifications.
An Earlier IBM Mainframe Installation
Year Model Intro. Model Numbers System/360 1964 System/360 2020 to 2195 System/370 1970 System/370 3115 to 3168 1977 System/370 3031, 3032, 3033 1979 System/370 43xx 1980 System/370 3081, 3083, 3084 1981 XA/370 3081, 3083, 3084 1986 XA/370 3090 series (120-600) 1986 XA/370 9370 series 1988 ESA/370 ES/3090 and ES/4381 Model Numbers System/390 (ESA/390 Environment) 1990 ES/9000, 120 to 9X2 1994 9672 Exx & Pxx, G1 1994 9672 Rx1, G1 1995 9672 Rx2,Rx3, G2 1996 Multiprise 2000 (2003-xxx) 1996 9672 Rx4, G3 1997 9672 Rx5, G4 1998 9672 Rx6-Yx6, G5 1998 9672 Y56-YX6, G5 Turbo 1999 9672 X17-XZ7, Z17-ZZ7, G6 1999 7060-xxx Multiprise 3000, G5 Family Series IBM Z (z/Architecture) 2000 900 2064 2002 800 2066 2003 990 2084 2005 z9 EC 2094 2006 z9 BC 2096 2008 z10 EC 2097 2008 z10 BC 2098 2010 zEnterprise 196 2011 zEnterprise 114 2012 zEnterprise EC12 2013 zEnterprise BC12 2015 z13 2964 2016 z13 2965 2017 z14 3906 2018 z14 3907 2019 z15 3931 2022 z16 3932
Even today, mainframes are hardly extinct. Organizations have billions of dollars invested in mainframe programming, and IBM has more than kept pace with advancements in semiconductor technology. (Image courtesy of IBM.)