Siemens Data Systems has added a new entry-level machine to its 7.500 H90 top-end mainframe family, only a few weeks after expanding the top-end of the range with an 84 MIPS model, the H120-R. (CI No 1,325) The H90-B runs at 8 MIPS with a minimum 32Mb of main memory and 11 inputoutput channels. Unlike the H120, it isn’t a Fujitsu box, but was developed and is manufactured by Siemens in Munich. Running under Siemens’ proprietary BS2000 operating system with near IBM 370 architecture, it is similar to, but not compatible with IBM machines. The company also has a new 3419 Disk Control Unit for the 7.500 family. It connects 343X disk storage units via the mainframe’s Intelligent Peripheral Interface, also used by IBM peripherals. The 3419 has a data transfer rate of 4.5M-bytes per second, with either two or four data paths, and automatic channel switching to enable multi-host attachment. The four data path model has an in-built power supply, and channel switching facilitates the sharing of 343X rack-mounted disks. Both products are available now, the mainframe costs upwards of UKP400,000, and the 3419 controller is either UKP30,000, or UKP59,000 for the four path model.
