Large systems and Enterprise Systems Architecture

A number of diverse factors have influenced the development of IBM's Enterprise Systems Architecture. They range from the compatibility and migration considerations so important for preserving customer investments in existing applications and data, to new functional and capacity requirements of our customers, to the implications of emerging technologies and the projection of these into the systems environments of the future. This paper provides an introduction to a collection of technical papers in this issue describing the ESA/370™ facilities. Its purpose is to convey a broad perspective on important factors that will influence the large-systems environment of the future, and to relate those factors to the key elements of the ESA/370 architectural enhancements. It does not attempt to address all of the considerations leading to the development of ESA/370, nor discuss the new features in any depth. Detailed discussion of the specific features, facilities, and design considerations of ESA/370 will be found in other papers in this issue.