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Wipro Mainframe: What Are Sysplex Timers Used For in IBM Mainframes?

Discover the role of Sysplex Timers in synchronizing clocks across all member systems in an IBM mainframe Parallel Sysplex environment. Learn how Sysplex Timers enable high availability and workload balancing.

Table of Contents

Question

Which is used to synchronize the clocks of all member systems

A. Sysplex timers
B. Parallel sysplex
C. Parallel computing
D. Virtual coupling

Answer

A. Sysplex timers

Explanation

Sysplex Timers are used to synchronize the Time-of-Day (TOD) clocks of all member systems in an IBM mainframe Parallel Sysplex environment.

A Parallel Sysplex is a cluster of IBM mainframes that work together as a single system image to handle large workloads and provide high availability. For the member systems to cooperate effectively, it’s critical that their clocks are closely synchronized. Even small differences in time between the systems can cause issues.

Sysplex Timers are external devices that connect to each system in the Parallel Sysplex via fiber optic links. They contain high-precision oscillators that continuously provide a common time source to all the coupled systems. This allows the TOD clocks on each system to be synchronized within microseconds of each other.

Keeping the member systems’ clocks in sync with Sysplex Timers enables the Parallel Sysplex to efficiently manage workloads across the coupled systems. It also facilitates failure recovery, as a failed system’s workload can be quickly restarted on another member system without concern for large time discrepancies.

In summary, Sysplex Timers play a key role in synchronizing the clocks across all systems in a Parallel Sysplex, which is essential for the cluster to provide high availability, enable workload balancing, and act as a single logical computing resource. The other options listed – Parallel Sysplex, parallel computing, and virtual coupling – do not serve this specific clock synchronization purpose.

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