Using System z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP)

Starting with V1R8, z/OS® on IBM® System z9® Enterprise Class (z9 EC) or IBM System z9 Business Class (z9 BC) and later servers support the IBM System z® Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) — a processor type for a dedicated workload.

Conceptually similar to the System z Application Assist Processor (zAAP), using zIIPs allows to offload certain workloads, for example, selected DB2® tasks, from CPs to zIIPs. This can help free up capacity on general purpose processors which may then be available for reallocation to other System z workloads. With zIIPs available, for example, DB2 can send eligible work to z/OS to be offloaded to zIIPs. Thus, using zIIPs helps to optimize resource usage, contributes to cost-effective System z exploitation and enhances the role of the mainframe as the data hub of the enterprise.