General-Purpose Design
The System/360 is designed to be a general-purpose computer system, capable of performing a wide range of tasks. It is based on a modular architecture, allowing users to select the components that best meet their needs.
Compatibility
The System/360 is designed to be compatible with a wide range of applications and operating systems. This compatibility is achieved through the use of a common instruction set and a standardized interface.
System Program
The System/360 has a system program that is responsible for managing the operation of the system. This program is responsible for tasks such as initializing the system, managing memory, and handling input/output operations.
System Alerts
The System/360 has a system alert feature that allows the system to notify the user of any errors or exceptions that occur during operation.
Multisystem Operation
The System/360 is capable of operating in a multisystem environment, allowing multiple systems to share resources and operate together seamlessly.
Input/Output
The System/360 has a wide range of input/output devices and control units, including magnetic tape drives, disk drives, and printers. The system also has a standardized interface for input/output operations.
Technology
The System/360 is based on a range of advanced technologies, including magnetic core memory, transistors, and integrated circuits.
System Structure
The System/360 has a modular system structure, consisting of a central processing unit, main storage, and input/output devices.
Main Storage
The System/360 has a main storage unit that is responsible for storing data and programs. The main storage unit is divided into a number of memory segments, each of which can be accessed independently.
Information Formats
The System/360 supports a range of information formats, including fixed-point and floating-point numbers, as well as character and binary data.
Central Processing Unit
The System/360 has a central processing unit that is responsible for executing instructions and performing arithmetic and logical operations. The central processing unit consists of a number of registers, including general registers, floating-point registers, and arithmetic and logical units.
General Registers
The System/360 has a number of general registers that are used to store data and addresses. The general registers are divided into a number of categories, including accumulator registers, index registers, and base registers.
Floating-Point Registers
The System/360 has a number of floating-point registers that are used to store floating-point numbers. The floating-point registers are divided into a number of categories, including floating-point accumulator registers and floating-point index registers.
Arithmetic and Logical Unit
The System/360 has an arithmetic and logical unit that is responsible for performing arithmetic and logical operations. The arithmetic and logical unit consists of a number of functional units, including adders, subtractors, and logical units.
Fixed-Point Arithmetic
The System/360 supports fixed-point arithmetic, which is used for tasks such as integer arithmetic and data conversion.
Decimal Arithmetic
The System/360 supports decimal arithmetic, which is used for tasks such as financial calculations and data conversion.
Floating Point Arithmetic
The System/360 supports floating-point arithmetic, which is used for tasks such as scientific calculations and data conversion.
Logical Operations
The System/360 supports a range of logical operations, including AND, OR, and NOT.
Program Execution
The System/360 executes programs in a sequential manner, with each instruction being executed in turn.
Instruction Format
The System/360 has a standardized instruction format, which consists of an operation code, an address, and a data field.
Address Generation
The System/360 generates addresses for instructions and data using a variety of techniques, including absolute addressing and relative addressing.
Sequential Instruction Execution
The System/360 executes instructions in a sequential manner, with each instruction being executed in turn.
Branching
The System/360 supports branching, which allows programs to jump to different locations in memory.
Program Status Word
The System/360 has a program status word that is used to store information about the current state of the program.
Interruption
The System/360 supports interruption, which allows the system to interrupt the current program and execute a different program.
Protection Feature
The System/360 has a protection feature that allows the system to protect itself from unauthorized access.
Timer Feature
The System/360 has a timer feature that allows the system to measure time intervals.
Direct Control Feature
The System/360 has a direct control feature that allows the system to control external devices directly.
Multisystem Feature
The System/360 has a multisystem feature that allows multiple systems to operate together seamlessly.
Input/Output
The System/360 has a wide range of input/output devices and control units, including magnetic tape drives, disk drives, and printers.
Input/Output Devices and Control Units
The System/360 has a number of input/output devices and control units, including magnetic tape drives, disk drives, and printers.
Input/Output Interface
The System/360 has a standardized input/output interface that allows input/output devices to be connected to the system.
Channels
The System/360 has a number of channels that are used to connect input/output devices to the system.
Input/Output Instructions
The System/360 has a number of input/output instructions that are used to initiate input/output operations.
Input/Output Operation Initiation
The System/360 initiates input/output operations using a variety of techniques, including direct input/output and buffered input/output.
Input/Output Commands
The System/360 has a number of input/output commands that are used to control input/output operations.
Input/Output Termination
The System/360 terminates input/output operations using a variety of techniques, including direct termination and buffered termination.
Input/Output Interruptions
The System/360 supports input/output interruptions, which allow the system to interrupt the current program and execute a different program.
System Control Panel
The System/360 has a system control panel that is used to control the operation of the system.
System Control Panel Functions
The System/360 has a number of system control panel functions that are used to control the operation of the system, including operation control, operation intervention, and customer engineering.
Operation Control Section
The System/360 has an operation control section that is used to control the operation of the system.
Operation Intervention Section
The System/360 has an operation intervention section that is used to intervene in the operation of the system.
Customer Engineering Section
The System/360 has a customer engineering section that is used to provide customer support and engineering services.
Fixed-Point Arithmetic
The System/360 supports fixed-point arithmetic, which is used for tasks such as integer arithmetic and data conversion.
Data Format
The System/360 supports a range of data formats, including fixed-point and floating-point numbers, as well as character and binary data.
Number Representation
The System/360 represents numbers using a variety of techniques, including binary and decimal representation.
Condition Code
The System/360 has a condition code that is used to store information about the current state of the program.
Instruction Format
The System/360 has a standardized instruction format, which consists of an operation code, an address, and a data field.
Instructions
The System/360 has a number of instructions that are used to perform tasks such as loading, storing, and executing programs.
Load
The System/360 has a load instruction that is used to load data into memory.
Load Halfword
The System/360 has a load halfword instruction that is used to load halfwords into memory.
Load and Test
The System/360 has a load and test instruction that is used to load data into memory and test its value.
Load Complement
The System/360 has a load complement instruction that is used to load the complement of a data value into memory.
Load Positive
The System/360 has a load positive instruction that is used to load a positive data value into memory.
Load Negative
The System/360 has a load negative instruction that is used to load a negative data value into memory.
Load Multiple
The System/360 has a load multiple instruction that is used to load multiple data values into memory.
Add
The System/360 has an add instruction that is used to add two data values together.
Add Halfword
The System/360 has an add halfword instruction that is used to add two halfwords together.
Add Logical
The System/360 has an add logical instruction that is used to add two logical values together.
Subtract
The System/360 has a subtract instruction that is used to subtract one data value from another.
Subtract Halfword
The System/360 has a subtract halfword instruction that is used to subtract one halfword from another.
Subtract Logical
The System/360 has a subtract logical instruction that is used to subtract one logical value from another.
Multiply
The System/360 has a multiply instruction that is used to multiply two data values together.
Multiply Halfword
The System/360 has a multiply halfword instruction that is used to multiply two halfwords together.
Divide
The System/360 has a divide instruction that is used to divide one data value by another.
Convert to Binary
The System/360 has a convert to binary instruction that is used to convert a data value to binary.
Convert to Decimal
The System/360 has a convert to decimal instruction that is used to convert a data value to decimal.
Store
The System/360 has a store instruction that is used to store data in memory.
Store Halfword
The System/360 has a store halfword instruction that is used to store halfwords in memory.
Store Multiple
The System/360 has a store multiple instruction that is used to store multiple data values in memory.
Shift Left Single
The System/360 has a shift left single instruction that is used to shift a single data value left.
Shift Right Single
The System/360 has a shift right single instruction that is used to shift a single data value right.
Shift Left Double
The System/360 has a shift left double instruction that is used to shift a double data value left.
Shift Right Double
The System/360 has a shift right double instruction that is used to shift a double data value
