Operating system services are distributed among the processing elements. In this approach, processors contain local servers that process requests local to each processor, while global servers process system-wide requests such as process management and file allocation. By distributing this function, the architecture does away with the substantial memory and computing overhead inherent in systems where complete copies of the operating system are replicated on each processor. In a typical T3E, user processor elements run applications and commands, while dedicated system processor elements run the global servers. The operating system's distributed architecture eliminates the need for replicating global services throughout all the processors.
Users can find another advantage in a single system presentation that simplifies management.
Additionally, all resources are global for easy availability and access at all system levels. Operators need not address multiple copies of the operating system. The new operating system enables machine scalability by allowing easy upgrading as processing elements are added. Instead of installing a full copy of an operating system onto each new processor, a user needs only tell the operating system that the machine includes new processing elements. Distributed file system management allows full use of parallel disk paths.