The generic name for the CPUs and architecture released by IBM on 1964-04-07. The 360 was marketed as a general purpose computer with 'all round' functionality - hence 360 (degrees).


Elements of the architecture, such as the basic instruction set are still in use on IBM mainframes today. Operating System/360 (OS/360) was developed for System/360. Other associated operating systems included DOS, OS/MFT and OS/MVT.



The 360's predecessors were the smaller IBM 1401 and the large IBM 7090 series. If was followed by the IBM 370.


Last updated: 2004-06-06

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SysplexsysprogsystemSystem/360System/370System 5System 7.5

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