Hercules

The architecture of Hercules comprises several key components that work together to emulate an IBM System z mainframe. The CPU emulator is the core component, responsible for interpreting and executing System z instructions. The I/O subsystem emulates various I/O devices, such as DASD, tape drives, and network adapters.

The memory manager handles the allocation and management of emulated memory. These components communicate through a simulated hardware bus, mimicking the behavior of a real mainframe. cnf file is central to the configuration, defining CPU characteristics, memory size, and device definitions.

The IPL (Initial Program Load) process is initiated through the console, loading the operating system from a specified device. Hercules does not use any external databases or storage mechanisms for its core functionality. Network communication is handled through emulated network adapters, allowing the emulated system to connect to external networks.

Security is managed within the emulated operating system, using its built-in security features. The command-line interface (CLI) provides administrative control, and logging is directed to the console and log files. Hercules provides a flexible and cost-effective environment for mainframe development, testing, and training.