S/360 Front Panels

These IBM System/360 front panel illustrations were inspired by those on John Savard's quadibloc website, but have more accurate detail. Additional models have been added, including the 9020 versions.

Although the casual term “front panel” is almost always used today, IBM documentation refers to it as the “system control panel”. Note that the incorporation of certain features or expansion options may mean a particular actual front panel differs slightly from these illustrations.

IBM S/360 Model 20

IBM S/360 Model 22

IBM S/360 Model 50 – 9020 IOCE

IBM S/360 Model 50 – 9020A CE

IBM S/360 Model 65

IBM S/360 Model 75

IBM S/360 Model 85

IBM S/360 Models 91, 95, 195

IBM S/360 Model 20

The blank panel on the left could be removed to expose the Customer Engineer console. The panel to its right is for the optional Communications Adapter feature, the primary means of data interchange with other S/360 systems.

Click here to view an actual standard Model 20 front panel (bottom) and one with the Communications Adapter feature (top)

IBM S/360 Model 22

Click here to view an actual Model 22 front panel

IBM S/360 Model 25

Click here and here to view actual Model 25 front panels

IBM S/360 Model 30

IBM S/360 Model 40

IBM S/360 Model 44

IBM S/360 Model 50

The standard Model 50 is illustrated, with a printed diagram of its internal logic towards top right. In machines fitted with optional additional storage this sub-panel contains margin controls, similar to those on the top left sub-panel.

Click here to view a standard front panel, and here for one with additional storage

IBM S/360 Model 50 – 9020 IOCE

The standard Model 50 was modified to create the Input Output Control Element of all 9020 systems (i.e. A, D, and E versions). The IOCEs in 9020E systems incorporated Channel-To-Channel adapters to exchange data with the associated 9020D. On 9020A and 9020D IOCEs the CTC sub-panel (illustrated below with two toggle switches and green indicators) was blank.

Click here to view a standard front panel and here for a CTC version

IBM S/360 Model 50 – 9020A CE

The standard Model 50 (machine type 2050) was modified to become the Compute Element of the 9020A system (the 9020D/E CEs were modified Model 65s, machine type 2065). In this form it was known as machine type 7201-01. Note the reduction from four to three indicator rollers. This is because all input/output circuitry was removed resulting in fewer indicators being required. No other S/360 CPU had three rollers.

Click here to view a 9020A CE front panel

IBM S/360 Model 65

The later Model 67 computer has basically the same front panel, it being the same computer but with Dynamic Address Translation hardware added to facilitate timesharing.

IBM S/360 Model 75

IBM S/360 Model 85

The Model 85 replaced individual indicators and key switches with a CRT display and keyboard.

IBM S/360 Models 91, 95, 195

This is the Model 91 front panel. Almost the same front panel appeared on the Model 95 and the Model 195.

The operator controls (Load and Interrupt pushbuttons, Load Unit Address rotary switches, etc.) found on the other front panels were located on a separate panel, shown below, on the 91, 95, and 195 models.

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