Mainframes news from FierceCIO
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So, where is your main frame?
Sometimes, old technology gets a new life. Even if you are purchasing newer software and hardware, remember that some old tools can have a second life. That's the case with the IBM mainframe. It Read more...
IBM poised to become server software powerhouse
IBM didn't earn the ominous nickname "Big Blue" by selling software. Legend has it that the nickname comes from the company's big, blue mainframes of decades past (though, to be honest, the origins of that name are hotly debated). To this day, IBM is still seen as being, foremost, a server hardware company--especially after it sold what remained of its consumer PC division to Lenovo. That could all change however, with the …
Read more...IBM to invest $100M in mainframes
Do you think that the mainframe is an aging technology, a dinosaur that's bound to go extinct as enterprises increasingly favor cheaper server technology? Well, IBM begs to differ. The company is investing $100 million in mainframes over the next five years in order to both modernize the technology and to make it easier to use. The investment will be used to increase automation, update the current user interface and to simplify the management of software on the mainframe. Phase one of …
Read more...PHP as savior for mainframe builders
The PHP scripting language might just be the great equalizer between older mainframe administrators and younger online guys. IBM is said to be releasing PHP support for its mainframes by summer 2007, based on a previously announced partnership with PHP leader Zend Technologies. PHP is just as powerful as Java, it's easier to learn and much faster to implement, supporters say. The big question for mainframe programmers, age-based diplomacy aside, is whether they'll be willing to learn a …
Read more...Hitachi moves away from tape diligently
Hitachi Data Systems is now reselling a virtual tape library from Diligent Technologies. Virtual tape works by convincing servers and mainframes that disk storage is actually tape storage, so customers get the benefits of both ways. Diligent's product is ProtecTier VT, but Hitachi is just calling it Virtual Tape Library. (This deal couldn't have happened a few years ago when Diligent was part of Hitachi's arch-rival EMC.)
For more on storage:
- see this CNet News.com …
Sun, Imation to jointly develop tape drives
Sun's StorageTek division and Imation are developing a 75GB half-inch backup tape for the T9840 drive series. These are high-speed, high-reliability tapes for mainframes and top-end servers. They're certainly reaching any capacity records--the tapes are still 53 percent more substantial than the current 40GB versions. They also have some innovations, such as the actual media spinning through air pockets to minimize friction, increase speed and improve longevity.
For more on tape storage:
- read this eWeek article
Unisys confirms shift on mainframe CPUs
Details are emerging about Unisys' plan to switch from CMOS to Intel processors in its mainframe computers. They'll start releasing ClearPath systems with multicore Xeon chips late next year. Mainframes are not simple things to upgrade, so there will be plenty of long-term support by Unisys. But the bottom line, an official explained, is that there's no good reason to continue making custom chips.
For more on Unisys:
- take a look at this Computerworld article
BMC has more plans for the mainframe
BMC Software last week introduced a range of new mainframe software. These include a backup and recovery program for database administrators, a tool which shares mainframe monitoring updates with BMC's existing Service Impact Manager and two data encryption features shipping next month, officials said. Other new programs include topology discovery and transactions analysis that are scheduled for shipment later this year.
For more on mainframes:
- check out this eWeek …
Microsoft finishes code for Windows HPC
Microsoft says it's finally finished coding Windows Compute Cluster Server 2003, but at this point, shouldn't they call it a 2006 edition? Apparently not since it's based on Windows Server 2003 and not on Vista Server (a.k.a. Longhorn). Anyway, this will ship to general customers in August at approximately $470 per node. It requires 64-bit servers to run, but it can still execute 32-bit software.
For more on HPC:
- read this News.com …