Mainframes

So, where is your main frame?

Mon, 24 Mar 2008 07:59:58 -0400

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 remains a mainstay in much of the global trade economy. IBM has retooled the technology, cut prices and revamped its strategy. Although mainframes are a tiny piece of IBM's market these days, the technology still exists and is being used.

The mainframe stands as a telling case in the larger story of survivor technologies and markets, the New York Times reports. "The demise of the old technology is confidently predicted, and indeed it may lose ground to the insurgent, as mainframes did to the personal computer. But the old technology or business often finds a sustainable, profitable life.'' So, as you start retiring your old tools, keep in mind that some of them may come back for a second life.

For more on the old technology that getting a new life:
- See this New York Times article

IBM poised to become server software powerhouse

Thu, 18 Jan 2007 19:01:38 -0500

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 fruits of IBM's software acquisition labors turning a healthy profit. Among the surprises in IBM's impressive Q4 earnings statement was the following figure: $5.6 billion in software sales, a 14 percent increase over last year's report. There's certainly something to be said for offering integrated hardware/software solutions for the data center and with Oracle and SAP failing to impress financially this quarter, there's plenty of room for IBM to get a leg up.

For more on IBM's Q4 report:
- see this ZDnet blog entry

IBM to invest $100M in mainframes

Tue, 03 Oct 2006 20:01:37 -0400

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 this process is marked by the release this month of the new z/OS V1.8 on the System z operating system, which features new tools that simplify server administration. "We want the IT community to be aware that we are now working to reduce the complexity and making it easier to manage these systems," said Bob Hoey, worldwide vice president of sales for IBM's System z business. The company sees mainframes as a growth technology--especially in emerging IT markets like India and China.

For more on IBM's investment:
- see this article from eWeek

PHP as savior for mainframe builders

Sun, 20 Aug 2006 20:01:37 -0400

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 new language late in their careers--or whether fresh comp-sci graduates with PHP skills will have any interest in learning about mainframes.

For more on mainframes:
- read this eWeek article

ALSO NOTED: Indian call center? That's so 2004; FileMaker 8.5 database ups the ante; and much more...

Sun, 30 Jul 2006 20:00:50 -0400

> Indian call center? That's so 2004. Article

> FileMaker 8.5 database ups the ante. Review

> Mainframes not just for old fogies. Article

And Finally... The hard disk that changed the world. Article

Hitachi moves away from tape diligently

Sun, 09 Jul 2006 20:01:37 -0400

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 article

ALSO: Sun to kill open systems virtual tape project. Article

Sun, Imation to jointly develop tape drives

Wed, 05 Jul 2006 20:01:38 -0400

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

Sun, 02 Jul 2006 20:01:36 -0400

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

Sun, 18 Jun 2006 20:01:37 -0400

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 article

ALSO: Tera-scale computing: Intel's attack of the cores. Article

Microsoft finishes code for Windows HPC

Thu, 08 Jun 2006 20:01:36 -0400

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 article

ALSO: Students think mainframes are cool. Op-Ed