A mainframe computer, often referred to as “big iron”, is a powerful computing system used by large organizations for essential tasks such as mass data processing and enterprise resource planning. Although mainframes are smaller than supercomputers, they offer higher computing power compared to other computers classes.
Origin of the Word “Mainframe”
The meaning of the word “mainframe” originates from the term “main frame”, referring to the large cabinet that enclosed the central processing unit and main memory of early computers. Over time, the term “mainframe” evolved to identify high-end commercial computers, setting them apart from less capable machines. Developed primarily in the 1960s, mainframe architectures continue to evolve and are frequently employed as servers.
Characteristics of Mainframe Computers
High Reliability: Mainframes are known for their robustness and reliability, ensuring uninterrupted operation for critical applications.
Large Scale: Tailored to manage extensive workloads and vast amounts of data, mainframes are suitable for enterprises with extensive computing needs.
Scalability: Capable of seamless scalability, mainframes can easily accommodate growing workloads and data processing demands without sacrificing performance.
Security: Advanced security features protect sensitive data and ensure compliance with regulatory requirements.
Virtualization: Integrated virtualization technologies enable the concurrent operation of multiple virtual machines and maximize resource efficiency.
Transaction Processing: Facilitating high-speed processing of business transactions such as banking, reservations and inventory management, mainframes excel in transaction processing.
Compatibility: Supporting a wide range of applications and capable of running multiple operating systems, mainframes ensure compatibility with both legacy systems and modern software.
Centralized Management: Centralized management capabilities empower administrators to oversee, control and manage the entire system seamlessly from a single point.
Longevity: Mainframes have a long lifecycle and are designed for continuous operation, making them a reliable investment for organizations with long-term computing needs.
Cost-Effectiveness: Despite their initial investment, mainframe computers offer cost-effective solutions for enterprises with high-performance computing requirements, providing efficient resource utilization and low total cost of ownership over time.
Supercomputer vs. Mainframe: What’s the Difference?
The terms mainframe and supercomputer are often used in the same breath, but what exactly is the difference? A supercomputer stands at the forefront of computing speed, designed for tackling scientific and technical challenges requiring intensive data processing, known as high-performance computing. In contrast, mainframes specialize in transaction processing.
Supercomputers are evaluated based on FLOPS (floating-point operations per second) or TEPS (traversed edges per second). These are metrics that are less relevant for mainframe tasks, which are often measured in MIPS (millions of instructions per second). Mainframes favor integer operations such as adding numbers and moving data in memory, which is critical for tasks such as I/O operations. While supercomputers excel in floating-point operations for tasks such as weather forecasting, mainframe are more efficient at I/O operations and memory tasks.
Mainframes are engineered for reliable transaction processing, which is essential for business operations such as inventory control, airline reservations and banking processes. These transactions involve various operations that go beyond CPU processing and speed. These include disk operations and data transfers between subsystems that are critical to maintaining operational efficiency.
Until the early 1990s, the distinction between mainframes and supercomputers was blurred, with many supercomputers incorporating mainframe architecture alongside supercomputing enhancements.
The Future of Mainframe Computers
Despite the growing popularity of cloud services, mainframes retain their significance in many companies’ IT setups. Major banks, insurance firms and telecom providers still rely on them for their unparalleled reliability, robust security features and efficient data management capabilities. While the initial investment and maintenance costs of mainframes are high, organizations deem these expenditures justified given the substantial benefits they offer in terms of stability and data protection.
Diminishing skills in administration staff of IBM zSystems (also known as Mainframes) have been a concern since the early 1990s, and there has been nearly no substantial improvement since then. Many z/OS administrators hired in the nineties have retired or are nearing retirement, with no skilled replacements in sight. This shortage of skilled z/OS administrators poses a significant challenge for companies that rely on mainframes for business-critical processes. This article demonstrates how to delegate typical mainframe administration tasks to employees with limited or no mainframe experience, thereby making more efficient use of the remaining mainframe skills within the company.
Data centers are at a turning point: The constant increase in data volumes, the growing demand for AI applications and the growing complexity of hybrid IT landscapes are shaping the industry. While hyperscalers like Amazon are investing billions in IT infrastructure expansion, traditional data center operators need to adapt to keep pace with the demands of modern technologies. This article offers a glimpse into the future of data centers and highlights the most exciting trends and challenges.
A leading North American insurer, embarked on a transformative IT project to modernize its core report and log management systems. With over 20,000 employees and many more agents, the organization relies on efficient, reliable access to operational and business-critical reports in its daily workflows. These reports, generated and distributed by the legacy CA View and CA Deliver systems hosted on IBM z/OS platforms, were deeply embedded in the company’s operations. Virtually all business users depended on these reports for decision-making, creating a widespread dependency across the organization.
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