Thinking Inside the Box
by Hesh Wiener

It is hardly surprising that IBM's mainframe division wants its customers to do all their computing on System z boxes. Big Blue has been pitching this idea to customers since the days of the System/360, which was a truly general purpose computer. But that was a long time ago, before X64 and RISC servers captured what might have remained the mainframe's turf. Now IBM seems worried that its mainframe is cornered, that it can either get more work back into its big box or suffer as its flagship systems become hospices for legacy applications. READ MORE >

Top Mainframe Stories from Around the Web

(IT Jungle) IBM is introducing its z10 Enterprise Class 64-way server and the latest version of the mainframe operating system today. The new jumbo server is based on the quad-core z6 processor and is, according to IBM, equipped to deliver 50 percent more capacity than the current top-end System z9 EC mainframes. The new z/OS operating system is scheduled for availability in September. Check the IT Jungle Breaking News section in the afternoon for our initial coverage of the announcements. READ MORE >

(InformationWeek) As Oracle works on devouring BEA and some BEA Tuxedo users grow uneasy with the proceedings, particularly with the Tuxedo transaction processing monitor software, along comes an open source alternative that might the right software and the right time. READ MORE >

(TechWorld) CA, a vendor that depends on mainframes for a major portion of its business, says "large customers are re-committing to the mainframe" and the driver is cost. If you have the work to keep a mainframe busy, he says, it will blow away the competitors in a per-transaction cost comparison. READ MORE >

(SearchDataCenter) A few details regarding the z10 Enterprise Class mainframe (officially introduced today) have been floating around for months. This report goes over a bunch of the enhancements, which include a quad-core processor design, a fixed hardware storage area, a performance boost from an integrated hardware decimal floating point processor, and LPAR enhancements. READ MORE >

(AQM) For most shops, identifying and correcting the root causes of application performance problems in z/OS environments is easier said than done. What might help is if you had better visibility into the WebSphere Application Server (WAS), more data from the WAS transaction level, expanded data collection and reporting capabilities for DB2 UDB for z/OS, and a better way to calculate annual CPU time. READ MORE >

(ILOG) Anything that simplifies application modernization efforts, including moves to service-oriented architectures, is worth a look. The trouble is that every product and service claims to simplify something. However, if you have business policies written in COBOL on the mainframe that are not easily reviewed or changed, this could be what your best move to unleash business policies from their proprietary confinement. READ MORE >

Chats, Webinars, Seminars, Shows, and Other Happenings

See our full calendar of events at
http://www.itjungle.com/big/big-calendar.html

February 24-29 -- Orlando, Florida - The SHARE mainframe user group will be hosting its spring event in sunny Florida, and will be focusing on two areas that are affecting mainframe shops in a big way these days: Services Oriented Architecture (SOA) application software design and server virtualization and consolidation. As usual, SHARE will also include the Technology Exchange Expo, where vendors can hawk their mainframe wares and attendees can try to find the tools to solve their IT woes. LEARN MORE >

April 6-11 -- Las Vegas, Nevada - Impact 2008, IBM's "Smart SOA Conference" is a showcase for WebSphere as the foundation, the tools, and all the materials needed to create a service oriented architecture. Technical experts from IBM, analysts, and companies that have implemented SOA solutions are taking the starring roles in this production. In addition to educational sessions and keynote addresses, there will be a solution center expo area. LEARN MORE >

May 18-22 -- Orlando, Florida - Users of IBM's Tivoli Maximo and Netcool software have their own conference dedicated to integrating the silo environments that are prevalent in many data centers and improving service management. Included in the event will be presentations by more than 100 customers and business partners and one-on-one meetings with IBM executives, industry experts and analysts. LEARN MORE >