IBM Repositions the Mainframe as Central to SOA
by Timothy Prickett Morgan

For the past four decades, the glass house has been called a data center, and the key word there has been center, not data. Well, at least for the people selling systems and servers. The fact that the mainframe continues to drive many billions of dollars in sales a year despite all of the many wrenching changes in hardware and software technology in that time is a testament to the technical and marketing genius of IBM. READ MORE >

Top Mainframe Stories and Vendor Announcements

(The Register) Advancements in hardware and software have dented the lofty reputation of anything that once wore the crown of "mainframe class." Whether that status was attached to the attributes of a platform or the nature of an application, the connotation was that nothing else could compare. "Enterprise class" was another term that not just any vendor could toss around and be taken seriously. Now we have people talking about the cost and the business drag of legacy systems while plotting out how much farther those systems can take them. READ MORE >

(iSeries Network) After IBM's announcement of its new z9 Business Class computer, the mainframe has more overlap with the System i (formerly the iSeries) than ever before. And, yes, it's true that the big System i boxes can slug it out with heavyweight mainframes, but these two servers have widely different capabilities. READ MORE >

(zJournal) Jim Porell is IBM's chief architect for zSeries software. So it should come as no surprise that his mainframe forecast is sunny. In this interview, he talks about mainframe-related topics such as making zSeries more accessible to developers, the value of using specialty processors, and why a focus on reducing operating costs doesn't automatically guarantee improvements in an overall operational plan. READ MORE >

(IBM) If there's a z9 109 in your future, here's a resource to help you install, tailor, configure, and maintain this new server. Among the topics covered are channel subsystems, I/O configuration, Crypto Express2, and reserved logical partitions. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Sun has two new Virtual Storage Manager (VSM) systems that it hopes will gain the interest of mainframe shops. The VSMs require Sun's Host Software Component 6.0 and Virtual Tape Control System 6.0 software, and work with IBM's z/OS 1.1 or higher mainframe environments. READ MORE >

Chats, Webinars, Seminars, Shows, and Other Happenings

May 23-25 -- Secaucus, New Jersey - The Enterprise Information World conference will feature educational sessions on topics such as building and managing enterprise information management teams, increasing return on investment by cost effectively meeting regulatory compliance requirements, collaboration technologies and efficiencies, and the intersection of records management and security. LEARN MORE >

June 12-16 -- Atlanta, Georgia - The Transaction & Messaging Technical Conference features the most current information on the CICS TS V3.1 and WebSphere MQ family of products including tips, techniques, and business integration solutions. The agenda includes hundreds of sessions, a product expo, and certification testing. LEARN MORE >

June 12 -- Phoenix, Arizona - The Tivoli Information Management (InfoMan) for z/OS Users' Conference will feature topics such as ITIL, ITSM, knowledgebase management, Web 2.0, and InfoMan integration with third-party applications. Included will be demonstrations of Tivoli Enterprise Portal, Tivoli Service Level Advisor, and the IBM Configuration and Change Management Database. LEARN MORE >

July 8-12 -- San Diego, California - The 2006 Enterprise Security Solutions & RACF Users Training Conference emphasizes technical education for current and future data security challenges in business and government. The event features more than 140 classes taught by leading security practitioners, professional instructors and experts. It includes a vendor expo and offers the opportunity to network with industry experts and peers. Continuing education credits can also be garnered throughout the conference. LEARN MORE >

August 13-18 -- Baltimore, Maryland - The SHARE User Events feature IBM technical training tailored for enterprise-class IT professionals. Educational sessions focus on real-world solutions that meet business challenges and influence future IT product development. In addition to the first-class training, SHARE presents a great opportunity for networking with other professionals who work at some of the world's leading organizations and have insights into the technology and products that companies and jobs are depending on. All SHARE User Event sessions and events will take place in the Baltimore Convention Center. LEARN MORE >

October 20 & 21 -- Chicago, Illinois - The Network and Systems Professionals Association annual conference, NaSTEC, features educational tracks on large systems/mainframes, distributed systems, and professional development and includes 24 total sessions. Topics include IT compliance, TCP/IP network health checks, and security, as well as others. LEARN MORE >