Micro Focus and Microsoft to Enhance COBOL Alternatives on Windows
by Alex Woodie

Microsoft and Micro Focus have extended their existing partnership to go after IBM mainframe shops and help them modernize their legacy COBOL applications. As part of the partnership agreement unveiled and new products announced recently, Micro Focus' COBOL compilers for Windows have gotten deeper hooks into Visual Studio, enabling them to run as managed code in 64-bit environments. A new Windows-based CICS application is also on the books for next year. READ MORE >

Top Mainframe Stories from Around the Web

(SearchDataCenter) It's hard to disagree with a statement like "the cost of software is killing the mainframe." You might argue that this killing has been going on for a long, long time and death has yet to be the result, but nonetheless, it's time to commoditize software costs. Advantages for buyers? Sure. Advantages for IBM? Maybe. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) When you are the world's largest SAP shop, that makes you one pretty big puppy. An enterprise that size has a purchasing department that all by itself is larger than a lot of SMB companies. So imagine running analyses of purchase transactions and specifically looking for errors, inefficiencies, and fraud. And to keep this in perspective, imagine that data needs to be pulled from 800 corporate entities that run off 10 SAP implementations, plus 500 other entities that utilize 200 various ERP systems. READ MORE >

(InfoWorld) I can always appreciate when truth trumps fiction in one of those "I can't believe it happened" episodes. Here's one from a mainframe data center that may bring to mind a similar circumstance that you've experienced. Make sure you peel down through the posted comments to this story as well. READ MORE >

(Serena Software) Software change and configuration management is all about standardization, automation, and bringing control to the process of application development. It's a workflow thing. And few people understand it better than those in mainframe enterprises. Do Web 2.0 technologies have a place in this environment? Without a doubt, they do. READ MORE >

(Bus-Tech) Managers of enterprise data centers who do not pay attention to options that lower tape processing costs, provide faster backups and restores, improve business continuity and disaster recovery, and include compliant storage in their mainframe environment are a rare breed--maybe even an endangered species. It's doubtful anyone will step in to save them from extinction. This is Darwinism at its best. If virtual tape libraries are your concern, put this on your reading list. READ MORE >

Chats, Webinars, Seminars, Shows, and Other Happenings

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

August 10-15 -- San Jose, California - Service oriented architectures and the "SOA journey" as well as server virtualization and the benefits that big iron provides in terms of efficiency and reducing energy consumption are the key topics that will be discussed at the next SHARE user group meeting and expo, held in the heart of Silicon Valley. LEARN MORE >

August 25-28 -- Chicago, Illinois - The IBM Energy Efficiency Initiative takes center stage at the "See Blue, Think Green" Technical Conference that brings together technical experts and business leaders. Sessions will concentrate on best practices in energy efficiency, innovative power and cooling technologies, and eco-friendly asset disposal services. There will also be technical sessions and hands on labs featuring IBM's most recent System announcements (including Power Systems, Mainframe Systems, Storage System, and Modular Systems) to present platform-specific topics. LEARN MORE >

October 13-17 -- Las Vegas, Nevada - The IBM System z Expo will include more than 300 sessions featuring z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE, and Linux on System z. There will be an emphasis on the z10 Enterprise Class server, WebSphere application server, DB2, CICS and IMS support, GDPS and Parallel Sysplex support, service oriented architecture, virtualization, and data center energy efficiency. LEARN MORE >