Mainframe computers: IBM's alternative to server networks
05 Oct 2006
IBM intends to promote mainframe computers by making the systems easier to configure and operate and has said that it will invest $100 million over five years in promoting them as an alternative to server network computing. The company said Wednesday that the investment will enable IT administrators to manage mainframes in enterprises and help programmers more easily automate the process of developing and deploying software to run on mainframes.
IBM officials said that large companies with networks of 30 to 50 servers are potential candidates for migration to an entry-level mainframe system, but not those with fewer than 30 servers. Officials said that though a lot of IT managers may be intimidated by the complexity of operating a mainframe it has advantages over server network architecture, as they provide a more efficient use of computing power.
According to IBM officials, some Intel-powered servers may have utilization levels of as little as 5% to 15%, and Unix-based servers just 15% to 25%, as some servers are dedicated to running only one software application. A mainframe that combines all of an enterprise's applications onto one computer, they say, can operate at 80% to 100% utilization. From a return-on-assets perspective, IBM officials claim, a mainframe does a better job of managing workload.
Company officials said that the features being added to its mainframe capability should make mainframes more approachable to a new generation of programmers. Such capabilities would include automated configuration-checking for systems administrators to predict and avoid technical problems; improved software asset management; and a simplified user interface for network configuration and management.
Market researcher IDC reports that mainframes will continues to hold its ground against competing platforms. It expects MIPS shipments to be up 14.2% in 2006 and 9.2% next year. The researcher however expects mainframe spending to drop to 6.2%, or $3.9 billion, of overall server spending in 2010.
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