MAINFRAMES

WHAT IS MAINFRAME?

• Powerful computers supporting

thousands of applications,
input/output devices and
supporting thousands of users
simultaneously.
 MAINFRAME WORKLOADS
• Batch Processing: a running mainframe process that does not need user
interaction
• Online Transaction Processing (OLTP): a running transaction process that
occurs interactively with the end user
 MAINFRAME OPERATING
SYSTEMS

Popular mainframes operating system

include
• z/OS
• z/VM
• z/VSE
• Linux for zSeries
• z/TPF
Mainframes can run multiple
combinations of operating system
in the same platform.
 WHO USES MAINFRAMES?

• Most Fortune 500 companies use a mainframe environment.

• 60% of all data available on the Internet is stored on
mainframe computers.
 WHY MAINFRAMES?

• Large-scale transaction processing.

Thousands of transactions per second
• Support thousands of users and application programs.
• Simultaneously accessing resources.
• Terabytes of information in databases.
 FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO
MAINFRAME USE

• RAS -- reliability, availability, serviceability

• Security
• Scalability
• Centralized control
• Workload management
• Partitioning / virtualization
• Continuing compatibility
• Evolving architecture
• Application enablement, complexity, variety
• Potential for thousands of users
 ADVANTAGES

• Concurrent users
• High Processing Speed
• Storage
• Multiprogramming
• Multiprocessing
• Security
• Reliable
• Batch Processing
 DOMAINS

• Banking
• Finance
• Insurance
• Market Research (Retail)
• Telecom
 SO FAR

• Mainframes is a very stable environment

• It has been there in the Software Industry for more than 40
years
• No new technology can totally replace Mainframes because of
its architecture and efficiency
 CURRENT TREND

• Around 80% of Mainframes projects are maintenance projects

• Only 20% or less are development projects
• The reason being the cost factor. The hardware maintenance
cost and the initial investment required is too high.
 CURRENT TREND

• Migration projects are the current trend in the market.

• Reasons:
Maintenance cost
 FUTURE

• A survey to determine the current demand for mainframes

found that more than half of the respondents still have major
applications running on mainframes.
Done by Zahra Farhood
Done by Zahra Farhood
Done by Zahra Farhood
 REFERENCES

• Wikipedia.(2010, April 28). Mainframe computer [Online]. Available:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mainframe_computer
• Mike Ebbers, Bill Ogden and Wayne O’Brien, “Introduction to the New Mainframe: z/OS
Basics,” International Technical Support Organization, Vol.1, pp.5–710, July 2006.
• IBM Systems Software Information Center. z/VM Center concepts
[Online].Available:http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/eserver/v1r2/index.jsp?
topic=/diricinfo/vsd0_c_zvm.html
• Mike Ebbers, Wolfgang Bosch, Hans Joachim Ebert, Helmut Hellner, Jerry Johnston,
Wilhelm Mild et.al.,“Introduction to the New Mainframe: z/VSE Basics,” International
Technical Support Organization, Vol.1, pp.5–460, March 2007.
• IBM TPF Product Information Center. Introduction to the z/TPF system
[Online].Available:http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/tpfhelp/current/index.jsp?
topic=/com.ibm.ztpfztpfdf.doc_put.cur/gtpc3/c3sysov.html
• IBM, “z/Architecture Principles of Operation,” International Technical Support
Organization, Vol.7, pp.20–1100, February 2008.
 REFERENCES

• Competition in mainframe and associated services in India.