The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Mainframe
By
Ford Prefect
Tuesday, November 5, 2002 6:09 PM EST
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The Basics
zSeries 900 Mainframe |
Introduction
In this article I will provide a brief history of the mainframe, with an emphasis on features that make a mainframe unique. I will not attempt to cover the architecture in any technical detail at this time; the intent is simply to set the stage for future articles. If you are in fact an experienced mainframe user then this article probably has no particular value for you, other than possible amusement. I will assume that the reader is familiar with general computer concepts and technologies, and will present the information in terms that should be familiar to PC or Unix geeks.
Why "Hitchhikers Guide"? I am a big fan of the works of the late great Douglas Noel Adams, especially his "The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy", a trilogy in 5 (6?) books. For those of you who have not read these books - DON'T PANIC - any references you don't understand can be safely assumed to be Somebody Else's Problem - they are not important - the answer is 42, and that's all you need to know.
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Of course if you really want a better understanding of the galaxy and how it will affect your next party, then maybe you should read the books. ;-) I was given the nickname "Ford Prefect" (one of the story's lead characters) many years ago by a group of friends who were also HHGG fans. So sit back, relax, and enjoy an Ole' Janx Spirit while I introduce you to the world of mainframe computer systems.
First, let's define a few terms:
What is a Mainframe?
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The term mainframe was originally coined to refer to the very large computer systems that occupied very large steel framed boxes, and was used to differentiate them from the smaller mini- or micro-computers. While the term has been used in various ways over the years, it is most often used to describe the successive families of IBM computer systems starting with System/360. This would also apply to compatible systems built by other companies such as Amdahl and Hitachi Data Systems (HDS). This is the definition we will be using for the remainder of this series of articles.
Although some have used the term "mainframe" to refer to IBM's AS/400 or iSeries systems, this is an improper use of the term; even IBM considers those systems as mid-range servers rather than mainframes.
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Another more humorous definition of a mainframe can be found in Isham Research's Devil's IT Dictionary: "an obsolete device still used by thousands of obsolete companies serving billions of obsolete customers and making huge obsolete profits for their obsolete shareholders. And this year's run twice as fast as last year's."
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