Unfortunately in our case it is mindset. The word "mainframe" has a negative connotation around here as being big, expensive, and outdated. We have an HP superdome "server" that sits 6 feet tall, 6 feet wide, and 4 feet deep, all external storage and all the other things that make it look like a "mainframe". Our z/OS box is a 7060 - the size of a 2 drawer file cabinet and it cost about 10% of the price of the HP box. Yet the HP box is a "server" and the 7060 is a "mainframe".
As far as the "outdated" part of it, we actually had z/OS systems programmers at our parent company tell me a few years ago that the 7060 (or any other z/OS machine) doesn't support e-mail. They wouldn't even believe me when I told them I had been e-mailing security and audit reports from the 7060 for a long time already. So which one is the mainframe and which isn't? Rex -----Original Message----- From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Fletcher, Kevin Sent: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 9:17 AM To: [email protected] Subject: Re: Is mainframe an operating system or database server?? To answer Howards last question, could it be the price? ;-) Thanks, Fletch What about Unisys? A computer doesn't have to be IBM compatible to be a Mainframe. Your definition seems to fit mini-computers (such as a VAX) as well. Heck, I've seen a PC that had all of its disk drives external - does that make the PC a main frame? What's the difference between a mainframe and a mini-computer? ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
