On 2 Aug 2007 06:58:23 -0700, Art Celestini wrote:
>I think what Timothy and perhaps others are suggesting, is that Linux
>may serve as a kind of loss leader for System Z. Say Company XYZ
>decides to do like IBM and replace 100 Windows/Unix servers with z/VM
>and Linux. Then, a year later, they are looking for a high-reliability
>database server. The IBM salesperson now has his/her foot in the
>door and can, at least, suggest DB2 running on z/OS - running on
>hardware that the Customer already owns.
I think Mohammad Khan made my point in a more entertaining (and less
subtle) way:
>It's a simple case of "NO SOUP FOR YOU DINOS" with strong hint about what
>we should be learning.
Your example of Company XYZ, deciding to replace 100 Windows/Unix
servers with z/VM and Linux, implies that the firm is purchasing its
*first* System z box. After the server migration is completed, when
XYZ decides they need that high-reliability database server, I suspect
they will likely look first at continuing to use Linux as their
platform of choice. Oracle and DB2 are both available for that
platform (and are marketed as high-reliability database engines), as
well as MySQL and PostgreSQL. And since the firm's IT skill base is
probably very deep in the Linux/*nix culture, building the database
server on Linux would probably be a quicker and less costly approach
than bringing in a completely new platform (z/OS). And z/OS shops that
engage in server consolidation probably won't be bringing in much new
z/OS workload.
I note that there are one or two individuals in this group who have
had some difficulty finding acceptable sysprog positions, despite long
searches. I don't think the kind of sever consolidation that IBM is
promoting will help improve the employment opportunities for these
folks.
As Mohammad suggested, I think the handwriting is on the wall: don't
limit your skill set to legacy MVS - OS/390 - z/OS! Crack open those
books and expand your technical horizon!
Eric
--
Eric Chevalier E-mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Web: www.tulsagrammer.com
Is that call really worth your child's life? HANG UP AND DRIVE!
----------------------------------------------------------------------
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
