I'm confused a little bit. I've been trying to follow this topic for a couple of years now and I don't quite understand what this is all about. Here is what I think I understand. Would someone mind correcting me where I'm wrong?
It seems there are two main reasons that people have for wanting to run z/OS on something other than an IBM box. The first reason is to be able to run z/OS (or z/VM) on a cheaper box for some sort of production type or commercial systems. Here is where I understand that IBM has a problem with PSI. Also Funsoft/Flex systems had been available for this type of usage. The user still had to license the IBM software. I'm certainly no expert (which is why I'm asking), but it seems to me that this really isn't a good idea. IMHO it isn't a mainframe if it is running on an 80x86 box. I actually think IBM should have a say in what sort of hardware their software can be licensed to run on. They did this with Amdahl didn't they? The second reason is software related only and involves development, development partners, universities, and other uses where you don't need or want expensive hardware. IBM used to offer their development partners the ADCD set that contained every piece of z/OS software with the exception of cryptography. Who cares (within reason of course) how well it runs? IBM isn't allowing it to be used as a "mainframe". As for reason one, my opinion doesn't matter. That's between IBM and the courts and whomever. Reason two I really care about. We really need low-cost, low-maintenance machines that one person can administer and run cheaply so that we can expand MVS (z/OS, z/VM, Linux for z) knowledge as much as possible. And it would be used for learning/training purposes or for developing software to make the mainframe even better than it already is. I'm hoping that IBM is considering this seriously. They could take Hercules and make it better or write their own emulator. Is this an accurate picture of the situation, or have I gotten it all wrong (again)? (-: Kind regards, Lindy > -----Original Message----- > From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On > Behalf Of Steven Conway > Sent: 5. syyskuuta 2007 14:48 > To: [email protected] > Subject: Re: z/OS and Hercules > > You're not. > > IBM does not, at this time, license any of their commercial operating > systems for Hercules. Or any other hardware, recently. > > Hercules enthusiasts generally run an old, free OS like MVT, or a free > current OS (Linux for zSeries). > > Not that we don't beg and whine at SHARE. Or maybe that's just me. > > > Cheers,,,Steve > > Steve Conway > Lead Systems Programmer > Information Systems & Services Division > Computer & Network Operations > Phone: (703) 450-3156 > Fax: (703) 450-3197 > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- 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
