Personally, I like the idea of learning on real hardware if possible.
The zD&T can teach you software, but where is the HMC? Where are the
cards, where are the cables? A few z13s boxes were possibly available
to me last year if I would have asked nicely and driven my old truck
2000 miles and back. I thought about it, but with no DASD, no software,
and (like I think Jay mentioned) no 3-phase, I didn't pursue it. Oh, it
would have gone in the garage where my wife currently parks her car -
that might have turned out to be the biggest issue.
On 4/15/2022 5:35 PM, Enzo D'Amato wrote:
Nothing in particular about the z114, other than the seller is offering it to me at
an unbeatable price. In terms of the zD&T, I have messed around in Hercules
before, and it would probably be more expensive than buying the unit that I am
looking at. I am also hoping to learn more about the 'care and feeding' of the
hardware. I agree that there are certainly concerns, which is why I am posting here
:-).
________________________________________
From: IBM Mainframe Discussion List <[email protected]> on behalf of Grant
Taylor <[email protected]>
Sent: Friday, April 15, 2022 6:58 PM
To: [email protected]
Subject: Re: HS student with question about small mainframe DASD
On 4/15/22 3:32 PM, Enzo D'Amato wrote:
Hello.
Hi,
I am a US high school student who is seriously considering acquiring a
z114 mainframe.
I hope that I don't come off too wrong when I ask, but why do you want a
z114? -- I completely get wanting a mainframe. -- But why a z114?
Or, perhaps more accurately, why a z114 over a zD&T?
Is there something specific to the z114 that appeals to you more than
other IBM mainframes?
Don't get me wrong, I think that owning a big big iron box would be very
appealing. I just think that caring for (equiping), feeding (powering),
and cleaning up after (cooling) it is probably a big task.
I have found a listing selling one for a price that I think
is reasonable, and I have determined that I can meet the space,
transportation and power requirements for the machine.
These are just some of the hurtles that I think having a physically big
system.
I did however have one question before I continued. I know in Connor
Krukosky's talk, his biggest issue was finding DASD for the machine.
This is yet another BIG problem. I know of multiple people that have a
CEC but don't have DASD for their CEC. As such, their CEC is of
relatively limited use for them.
I have looked, and it appears that proper ficon DASD is still rare. My
situation is not quite as significant as Connor's , as my machine
has SCSI IPL as a native feature. Despite this, I wanted to know if
anyone here could give some advice on the topic. Would the machine
still provide a good learning experience with just FBA storage?
Others are WAY more qualified to speak to this than I am.
Thank you for any information that you can provide
I hope that you'll take my "why a z114" question in the light spirit it
is intended. I would encourage you to spend some time looking at the
zD&T (family of) product(s) as I suspect it might be a much more
accessible entry point into the IBM mainframe ecosystem.
I also say this because I would be ... disheartened to end up in a
position like Connor et al. wherein I purchased a system to later learn
that there was a different option to ... simplify introduction to the
ecosystem.
Perhaps I'm completely wrong and you are very well versed in IBM
mainframes. If that is the case, I humbly apologize and will see myself
out.
Best of luck to you and your endeavors. :-)
--
Grant. . . .
unix || die
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