On 11 May 2015 at 10:36, John Eells <[email protected]> wrote: > - Why you choose tape for software delivery > - Whether you can use one of the alternatives, DVD or Internet, and if not, > why.
I'm not involved in ordering or receiving IBM software these days, but one thing I see as an ISV is that there is a split between tapes and all other methods: tapes go to the data centre address, but DVDs and such, and effectively most online downloads, go to the address where the sysprog works, and are then uploaded to the mainframe from some desktop system. The days when the sysprogs/product installers always worked right next to the machine room are long gone, of course, and very often the hardware is now in another state or country. To some extent this is about how automated the receipt and installation of software is; if it comes to the sysprog's desk then it's much more a manual process than if it goes directly into a tape library under the control of Operations. Of course there are exceptions - DVDs can go to the mainframe, there can be remote tape drives near the sysprogs, and downloads can be done directly via SMP/E, but I think the general rule still applies. So in some cases the answer to your question may have little to do with tapes qua tapes, and more to do with the delivery address. Tony H. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
