It's not that Linux for S/390-zSeries itself requires that much horsepower, it
depends on what you want to run on it.  For web sites, web application
serving, database, file & print functions, email and a number of other tasks
it really does a great job.

The problem is when folks try to compare a single task running on a PC to the
same single task running on the mainframe.  The PC is going to almost always
win.  It is not news that the mainframe processors are not speed daemons.
The benefit here is the ability for the mainframe to 'do lots of little
things'.  All of those functions I mentioned and many more can be done on the
mainframe quite well, especially if they come from significantly
underutilized machines.

Expectations can be a dangerous thing.  If you have workloads that are not
running well on the mainframe, consider that the mainframe is best when it is
doing thousands of things at once.  One thing at a time is a waste of
resources.

Save your high powered Intel and RISC machines for functions that need speed,
you don't want to do Fast Fourier Transforms, [EMAIL PROTECTED] or seismic analysis
on a mainframe.  But give it a 300GB file serving task or a few terabytes of
database data to serve along with providing email, backend network tasks and
web services functions and it will shine quite well.

On Saturday 05 April 2003 11:52 am, you wrote:
> so.. does linux require that much horsepower...???
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Post, Mark K [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2003 9:49 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject:
>
>
> Paul,
>
> That's the whole point.  The GP on a 0A1 is 80 MIPS, not 192.  An IFL that
> gets added to the box would run at 192, but not the GP.
>
>
> Mark Post
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Paul Raulerson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Sent: Saturday, April 05, 2003 12:00 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject:
>
>
> Hey Jim - is a 0A1 the crippled processor able to run z/OS?
> Basically, while I am not disputing your expertise, I sure don't
> follow your logic.
>
> I *know* that a 2.8mhz PC system running Linux will bog down,
> even when connected to an EMC storage unit for DASD, a whole
> lot faster than a z800 will. :)
>
> 192 mainframe MIPS goes a LONG way.
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Jim Elliott" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Friday, April 04, 2003 1:55 PM
>
> > From: "Noll, Ralph" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Subject: Re: performance
> >
> > > the performance of linux on s390 doesn't seem to be as fast as an x86
> > > box
> > >
> > > i am using suse sles8 31 bit for s/390 on a z/800 0a1 running vm 4.3
> > > with 2 vse's and 6 linux instances when i do the ind command..
> > > following.. doesn't look busy
> >
> > Ralph:
> >
> > A z800-0A1 is equivalent (in pure compute power) to a 280MHz Intel
> > system. Don't forget, this is the second smallest system IBM sells
> > today in the zSeries family.
> >
> > Regards, Jim

--
Rich Smrcina
Sr. Systems Engineer
Sytek Services, A Division of DSG
Milwaukee, WI
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
[EMAIL PROTECTED]

Catch the WAVV!  Stay for Requirements and the Free for All!
Update your S/390 skills in 4 days for a very reasonable price.
WAVV 2003 in Winston-Salem, NC.
April 25-29, 2003
For details see http://www.wavv.org

Reply via email to