Linux goes solo on IBM mainframe

NEWS

A new Linux-only mainframe model that IBM will announce on Friday is the strongest indication so far of the company's enthusiasm for uniting the comparatively new operating system with the decades-old business computer line. The refrigerator-sized machine running only Linux will be formally announced at the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo show in New York next week and will begin shipping by the end of March, said Pete McCaffrey, director of IBM's zSeries mainframe group. IBM hopes to lure new customers to the mainframe line with the system because it costs less than a full-fledged mainframe and doesn't require the usual high level of mainframe management skills, he said. "I would say that most industry analysts right now are probably impressed with the speed with which Linux has been adopted on the mainframe," said Giga Information Group analyst David Mastrobattista. "It's only been on the mainframe for a little over a year now." Indeed, IBM boasts that 11 percent of the mainframe computing processing power sold in the fourth quarter of 2001 was for running Linux jobs. This computing power, which can come either from new systems or from switching on idle processors in existing systems, is measured in the arcane unit known as "MIPS" (millions of instructions per second). Because the Linux-only system doesn't need to support all the features that a regular mainframe needs, its hardware and software is simpler and its price is dramatically lower -- not to say it's actually inexpensive. A system with one of its four processors activated costs about $400,000, McCaffrey said. Prices for switching on the other processors, haven't yet been determined. The system can run hundreds of versions of Linux, each a separate machine, and IBM believes customers will use it to replace larger numbers of other servers spread out across businesses. The most likely customer is indeed "the customer who is feeling the pain of having a server farm sprawl," Mastrobattista said. The system likely will replace Unix servers from Sun Microsystems and Windows servers from companies such as Compaq, Dell and Hewlett-Packard, running jobs such as sharing files, managing print jobs or delivering Web pages. "I think it's a good move for IBM. They're trying to capitalise on the momentum the mainframe had in 2001," he said. IBM reported mainframe revenue grew at more than 10 percent for 2001 compared with 2000. Sun, one of IBM's biggest rivals, has accused Big Blue of trying to take over Linux, which is developed by a cooperative effort spanning many companies and volunteers through the shared programming "open-source" philosophy. "You can't put a billion (dollars) into Linux development without hijacking and owning it," said John Shoemaker, Sun's executive vice president for computing systems, at a news conference last week, referring to IBM's plan to spend that much in 2001. But IBM couldn't do that even if it wanted to, McCaffrey said. "You won't see us take something like Linux proprietary," he said. "It's controlled and managed by open source." IBM also will announce a version of its iSeries line of special-purpose servers that runs only Linux, McCaffrey said. That system, a version of the i820 with a starting price of $50,000, accommodates up to 15 virtual Linux systems and up to four processors.

See the Hardware News Section for the latest update on everything from MP3 players and PDAs to supercomputing. Have your say instantly, and see what others have said. Go to the ZDNet news forum. Let the editors know what you think in the Mailroom.

Post your comment

In order to post a comment you need to be registered and logged in.

You can also log in with Facebook. Log in or create your ZDNet UK account below

By signing up for this service, you indicate that you agree to our Terms and Conditions and have read and understood our Privacy Policy. Questions about membership? Find the answers in the Community FAQ

ZDNet UK Live

I'be been using Mint 12 since the RC came out, and I am far more happy with the Cinnamon, the Mate, and, yes (with extensions), theGnome 3...

19 minutes ago by Frederick Wrigley via Facebook on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Excellent article. One small correction, though--although a fresh installation of Linux Mint 12 will, indeed, provide the user with a version of...

1 hour ago by bdantas on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

2 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material

In related news, the ISPs club together to get the members of the Home Affairs Select Committee (ya goofed on that part, ZDNet UK) copies of "The...

2 hours ago by Alan Ralph via Facebook on MPs urge ISPs to take down terrorist material

For Gnome 2 die-hards, it is possible to add icons to the bottom panel (or top top panel, if you prefer) which provide the exact Gnome 2...

2 hours ago by Moley on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

Your comments would seem pretty naive and immature. Your 'solution' appears to be, "gee, let's all just give in to the hackers and give them...

3 hours ago by ramwellian on Cloud computing security: no more oxymoron?

"Interesting thought ... If you installed Win7 as a dual boot on a machine that previously only had Linux, and it wrecked your Linux installation,...

3 hours ago by BugStalker on Windows 7 Declares War on GRUB

This is an excellent summary of Ubuntu and Mint and the interface differences between them. Most such articles take a very partisan position for...

3 hours ago by whs001 on A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

@ewallace. Not so clear. Anyone can obtain the text, for example from here http://www.ustr.gov/webfm_send/2379. I support ACTA so long as it and...

3 hours ago by Moley on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions

I think WinRT is fantastic. I just wish it was an option for people that didn't want to go through Microsoft's App Store with its attendant...

6 hours ago by 45283 on Why Windows 8 needs architectural hygiene for WOA

Nine people? £30m? Who's back pocket is that lot going in? And IF they say it is for new buildings, what about all the ones the government has...

7 hours ago by Burn-IT on Police set to launch three £30m e-crime hubs

Just to be clear, nobody knows what is in the text of ACTA, here is a photograph of the text of ACTA http://twitpic.com/8h9iju as submitted to the...

8 hours ago by ewallace on ACTA: Facts, misconceptions and questions

Unfortunately main issue is that ASUS is refusing to accept that they make some mistake on this version of asus Transformer prime. 1 - GPS sensor...

9 hours ago by fgvrg56 on Asus Eee Pad Transformer Prime Wi-Fi & GPS problems?

@Marcus A fair question. Just talked with Archos which said it was working on an announcement for next week....

10 hours ago by Ben Woods on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule

Any update on this, considering the claimed "first week of February"?

11 hours ago by Marcus Karlsson via Facebook on Archos confirms G9 Ice Cream Sandwich update schedule

Bill Goodrich : Just as al_langevin pointed out, with Windows Server 2008 there is no Services for Macintosh anymore. It's gone, not available....

19 hours ago by apexwm on Windows Server 2008 drops the ball for Mac compatibility

Replying to an old topic that I'm currently facing with my CEO (who is on a Mac). Our servers are primarily Windows Servers, office is about...

1 day ago by txtrainguy on Windows Server 2008 drops the ball for Mac compatibility

Sure, that makes perfect sense. Pay wrong-doers money and thank them for breaching your security and pointing out your flaws, that would surely...

1 day ago by k0tcs3 on US indicts Romanian over NASA climate change hack

I think he's referring specifically to Android apps, as Apple do regulate their App Store, but Google seem to let any old crap onto the Android store!

1 day ago by Random_Error on RIM: BlackBerry will keep 'garbage' apps out of store

Keep the crap apps out?! How will they compete with Android and Apple's claim to fame of having so many life changing apps? I wonder if the media...

1 day ago by Paul Fezziwig via Facebook on RIM: BlackBerry will keep 'garbage' apps out of store

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Linux goes solo on IBM mainframe

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Police to investigate Linux desktops

Asian enterprises turn to Linux

The Year Ahead: Will Linux survive the dot-com crash?

IBM beckons Linux fans to server line

Apple bucks a falling PC trend in UK and France

Post your comment

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Desktop Hardware

Apple bucks a falling PC trend in UK and France

Apple takes top PC spot from HP

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Test Analyst - Business Intelligence /Data Warehousing

Test Analyst - Business Intelligence /Data Warehousing

Technical MI Manager - 50-60k - Leeds

Inside ZDNet UK

A tale of two distros: Ubuntu and Linux Mint

2012 Predictions: VCE FastPath, VI SAN Probe & Hadoop

BlackBerry Bold 9790

Case study: How cloud enables growth

Ten factors that make Ubuntu 11.10 a hit

Toshiba Portégé Z830-10P Review

BT's archive: Pictures from the vault

News & Analysis

Reviews

Blogs

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features

ZDNet UK / News and Analysis / Workspace IT / Desktop Hardware

Linux goes solo on IBM mainframe

Daily Newsletters

Topics

Related stories

Post your comment

Get ZDNet UK's daily newsletter

Enter your email address to sign up

ZDNet UK Live

Latest in Desktop Hardware

Featured white papers

Latest jobs

Inside ZDNet UK

Resources

About Us

Member Services

Special Features

Advertising Features