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The computers are categorized into Microcomputers, Minicomputers and Workstations, IBM Mainframes, Supercomputers. The Microcomputers like PC, Apple Mac Originated in late 70's were Single-user-oriented, the Minicomputers and Workstations
are Smaller versions of mainframe, usually run on either the highly portable Unix OS or close OS such as VAX (DEC), Nighthawk,
IBM AS/400, IBM RS/6000. The Mainframes are oldest form of computers, Expensive and powerful, Small, Medium, and Large-Program
handling Uniprocessor, high-speed storage can be shared by a wide variety of users.
Mainframes can handle large
volumes of data and Provide centralized administration Offer superior data management capabilities, can handle different types
of workload, have high data bandwidth, Monitor data integrity and security. Mainframes use Operating Systems like MVS/XA,
MVS/ESA, OS/390, VM/ESA and the latest being z/OS which has functionalities like System Management, Resources Management,
Memory Management, and File Management. The characteristics of Mainframe OS are Virtual storage, Multi-programming, Spooling,
Batch processing.
Four nines availability" and "Five nines availability" are terms unfortunately unfamiliar to PC users.
Yet it is these figures - 99.99% and 99.999% availability - that are used to rate the reliability of mainframes. Such figures
equate to between 5 and 53 minutes of downtime a year. In fact, for System/390 mainframes - the average time between failures
that force a reboot and an initial program load - is 20 to 30 years. Such reliability is truly stunning from the perspective
of a PC user, yet this kind of performance is crucial to businesses where a crash could incur losses of millions of dollars
for every hour of downtime.
The advent of minicomputers in the seventies and desktop PCs in the eighties was expected to ring the death knell for mainframes,
which were considered to be large, inflexible, expensive and difficult to use. Desktops were not only inexpensive, but could
also be connected through a network to a central server, enabling organizations to store huge amounts of data. But doomsayers
were proved wrong when despite stiff competition, the mainframe continued to maintain a steady growth rate. And in the current
scenario, where organizations (after 9/11) have increased spend on storage solutions, there is a trend which indicates that
mainframes may gain a bigger share in the IT budgets of CIOs.
A fundamental difference between mainframes and PCs is the respective attitudes shown towards them. If a PC crashes, it's
a problem. Work is lost, the user is unhappy, but then reboots the system and redoes whatever was lost. It's unlikely the
system administrator would even hear about it. If, however, a mainframe crashes, it's a major catastrophe.
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Maintec to Participate in Indo-American Chamber of Commerce Conference
RALEIGH, NC – November 17, 2003 – MAINTEC, Inc., an international Information
Technology (IT) Strategic Solutions provider, announces its participation in an event that will bring together a prestigious
faculty to discuss methods for corporations to improve business and IT processes, reduce costs, and mitigate risk by outsourcing
to India.
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Raleigh-based Maintec Boosts U.S. Customer Relationship Capabilities
RALEIGH, NC (USA) and BANGALORE, INDIA – November 10, 2003 – MAINTEC, Inc.,
an international Information Technology (IT) Strategic Solutions provider, announces the appointment of Sandy Gareton to the
position of Business Development Manager. Ms. Gareton is a Sales and Marketing specialist with over twenty years experience
in Information Technology, focusing on the large system environment. With a BS in Education/Mathematics and an MBA, she has
been instrumental in building customer IT solutions, creating strategic alliances, and providing quality assurance
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Mainframes are Mainstay for Maintec
Maintec Technologies Private Limited is today a sought-after destination for scores of professionals who wish to train
in operating mainframes. Ask Masteck, Mphasis BFL, Accenture, Technosoft, Visual Soft, Infosys, Kanbay, Mindtree, Phoenix
Global Solutions, Tata, Wipro, and IBM who form the client-base. For, Maintec is an authorized training partner of IBM Global
Services (India) Ltd to specifically impart training, both to the general public as well as corporates.
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