Mainframe COBOL

IBM pushes EGL as key to legacy modernization

Mike — Sat, 13 Mar 2010 11:00:26 +0000

IBM is furthering its push to position Enterprise Generation Language (EGL) as a key component of its legacy modernization business, bridging customers to Java.

“Fundamentally, IBM is using EGL as the broom to sweep up many of the stray cats and dogs [3GL languages] of the last several decades as a first step to modernization,” said Gartner Research vice president Dale Vecchio.

IBM uses EGL as a replacement language that it says will help organizations reduce third-party ISV licensing costs as well as the number of licenses required on the mainframe, Vecchio said. EGL targets COBOL, Natural and other languages that were commonly used to write business applications in previous decades. READ MORE

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The PC Has Become a Mainframe

Mike — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 20:48:36 +0000

Microsoft MultiPoint Server 2010 has managed to turn a PC into a mainframe. In fact it is much more like a mainframe than ever before. MultiPoint provides the ability to allow multiple people to use a single computer simultaneously. Using their own monitors, keyboard, and mouse, they have access to the Windows machine in much the same way that terminals could access a mainframe in the 80s.

It seems that the more things change, the more they return to the same! READ MORE

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Shark Tank - Just our way of showing we care

Mike — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:54:05 +0000

Flashback to the 1980s, when IBM is still shipping source code for big-iron internals, says this mainframe pilot fish.

“IBM discontinued supporting BTAM under CICS, but we had a major customer who communicated via CICS BTAM,” fish says.

Translation: The big customer uses the CICS transaction-processing system, and connects to it over telecommunication lines using the very old BTAM protocol — and IBM has just stopped supporting that approach. READ MORE

Editor’s note: Sharky is one of my favorite ComputerWorld features!

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IIBM DB2 9.7 Shakes up the DBMS Market with Oracle Compatibility

Mike — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 05:01:27 +0000

In April 2009, IBM announced DB2 9.7, the newest version of DB2 database management system, which contains many new features for increasing performance, reliability and ease of use; lowering management costs; enhancing workload management; and adding compatibility with Oracle PL/SQL stored procedures and other Oracle-specific functionality. READ MORE

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The Slow Death of the PC: Still Waiting for a Viable Challenger

Mike — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 20:48:59 +0000

I was at IBM at the time that IBM itself seemed to declare the death of the mainframe era. Analysts and companies alike claimed that the mainframe was dead, to be replaced by client/server computing. Around two and a half decades later, the mainframe is still around and it is still one of the largest and most profitable businesses IBM has. Far from being dead, it is now a showcase for some of the most cutting-edge technology density, energy management, and cooling technology in the market. READ MORE

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CA Accelerating Its Push Into The Cloud

Mike — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 06:00:04 +0000

CA (CA), formerly known as Computer Associates, is making aggressive moves to join the growing trend of cloud computing, one that is fast transforming data centers.

Cloud computing marks a major shift for information technology managers. Users don’t load software onto their computers but instead access programs via the Web. It’s a way to cut the cost of managing on-site computer resources. READ MORE

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If programming languages were like women…

Mike — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:31:19 +0000

There are so many programming languages available that it can be very difficult to get to know them all well enough to pick the right one for you. On the other hand most men know what kind of woman appeals to them. So here is a handy guide for many of the popular programming languages that describes what kind of women they would be if programming languages were women.

COBOL A plump secretary.

She talks far too much, and most of what she says can be ignored. She works hard and long hours, but can’t handle really complicated jobs. She has a short and unpredictable temper, so no one really likes working with her. She can cook meals for a huge family, but only knows bland recipes.

FOR MORE, CLICK HERE

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Linux…Ten Years On the Mainframe!

Mike — Sat, 06 Mar 2010 11:00:04 +0000

Mainframes are about 40 years old. And as you probably know, several years ago mainframes were written off as expensive, dated computers that were capable of running only large business applications. Mainframe go south, many said. Not anymore - thanks to Linux!

Linux on mainframes has evolved rapidly during the past 10 years - yes - 2010 is the 10th anniversary of Linux on the mainframe. READ MORE

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Much Work to be Done Before the Boomers Bolt

Mike — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 11:00:08 +0000

Though more marathon than sprint, insurers are indeed in a race to glean as much as they can from a graying IT workforce possessing increasingly rare skill sets and a vast amount of institutional and system-specific knowledge.

Considering the stakes, carriers need to make tactical considerations, including shifting internal staff and outsourcing certain functions, in order to maximize the effectiveness of these workers. READ MORE

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My developerWorks: IBM DB2 Users Group/Forum

Mike — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 11:00:40 +0000

Interested in DB2? This group is for you! Fans of all DB2 versions on all platforms (DB2 for Linux, Unix and Windows, DB2 for z/OS and DB2 for i5/OS) are welcome.

DB2 is IBM’s flagship database management system designed to handle both relational data as well as data stored as XML documents. The hallmark characteristics of DB2 are world’s best proven performance, virtually unlimited scalability, unmatched reliability and security.

CLICK HERE TO GO TO THE IBM WEBSITE

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