Infrastructure


Big Blue's z9-Centered Information Utopia

IBM's vision puts the mainframe in the center of a distributed application ecosystem that consumes data served up by zIIP workload engines

Enterprise Grid Computing: Parallel Distributed Computing (Part 5 of 7)

A core capability of the grid is parallel distributed computation—scaling application performance beyond what is possible with one computer or grid “node.” Unfortunately, most applications today don’t take advantage of parallel computing.

The Mainframe Capacity Conundrum: Getting Better All the Time

What’s not to like about z/Linux and other cheap mainframe workloads?

Enterprise Grid Computing: Usage Models (Part 4 of 7)

One benefit of the hierarchical framework for grids introduced last week is that it helps us discover (and provides insight into) key constituencies in a grid ecosystem and its dynamics. Understanding these dynamics is fundamental to building a sound grid strategy.

As the World Trains (Revisited)

Instead of embracing training as an investment in a savvy and innovative IT workforce, companies tend to view it as an encumbrance

Enterprise Grids: A Framework (Part 3 of 7)

We explore what grids are, their usefulness, and how they should be implemented and deployed.

Business Process Success: Advice from an Expert

Organizations do successfully manage people and process changes en route to large scale enterprise transformations. Here’s how.



SNA and the Hot New Network Security Paradigm

No, Systems Network Architecture (SNA) isn’t making a comeback. Instead, Nortel’s Secure Network Access (also SNA) deliverable is the latest take on a hot new network security paradigm

Training: Commitment to IT Pros Still Low

Even companies that have embraced next-generation mainframe workloads often give short shrift to the question of training. What gives?

Enterprise Grid Computing: The Value of Resource Pooling—A Transportation Analogy (Part 2 of 7)

A great way to understand the power and benefits of grids is to look at the philosophy and two key properties they share with large transportation systems.

Splunk Touts Troubleshooting Rx

How you may be troubleshooting application performance and reliability issues in the loosely coupled application-scape of the future

Sprint Nextel Reverses Course on Outsourcing

GM, Dell, and Gap all notched mega outsourcing deals, but Sprint Nextel backed out of its own outsourcing accord with IBM

IBM BladeCenter Changes Chip and Chassis

What do the PlayStation 3 and IBM’s next-generation blade system have in common? A single Cell, you might say.

State of the Mainframe, Part II: The Capacity Conundrum

Some mainframe pros say that next-generation workloads (such as zLinux and J2EE) point the way to false destinies

SOA’s Impact on SLAs: Trouble Ahead

Organizations may see service-enablement, and the next generation of SLAs, as a chance to improve the responsiveness and dynamism of their IT departments.

IBM Tweaks DB2 Workload Pricing

New processor could reduce the cost of exposing Big Iron DB2 to CRM, ERP, and other workloads

State of the Mainframe (First in a Three-Part Series)

In spite of their differences, mainframers seem to agree on a few important points, although even these may surprise you.

Speculation Grows Over Acquisitions

In light of IBM’s purchase last year of Ascential, SAP and Oracle could be contemplating blockbuster data integration acquisitions of their own.

zSeries: Big Plans Ahead?

What can we expect from IBM’s zSeries team in 2006? If history is any indication, it could be an eventful year.

Big Iron Pessimism Persists

With so many major events last year in the mainframe arena, why are so many Big Iron pros still pessimistic about the future?