The Hindu Business Line : Mainframe matters

Corporations worldwide are using IBM mainframes to run their critical business applications and this number is growing. But all's not rosy in the field.

Sreenath Chary, Business Unit Executive-System z, IBM India/South, Asia, says, "Unfortunately, the challenge a number of corporations are facing is finding mainframe engineers qualified to understand this technology. As veteran mainframe engineers exit the workforce, they take with them decades of knowledge and expertise on mainframe technology and, in turn, potentially can compromise the security of large Fortune 1000 companies that rely on mainframes.

Therefore, the need to train up-and-coming engineers on the old as well as the latest mainframe technologies is essential."

Trying to address this issue is IBM's latest academic initiative, the System z Program designed to train 20,000 mainframe engineers by 2010.

Over to Sreenath Chary as he speaks on mainframe technology essentials and more.

What exactly is mainframe technology all about?

The IBM Dictionary Of Computing defines "mainframe" as "a large computer, in particular one to which other computers can be connected so that they can share the facilities the mainframe provides (for example, a System/370 computing system to which personal computers are attached so that they can upload and download programs and data). The term usually refers to hardware only, namely, main storage, execution circuitry and peripheral units."

Today, the term mainframe can best be used to describe a style of operation, applications, and operating system facilities.

Mainframe is the leading data processing machine in the world's largest corporations. Some believed it would eventually become obsolete, but IBM continues to prove them wrong.

Mainframes are also especially attractive given that cost and availability of energy are a major concern for corporations and businesses across the world and IBM mainframes provide a way to reduce power and cooling costs, and what better time than now.

How is the market growing in India and globally?

In 2007, IBM's mainframe revenue grew by 18 per cent in markets such as India, Russia, Brazil and China and our goal to have 20,000 professionals trained in z Series skills by 2010 is progressing steadily.

There are about 10,000 mainframe footprints worldwide and about half of them are in the financial services sector, which includes insurance and other related businesses.

As a result of the 10,000 footprints, IBM brings in billions of dollars in additional hardware, software and peripheral sales. Furthermore, in the market for servers that cost more than $250,000, the System z has been outgrowing the competition since the end of 2000.

What are the trends shaping global business and the need to build a pipeline of mainframe engineers?

Mainframes are exclusive to IBM and we have a history when it comes to this technology.

Through the years we have made mainframes available to all parts of the business and have reached a level where we can bring technology such as the z10 to market. It is rated as one of the best so far in terms of breakthrough technology.

According to a recent Gartner report, over 70 per cent of the world's top organisations will have to modify their data centre facilities significantly in the near future. This provides an opportunity for mainframes to address these customer needs and creates a higher demand for mainframe engineers. As veteran mainframe coders and administrators leave the workforce in the next few years, there will be a gap in regard to trained engineers managing their mainframe environments, hence the need for a swift knowledge transfer from the IT professionals with mainframe experience who have a unique and valuable knowledge that's hard to grow, much less replace.

What mainframe education strategies can be adopted to face the situation?

The Mainframe Charter is a framework for planned future investment with the goal of delivering ongoing value to mainframe customers. The framework is built upon our dedication to community, innovation and value.

IBM has launched many initiatives, one of which is the IBM Academic Initiative: System z Program.

This is a joint programme with 230 universities worldwide that is designed to train 20,000 mainframe engineers by 2010. It provides colleges and universities with educational resources to enhance the IBM System z skilled resource base and help students develop practical skills that enable them to find good jobs quickly upon graduation.

This also helps clients and business partners have access to qualified mainframe talent, strengthen collaboration with academia, and develop targeted work-study programmes.

In coordination with SHARE, IBM also has zNext Generation, a global community for mainframe system veterans and new mainframe professionals to come together, exchange ideas and learn from each other.

IBM is also simplifying mainframe management and is spending $100 million to give the mainframe a Windows-oriented, easy-to-use Graphical User Interface (GUI).

By doing this, IBM is making it possible for lesser-skilled individuals to manage mainframes and making mainframe management more appealing to future managers and administrators.

IBM offers mainframes education in colleges through its University programme and some of the institutes to check include: -ibmmainframes.com http://www.training-classes.com/providers/00/13/1320_ibmmainframes_com.php -Pentasoft http://www.pentasoft.com/ - SISI http://www.sisi-chennai.com/ - DSRC http://www.dsrc.com/ - Global http://www.globalsoftesm.com/ - HTMT http://searchportal.information.com/index.mas?epl=00760085VFAXVE0DWlgVVRBeVwMAFQVbC1YKW1kADFAIUExZRUtWWw8eXB1aQBFfEl5XAwAVAGsPU14DAFhV - Maples http://www.maplesesm.com/ - Maintec http://www.maintec.com/ - Texas http://www.texasindia.com/

"The IBM Dictionary Of Computing defines "mainframe" as "a large computer, in particular one to which other computers can be connected so that they can share the facilities the mainframe provides."

Paromita.pain@gmail.com

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