Mainframe Cost

The Benefits and Challenges of Mainframe Application Modernization

Mainframe systems have been the backbone of large businesses and organizations since the advent of the IBM System 360 in 1964. That is a long time for mainframe systems to grow and increase in complexity, making them difficult to maintain over time. As a result, many companies are now considering mainframe application modernization as a means of increasing their efficiency and reducing their costs. Mainframe application modernization refers to the process of updating and optimizing

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The Role of Db2 DBAs in Promoting zIIP Usage

As most z/OS practitioners know, zIIP processors can provide significant benefits in cost savings and improved performance. And one of the most significant areas for taking advantage of the benefits that zIIPs can provide is within Db2 for z/OS. As such, the role of Db2 DBAs in promoting zIIP usage can be critical. It is important to note that not all features of Db2 for z/OS can run on zIIP processors and that the extent

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Ebook: Shifting COBOL Compute to Reduce Mainframe Cost

COBOL application modernization doesn’t have to be complicated, expensive, risky, or involve never-ending projects that miss their goals. But, if your organization is like many others, rising mainframe costs are beginning to force action. If it isn’t already on your cost reduction plans, COBOL application modernization should be. Why? Mainframe costs continue to increase, with mainframe software licenses rising a remarkable 8 – 15% in 2023.  If you are responsible for COBOL applications, your responses

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Choosing the Right Application for Shifting COBOL Compute Application Modernization

What Applications are Good Shift COBOL Compute Candidates? If your curiosity has been piqued by the benefits of shifting COBOL compute and how it can be accomplished, you may have begun to think about the applications in your inventory and if they would align with this type of modernization effort. Selecting the right applications or programs to begin this journey is one of the critical success factors. Choose incorrectly, and no matter how good your

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Common Misconceptions About zIIPs

Regular readers of my posts here know that zIIPs are a type of mainframe specialty processor that augments the general-purpose CPUs. Instead of running all workloads on the general-purpose CPUs, specific workloads are shuttled to the specialty processors for execution. The zIIP, or Integrated Information Processor, was initially created to process certain types of Db2 workloads, but over time the work that can be processed on the zIIP has expanded. Nevertheless, the primary reason for

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Mainframe Cost Optimization: Full Capacity, Sub-Capacity, and Tailored-Fit

Mainframe cost optimization is a current buzzword being applied to many different processes and techniques. But let’s face it, optimization in this context inevitably means reduction. The general idea is that companies are looking for ways to reduce the cost of their computing infrastructure. And who can blame them? If you can pay less for something, why not do it? So, what types of things get lumped into mainframe cost optimization? Generally speaking, you can

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What is the Average Cost per MIPS or MSU? Who Cares!

The title of today’s post is a question that I get asked all the time. Sometimes by users who are interested in trying to curtail mainframe costs. Sometimes by vendors looking for a way to promote their products that help to reduce costs. While both are well-meaning, this is a question I never answer. Because it is meaningless. Let’s discuss why this is so. First, let’s look at some of the “answers” to this question

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Planning a Successful Shifting COBOL Compute Project Now Available on YouTube

As mainframe costs continue to rise, alternate compute and execution environments such as the zIIP, Linux, and the cloud are gaining more attention and credibility. Using cross-compile techniques to transform COBOL systems to Java creates opportunities for application owners and IT management to explore and prove the economics of hybrid environments that leverage less expensive execution. While IT organizations are getting comfortable with hybrid environments for enterprise applications, most still need to pull their mainframe

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The Many Types of Mainframe Pricing

Whenever somebody talks about software pricing on the mainframe or tuning to save on their monthly mainframe bill, I always wonder just exactly what they are talking about. Are they aware of all their company’s licensing agreements and all the intricacies therein? Before we move on, let me just state that the mainframe still makes good economic sense. The total cost of ownership (TCO) for the mainframe, when you add up all of the cost

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The Last MSU is the Cheapest

The cost per MSU (or MIPS) is not steady. At least not for sub-capacity pricing. As the number of MSUs or MIPS  you consume increases, the cost per/MSU (MIPS) goes down. This means that each MSU (or MIPS) saved will be the cheapest you are paying for. This can be verified by reviewing the IBM Z Software Pricing Reference Guide. The price per MSU is based on a multi-level system unique to the sub-capacity pricing

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CloudFrame’s intelligent COBOL transformation software accelerates the migration of COBOL applications to cloud-ready native technologies.

CloudFrame’s intelligent COBOL transformation software accelerates the migration of COBOL applications to cloud-ready native technologies.

Princeton, N.J., USA, June 30, 2023 – CloudFrame, the fast-growing COBOL to Java transformation software company, today announces its partnership with EPAM Systems, Inc.,  a leading digital transformation services and product engineering company, to provide enterprises and government agencies that rely on COBOL applications with an automated, end-to-end, modernization journey. EPAM’s Mainframe Modernization team will […]

The Role of Mainframe Data in a Hybrid Cloud Environment

The Role of Mainframe Data in a Hybrid Cloud Environment

More and more organizations are adopting a hybrid approach to their IT environment. In the context of computing and IT infrastructure, a hybrid environment combines multiple types of resources or technologies, typically involving a mix of on-premises infrastructure, private cloud, and public cloud services. It allows organizations to leverage the benefits of both on-premises and […]

Shifting COBOL Compute Workload: GFT and CloudFrame Partner to Reduce Mainframe Costs Now Available on YouTube

Shifting COBOL Compute Workload: GFT and CloudFrame Partner to Reduce Mainframe Costs Now Available on YouTube

  Organizations that rely on mainframe COBOL applications for mission-critical internal and customer-facing applications are facing significant challenges. The IT professionals needed to maintain these applications are getting harder to find and more expensive to hire. Additionally, the execution cost of delivering long-standing results is increasing yearly. Historical increases for MLC have been around 5% […]