Logicalis To Demystify The Mainframe

Logicalis Launches UK’s First Mainframe ‘Try Before You Buy’ Test Environment To Demonstrate Efficiency And Cost Savings. In a bid to dispel the myths surrounding mainframe deployments, Logicalis will today launch the UK’s first IBM System z Workload Consolidation Test Environment. Hosted at Logicalis’ state- of- the- art Innovation Centre, the Test Environment will allow enterprises to design and build a bespoke mainframe platform, in order that organisations can evaluate the economic and environmental potential of implementing a mainframe strategy.

“Though the

mainframe remains a popular architecture for large enterprises and financial organisations, widespread adoption is still hindered from hype generated in the 90s by the distributed server industry,” explains Martin Boakes, IBM System z specialist at Logicalis. Boakes continues, “The mainframe’s reputation as a costly and cumbersome technology is today replaced by a new breed of platform, which is beating distributed systems hands down when it comes to efficiency, cost and environmental credentials. By providing a free test environment, organisations can see for themselves the potential of a mainframe platform and establish whether this is the appropriate strategy to pursue.”

Using IBM System z/VM, Linux OS and Oracle, the Test Environment is designed to demonstrate the technical flexibility and economic benefits of today’s mainframe, specifically highlighting its capability as an ultra consolidation platform. Says Boakes, “As well as reducing server sprawl, a mainframe is a great tool for software consolidation, which can help organisations slash their licensing costs and divert operational resource elsewhere. In this economic climate, it is these strategies that will enable IT directors to demonstrate long-term commercial leadership, whilst at the same time, seek innovative ways of driving down costs and increasing revenues across the business.”