Mainframes are typically used by organizations and government departments rather than casual personal users. As such, they belong to a specialized field and a few myths surround the role and use of mainframe computers. Here are some of the most common myths about mainframes.
Ageing Mainframe Support Teams
There is a myth about mainframe experts and staff being of the older generation. In reality, there is a steady supply of mainframe graduates being hired by organizations that use mainframes.
Mainframes are Old Technology
Mainframes are in fact at the cutting edge of technology in IT systems. For example, virtualization and goal-based performance management began in mainframes, and these ideas are now being used in smaller platforms. Mainframes continue to perform better than platforms such as Windows and UNIX when it comes to maintenance requirements, security, and features such as diagnostic and debugging tools.
Mainframes are Labor Intensive
Mainframe staff can provide support for more than just the mainframe system. They can look after transaction processors, databases, and other products and tools in the IT system.
Mainframe Processors are Costly
State-of-the-art processors such as CMOS processors offer more processing power than required by a single instance of the operating system, giving users more value for money. There is also a used processor market for companies that want to save more on processors.
Mainframes are No Longer Competitive
Mainframes continue to add value for users in an Internet-driven world, and there are new tools being developed to facilitate Internet integration. For example, CICS by IBM works well as a website back-end program.