IT & Network Infrastructure : Cutting Mainframe Costs: Top 10 Management Practices

Modern mainframe computers have abilities that are defined not much by their single task computational speed—usually defined as mips (millions of instructions per second)—but by their redundant internal engineering, which provides high reliability and security, extensive input-output facilities, and high utilization rates to support massive throughput. The machines often run for years without interruption, with repairs and hardware upgrades taking place during normal operation. However, mainframe operation is not without cost. Typical mainframe costs include data center services, staffing, power, application development and maintenance. This eWEEK slide show, based on information provided by mainframe software provider Compuware, looks at 10 ways to lower the costs of mainframe operations.