Hi all-
I've seen a lot of threads in here pertaining to IBM and the Z series,
and I was curious is anyone here aware of IBM's Multiprise series for 390
arch? These are actually small 390 arch boxes used (to great effect) for
VM, MVS, and yes, Linux. IBM also produces a Linux specific engine
(processor for you Intel folks), that they are REALLY trying to get out to
market. IBM really wants to see their Linux initiative succeed, they would
be very helpful (IMHO) to anyone looking to help them further their Linux
platforms in the market. I'd suggest checking into one of these little
puppies, to my recollection, they can be had for around 50K, they have
internal disk (no directors, Escon or disk cabinets to buy), and will run
VM, Linux, LPARs, MVS, and the VIF (Virtual Imaging Facility for Linux from
IBM).
I work where there are many frames, none of mine are "owned" by IBM, I
have contracts for support, same as any other hardware from vendors, but
IBM cannot tell me what to do with my hardware. They do, however, have a
very nice program for trades, besides, the brokers for these things are
always looking for more to sell, they'll find you an upgrade if IBM won't.
I'd honestly suggest talking to IBM about it, I don't see a need for
the head-first swan dive into a Z-Series refrigerator, but a nice
MultiPrise 2000 or 3000 would fit the bill and handle your ideas quite
nicely. The Multis also come with a Gen6 (ZSeries) engine, or (Ibelieve)
you can buy them with the Linux Specific engines only and save some money.
Your other advantage here is that you get IEEE FPU on these chips, the
Gen4s and previous did not have this and the SuSE distro emulates it, this
slows the box down somewhat,. I think you've got a good basis for some
relationship with IBM here, you've got enthusiasm and Linux know how, if
you think IBM is brimming over with Linux geniuses, you'd be wrong, they
have their share, but at the 390 presentations I've seen (all 3 of them),
they have the mainframe know-how, and they can get it running, but then
they are somewhat lost, they didn't even know what the LRP (Lin Router
Project) was, they were going over how to route out of the 390 with a CMS
router VM (they weren't even too sure about that).
It seems that a lot of mainframers are seeing this as a good way to
breathe new life into their favorite OS and hardware and a lot of Linux
people are viewing this as a good move to one really wicked platform. The
only gap here, and it is big at some points, is the need for knowledge from
both sides of the table. IBM is trying to make that less of an issue with
their VIF, but it's still daunting to many Linux people. I encourage any
steps you take towards this and will look forward to what sort of decisions
might be made.
Thanks for you time,
MButler