IBM Mainframe Offers Unmatched Security and Power Efficiency, Analyst Says

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced that independent analyst firm Ptak, Noel & Associates said the System z mainframe is a "rising star" for emerging IT market segments in addition to meeting "the needs of a significant portion of the IT market that demands unrelenting and unmatched reliability, security, and control." The analyst also cited [1] the mainframe's power efficiency, noting IBM data demonstrating the platform can be configured to require 1/12th the electricity as a distributed server farm with equivalent processor capability.

In the report entitled, "IBM System z: Platform Star for Linux and Open Source Software," Ptak, Noel & Associates praised the IBM mainframe's unrivaled security offerings and "inherent architectural and management advantages" as keys to its continued success. The report also outlined how customers could generate extreme cost savings by utilizing the mainframe's built-in virtualization, server optimization techniques and specialty engines.

Big Iron, Low Power

The report, written by senior analyst Richard L. Ptak, emphasized the mainframe's power efficiency, stating that the explosion of interest and demand for environmentally-friendly IT hardware is likely to add fuel to mainframe demand.

On the open source front, the report specifically cited IBM's continued efforts to support Linux workloads on the mainframe with the Integrated Linux Facility. The report also touted IBM's successful developer ecosystem and the rapid growth of Linux on the mainframe in large enterprises. Specifically, it called attention to:

-- More than 800 developer partners and more than 300 ISVs supporting
Linux applications on the mainframe;
-- Approximately 28% of System z customers running Linux
The report also concluded that the mainframe possesses inherent architectural and management advantages for dynamic, highly adaptive, secure, highly demanding operational environments.


"The IBM System z mainframe serves a wide array of worldwide clients with an economic proposition that is second to none," said Jim Stallings, IBM general manager, System z. "IBM will continue to drive mainframe innovation in the areas important to our customers, such as security, energy efficiency, Linux, and manageability."

[1] IBM System z: Platform Star for Linux and Open Source Software, Ptak, Noel & Associates.