Story - Implementation of Mainframes

Over 10% of business IT works on mainframes. All credit card transactions, most banking transactions and much travel and retail work is done on mainframes which are transaction processing machines working at a high rate on processing transactions. The recent release of the IBM z13 might herald an increase in the role and usage of mainframes. Mainframes require a different approach to information system management. Systems programmers are required and quite a big team to implement and operate a mainframe.

Task
Question 1. Contrast Client/ Server, Thin Client and Mainframe systems and architecture. Give a brief overview of the history of mainframes and their pedigree which goes right back to LEO and, for the z13, goes from the IBM1401, through 360,370 and 380 series, e900s and through to the z series. With a case study, identify the uses of mainframes and discuss the advantages.

Question 2. Using material from the launch of the IBM z13, explain the architecture of the z13. Identify key feature of the z13 and discuss some of the issues faced in its development and manufacture. Outline IBM's case for the z13, particularly in terms of mobile computing, cloud computing and business analytics. Comment on the future of mainframes and the prospects for the z13 being a success and returning the billion dollars IBM have invested in it.

Question 3. Using a case study, explain how you would implement a mainframe system. Once you have selected the mainframe and have a contract you must consider creating a physical environment for it, the staffing required, planning the workload and the allocation of virtual machines, transferring systems and data to the new mainframe through a migration process. Discuss some of the problems you might encounter in setting up a mainframe operation.