IBM last week unveiled its new operating system for the z900 mainframe (the former S/390).
Called z/OS, the 64-bit operating system can automatically and dynamically reallocate processing power based on workload demand. Another benefit of z/OS is its use of 64-bit storage and a simplified system configuration. The new configuration uses Web-based wizards that step customers through installation and set-up tasks.
Additionally, when the next version of z/OS is available this year, it will include a resource director for Linux, support higher speed transfer of information between partitions, and add new security features such as intrusion detection, directory services and cryptography.
IBM also is moving to a different pricing model for its software. The fees will be based on need instead of total system capacity, allowing customers to pay for only the capacity they use.
