14 DAY TRIAL // In a little over a month, customers running IBM zEnterprise environments will be able to start leveraging Windows application, IBM confirmed on November 7, 2011.
The move is nothing more than IBM making good on a promise from earlier this year, with official Windows support in zEnterprise slated for introduction as of December 16, 2011.
In this manner, Windows joins operating systems including z/OS, Linux and AIX on IBM mainframes, marking a first for the Big Blue.
The obvious advantage to customers is the fact that they can leverage an integrated multi-platform system on top of IBM machines.
IBM notes that Windows support should drive cost and complexity down, as well as better centralized workload management, especially in scenarios which involve mainframe and distribute environments working in tandem.
One such example is multi-tier applications that run in Windows, but need to connect to mainframe data.
zEnterprise systems such as the z196 or z114 are the offerings supporting Windows programs on x86-based IBM System x servers.
“Now you can improve optimization of your virtual resources in the context of a workload, helping to strengthen your systems management capabilities while running your mainframe and distributed platforms on one integrated hardware server,” IBM revealed.
“This means you can deploy all of your front-end Windows applications that need access to centralized data serving, such as SAP, onto the zEnterprise, and then manage all of these crucial business resources from one source.”
There are a number of advantages inherent to the introduction of Windows support for IBM's System z, including expanding choice for customers, which can already run z/OS and Linux on System z, but also making it easier for apps running on Microsoft’s platform to integrate with mainframe data and programs.
In addition, workload consolidation onto the mainframe will contribute to reducing costs, especially the TCO associated with distributed platforms.