IBMplans to release a new processor pack for its mainframe, to make
sure corporate data stays locked up in Big Iron.
The System z9 Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) is a high-speed
processor that minimizes the need to maintain duplicate copies of the data.
This decreases risks associated with multiple data copies, something that
companies can use to provide better security between the applications and
the data. Such technologies can go a long way toward making it easier for
businesses to meet federal data compliance guidelines, including
Sarbanes-Oxley and HIPAA.
In addition to the security upticks, zIIP is designed to free up general
computing capacity and lower the cost of running business intelligence,
enterprise resource planning and customer relationship management
applications on z9 mainframes, said Jim Stallings, the new
general manager of IBM System z.
Stallings said on a conference call today that IBM will continue its
mainframe innovation, because the z9 and previous machines have done so well
for the company in the last few years. He said mainframe revenues in the fourth
quarter spiked 28 percent from the year-ago period.
The engine behind zIIP is the mainframe’s z/OS operating system, which will
direct the work between the general processor and the zIIP. The zIIP is
designed so a software program can work with the z/OS to send workloads to
the zIIP with no changes to the application.
IBM DB2 for z/OS version 8 will be the first IBM software able to take
advantage of the zIIP.
Big Blue intends to begin selling the zIIP later this year for $125,000.
Requirements include an IBM System z9 109, z/OS 1.6 or later and DB2 for
z/OS V8.
This is the biggest addition to the z9 since IBM launched
it nearly a year ago to battle data leaks.
Along with zIIP, IBM officials today also previewed the next version of DB2
for z/OS, which will appear later this year.
This software is tailored to improve IBM WebSphere and Java integration for
service-oriented architectures. The software also
features better auditing capabilities and improved encryption; partition by
growth; and native SQL stored procedures.