Despite the hype about modern applications, the mainframe remains central to enterprise IT and is rapidly adopting new technologies. This episode of the Tech Field Day podcast features Steven Dickens, Geoffrey Decker, and Jon Hildebrand talking to Stephen Foskett about the modern mainframe prior to the SHARE conference. The modern datacenter is rapidly adopting technologies like containerization, orchestration, and artificial intelligence, and these are coming to the mainframe world as well. And the continued importance of mainframe applications, especially in finance and transportation, makes the mainframe more important than ever. There is a tremendous career opportunity in mainframes as well, with recent grads commanding high salaries and working with exciting modern technologies. Modern mainframes run Linux natively, support OpenShift and containers, and support all of the latest languages and programming models in addition to PL1, Cobol, DB2, and of course zOS. We’re looking forward to bringing the latest in the mainframe space from SHARE to our audience.
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For more information on SHARE Kansas City 2024, check out the event page. For more events, head to the Tech Field Day website for details.
The Mainframe Remains Vital in DevOps and AI
Despite the rapid evolution and adoption of modern applications in enterprise IT, the mainframe continues to play a pivotal role, especially in industries such as finance and transportation. The mainframe is not only enduring but also evolving by integrating new technologies like containerization, orchestration, and artificial intelligence. This integration is crucial for maintaining operational resilience, enhancing cybersecurity, and improving application development through DevOps practices.
Mainframes are the backbone of many critical systems, handling vast amounts of transactional data for credit card processing, airline operations, government departments, and tax offices. The reliability and robustness of mainframes in these high-stakes environments underscore their continued relevance. The recent outages experienced by cloud service providers like CrowdStrike and Microsoft highlight the importance of operational resilience, an area where mainframes excel.
The adoption of AI in mainframe environments is particularly noteworthy. AI is being infused into various tools to enhance coding and operational efficiencies. Major players like BMC, IBM, and Broadcom have made significant announcements regarding their AI initiatives, which are aimed at improving the mainframe’s capabilities. The integration of AI allows for real-time decision-making processes, such as fraud detection during credit card transactions, directly within the mainframe environment.
The educational landscape around mainframes is also evolving. Institutions like Northern Illinois University (NIU) are reviving their mainframe curricula to address the growing demand for skilled mainframe developers. Courses in assembler, COBOL, and other mainframe-related subjects are being reintroduced to prepare the next generation of mainframe professionals. Despite the historical decline in mainframe-focused education, the dire need for these skills in the industry is prompting universities to reconsider their course offerings. The career prospects in the mainframe domain are promising. Recent graduates with mainframe skills, particularly in COBOL, are highly sought after by major corporations such as Citibank, Wells Fargo, and Walmart. The salaries for these positions are competitive, often approaching six figures right out of college. This demand is driven by the aging workforce of current mainframe professionals and the critical nature of mainframe applications in enterprise environments.
Technologically, modern mainframes are versatile. They can run multiple operating systems, including Linux distributions like SLES, Debian, RHEL, and Ubuntu, as well as traditional mainframe operating systems like z/OS. This versatility extends to the ability to run containerized applications using platforms like OpenShift directly on the mainframe. This reduces latency and enhances performance by bringing cloud workloads closer to the mainframe’s robust processing capabilities. The mainframe’s ability to handle modern workloads is exemplified by its support for containerized Java applications and the integration of open-source packages like Podman. The hardware accelerators built into mainframes enable the efficient execution of AI workloads, further enhancing their capabilities for modern enterprise needs.
The mainframe ecosystem is also seeing innovative solutions aimed at simplifying development and operations. For instance, companies like Pop-Up Mainframe are making it easier for developers to create and test applications on mainframes without needing extensive mainframe-specific knowledge. This aligns with the broader DevOps movement and facilitates the integration of mainframe environments into modern development workflows.
In summary, the mainframe is far from obsolete. It is a dynamic and evolving platform that continues to be central to enterprise IT. With its adoption of new technologies, robust educational programs, and promising career opportunities, the mainframe is well-positioned to remain a cornerstone of enterprise computing for years to come.
Podcast Information:
Stephen Foskett is the Organizer of the Tech Field Day Event Series, now part of The Futurum Group. Connect with Stephen on LinkedIn or on X/Twitter.
Steven Dickens is Chief Technology Officer at The Futurum Group. You can connect with Steven on X/Twitter or on LinkedIn and listen to his frequent appearances on Infrastructure Matters.
Geoffrey Decker is an instructor for mainframe curriculum at Northern Illinois University. You can connect with Geoffrey on X/Twitter or on LinkedIn. Learn more about him on his NIU Faculty Profile.
Jon Hildebrand is an automation and observability expert. You can connect with Jon on LinkedIn or on X/Twitter. Learn more about Jon by reading his personal blog.
Thank you for listening to this episode of the Tech Field Day Podcast. If you enjoyed the discussion, please remember to subscribe on YouTube or your favorite podcast application so you don’t miss an episode and do give us a rating and a review. This podcast was brought to you by Tech Field Day, home of IT experts from across the enterprise, now part of The Futurum Group.
