The IBM z9 BC is IBM's former flagship mainframe series.  When first introduced these machines and the more powerful z9 EC models were the most powerful and fully featured computer in the IBM product line.  Since that time they has been eclipsed by faster machines, but, by virtue of their Series z architecture they remain fully viable members of the mainframe world.  In the future, IBM will only support z/VSE on z9 or newer platforms, so, beginning with this product line there really is a significant generation gap.

As successor systems have appeared, the prices of used z9 servers have plummeted . . . even when most models are in short supply or become available only intermittently.  IBM's pricing and practices are designed to encourage customers to roll out older machines and bring in newer ones.  And while this can be the most practical route for many if not most mainframe shops, it is not the best course for everyone.

We want to make it easy for you to evaluate z9 BC alternatives as you compare various mainframe platforms.  To get this process started, just drop us a notethat includes the model number and general configuration (memory and channels) of the system you plan to replace.  Because the z9 product line has many models with similar total performance, we will suggest one or possibly more than one z9 based on what machines are currently on the market. 

Once you learn about your hardware options we will work with you to determine the cost of your software stack on the replacement system.  We may help you discover some ways to achieve substantial savings by making the most of IBM's best software pricing plans.  We may also be able to help you reduce the number of different environments you run concurrently by migrating your work within your system or helping you move minority environments to our hosting service, which is often a real bargain compared to running a very small partition on a very large machine.

Your best choice will vary with the character or your workload.  But our experiece indicates that users running z/VM-z/VSE are very likely to achieve considerable savings on an older machine compared to IBM's latest offering.  Also, users who want a DR system of their own will find that a used z9 can be the most economical option available, particularly if you are open-minded about your maintenance strategy.

When run as a DR machine, there is no software cost because IBM's licensing permits temporary use of the primary machine's software during outages.  The z9 will flawlessly run not only the most recent IBM systems software, middleware, and applications, but also legacy code that is generations old.

Whether installed in its own dedicated facility, or configured into a running parallel sysplex, a z9 designated as a DR system can provide backup for local as well as remote data centers.  To keep costs to an absolute minimum, customers can switch to time and materials maintenance from IBM or work with us at Reliable to develop a suitable support plan.

The FICON and ESCON channels available on the z9 enable it to support legacy peripherals as well as the most recent devices.

A z9 also provides a full range of IBM internal connection technologies, such as hipersockets, so you can support elaborate configurations, if that is what your job requires.

The reliability and automatic failure recovery features of the z9 are outstanding.  Chances are you will never suffer a processor failure, but even if you do you will find that this mainframe family can heal around a fault and keep running while providing detailed notices for the use of maintenance technicians.

Whether you are moving up from a smaller or older platform or using a z9 to consolidate work from a number of mainframes, Reliable has the knowledge and experience to help you plan and execute migration without interruption and without excessive costs.  We understand IBM mainframe systems, and we have senior technical experts with experience going back several processor generations.

If you plan to add a z9 to an existing cluster of processors, we can work with your in-house personnel, with IBM support teams, and with any consulting firms you now employ to make the installation process go smoothly.

We can help you find the most economical plans for the licensing of IBM systems software including z/OS, z/VM, z/VSE and Linux.

The z9 is not for everyone.  We can help you compare and contrast this powerful alternative with IBM's latest offerings as well as the older systems that you may still be using for production, development or DR.

We understand that imperfectly conceived mainframe strategies can be very costly.  Our business is based on our ability to help mainframe users get the very best values during their planning cycles, whether these cycles are expected to last several years or are short term plans to enable technology transition.