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This is interesting. Clearly it's not just the hardware that makes mainframes this fault-tolerant. I'm curious why other platforms haven't appropriated some of
by JunkDNA 16y ago
This is interesting. Clearly it's not just the hardware that makes mainframes this fault-tolerant. I'm curious why other platforms haven't appropriated some of the core features and functionality of the mainframe machines? Is it lack of familiarity? Patents? I'd love for one of my database machines to be this reliable.
- jff 16y agoI think there's probably a few factors involved: 1. Writing completely solid, fully debugged software is Not Sexy, which is why Linux is getting shinier and shinier but the software still has bugs. 2. You and I have probably been spoiled by working with Unix. Now, I've never used an IBM mainframe, but I have used VMS, which is definitely more businesslike than Unix. Working with VMS feels like going to the DMV. Imagine how it would feel to be living in a mainframe world, right out of IBM's most conservative, straight-laced era--because I'm gonna bet you wouldn't be able to play as fast and loose if you had mainframe-style fault tolerance.