Mainframe versus Server

Compare mainframe and server.

Before we plunge into the technical intricacies of mainframes, let's kick off this tech journey with something we're likely more acquainted with servers.

Below, you'll find a concise yet all-encompassing infographic that puts servers head-to-head with mainframes from the perspective of the end users. Please take a moment to dive into the details, and once you've absorbed the visual feast, there are some additional readings may find interesting right below the link, followed by three reflective learning questions.

Mainframe vs. Server

A head-to-head comparison of mainframe versus server

Additional readings:

① Investing in the mainframe as part of modernizing in place is much more cost-effective than complete modernization outside the mainframe. Read More

② Moving mainframe workloads to the cloud could cost 5.21x more in total cost of ownership. Read More

③ For top-performing organizations, there is a direct and positive correlation between their mainframe investment and their overall performance relative to others. Read More

1. What specific features make mainframes more suitable for applications demanding the highest levels of security, and how do these features differ from those found in servers?

2. Analyze the factors that contribute to the exceptional uptime of mainframes, such as the z/OS operating system, and compare it to the challenges servers face in achieving similar levels of continuous operation. How does the difference in downtime affect the overall performance and maintenance capabilities of each system?

3. Explore the trade-offs between the initial investment in mainframes and the potential long-term savings in TCO. In what scenarios would the higher upfront cost of mainframes be justified, and how does the TCO calculation differ for distributed server environments?