Mainframe Computer: Definition, Example, Types, Uses, and Features!!

What is Mainframe Computer?

Definition & Meaning – Mainframe computer likes as a big centralized machine that contains the large memory, huge storage space, multiple high grade processors, so it has ultra processing power compare to standard computer systems. So, mainframe computer system’s importance is increasing for large scale organization, scientific research, consumer statistics, and census data, because it is capable to execute multiple complex programs concurrently at the ultra speed. Today, most eminent vendors of mainframe computers are IBM, Hitachi, Amdahl, and Unisys.
UNIVAC I (UNIVersal Automatic Computer I) mainframe computers was first developed by J. Presper Eckert and John Mauchly in USA, in 1951.

Z operating system is used with 64-bit O/S especially to IBM mainframe computer, and it is designed by IBM organization.

Mainframe Tutorial Headlines

In this section, we will show you all headlines about this entire article; you can check them as your choice; below shown all:

Who use Mainframe Computer
Components of Mainframe Computer
Functions of Mainframe Computer
Examples of Mainframe Computer
Mainframe Computer Uses
Characteristics of Mainframe Computer
Features of Mainframe Computer
Advantages Mainframe Computer
Disadvantages of Mainframe Computer
FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is a mainframe?
What are mainframes used for?
What are the types of mainframe computer?
What is the example of mainframe computers?
Is ATM machine an example of mainframe computer?
What is mainframe computer equipment and components?
What are six uses of mainframe computers?
What is the most important characteristic of mainframe?
What are the three main features of mainframe computers?

Let’s Start!!

Who use Mainframe Computer?

Mainframe computer is best platform to execute millions of transactions in every single second. So mainframe computers are used in the large scale organization, because they have to need for processing the massive data at once in every second.

There are some companies, which are used to mainframe computer system such as Wallmart, HSBN, Indial Railways, ICICI and HDFC banks, Tesco, Kenya Power, Vodafone, AIG, Coca Cola, RBI, DHL, FORD, NASDAQ, Nike, Tata, Travelport, UPS, USA Pstal Services, and more.

Components of Mainframe Computer

Functions of Mainframe Computer

Working of mainframe computer is divided into different segments, below every segments are described.

Data Warehouse System

Every computer contains the hard disk for storing the data for long life, but this mainframe computer saves the whole data within itself into application form. When all users tries to login from remotely with its connected terminals then mainframe computer allows all remote terminals for accessing their all files as well as programs.

Preserve Authentication Access Permission

Due to store all data and program files into one mainframe system, it can lead to enhance its productivity as well as efficiency. Administrators have access to insert all applications and data into mainframe system, and they can decide how many users should be access for them. So, mainframe system has great firm-wall for harmful intruder’s attacks.

Allot Processor Time Frame

Mainframe computer system contains the limited number of processing time to split into all users, who are logged in presently with system. Mainframe system decides that which types of priorities should be linked with different types of users. Administrator has power to select that how to assign processor time.

Examples of Mainframe Computer

Mainframe Computer Uses

Mainframe computer is used in several different areas, explain below each one.

Applications of Mainframe Computer are:

Health Care Sector

Health care organizations contain the personalized information of every patient, so they contact them for their treatment. These companies maintain all record of millions patients related to their disease, medicine, and what appointment schedule they have. So, here mainframe computer system is used for executing massive data in small duration.

Mainframe system allows privileging each single patient for accessing his individual data along with privacy.

Defense Sector

In the defense area, mainframe computer system is used to pass massive information in different areas with protect such as land, ship, planes, and home base as well.

Mainframe system helps to provide weather condition, trace accurate data to target location, and use the GPS for doing preparation to attack.

Education Sector

Education is also very big sector, such as international university where to need track lot of persons such as employees, teachers, student, and other. So mainframe helps to store and maintain all information related to their employees and students, and it allows to access information for top management.

Retail Industry

Today, retail industry is growing rapidly. Some large retail companies have massive customer base, so mainframe computer system is best option for monitoring their inventory with accurate level, and it is able to execute of massive transaction (billions) in short duration. If, any large organization gets any one miscalculation in entire entries then it can lead to big problem due to misinterpretation.

Other Applications are

E-Business
Banking Sector
Stock exchange
Research Center
Ticket reservation in railway and airlines
Credit card Verification Insurance Sector
Telecommunication
Finance Sector

Features & Characteristics of Mainframe Computer

Advantages of Mainframe Computer

Ultra Computing Power

Mainframe computer is capable to process huge data and run complicated applications with ultra computing speed.

Scale-ability

Mainframe computer can support to extra big power processors, and it can be expended with adding multiple ultra power processors, memory, and storage device when to require of processing huge data concurrently.

Virtualization System

With using its Virtualization property, Mainframe computer system can be divided into small logical segments for eliminating the memory limitation, and we can great computing performance.

Reliability

Mainframe computer system is able to identify their errors and bugs, and it can self recover of them without any other embedded resources. Today, Modern mainframe computer systems are capable to run frequently for 40 to 50 years without getting any errors.

Self-Serviceability

If, mainframe computer system gets errors during processing time then it is capable to fix them without degrading its performance in short duration.

Protection

Mostly, mainframe computer are used by large scale organizations because they need to secure their confidential data. So, mainframe computer system allows to more attention on authentication protection for storing data.

Flexible Customization

Mainframe computer system’s Customization is performed as per the client’s requirement. Mainframe computer can support multiple operating systems at same time.

Mainframe computer systems are getting more popularity due to their long lasting performance (up to 40 years).

Mainframe computer system can support millions of transactions per second.

It can control the millions of users and applications concurrently.

Disadvantages of Mainframe Computer

Mainframe systems are very expensive, and these types of computer cannot be used in the home. Due to its more processing power, they are used by large scale companies, banks, and other government sectors.

In mainframe computer system, we can use the normal operating system such as Windows and Android. In mainframe system is used the custom operating system and hardware as the client need, and they are more costly.

Mainframe computer system requires the more space and less temperature.

If, any errors or bugs are occurred while performing the massive task, then need the well trained staff for eliminating the errors.

Entire system can gets down due to major damage of hardware component’s system.

Difficult to read its instructions which are used on the command based interface.

It Consume more resources.

FAQs (Frequently Asked Questions)

What is a mainframe?

Mainframe is ultra-performance system that containing enlarge amount of memory and higher processors that help to process trillion instructions and transactions in the real time. And you can take full information about it through this article.

What are mainframes used for?

Mainframes are used many applications like as E-Business, Banking Sector, Stock exchange, Research Center, Ticket reservation in railway and airlines, Credit card Verification Insurance Sector, Telecommunication, Finance Sector, and so on.

What are the types of mainframe computer?

There are different types of mainframe computer, some types are: IBM z15, IBM z14, IBM System z13, Hopper; Cray XE6, System z9, System z10 servers, HP mainframe, and more.

What is the example of mainframe computers?

We already have been shown 25 examples above in this post, you can read them.

Is ATM machine an example of mainframe computer?

ATM is perfect example of Mainframe system because it works mainly on mainframe computers to make interaction along with corresponding bank account.

What is mainframe computer equipment and components?

Mainframe computer has many major components, and they play important role to enhance the throughout outstanding performance of this mainframe system. Through this article, we revealed all components in detail information; you can get to know easily.

What are six uses of mainframe computers?

Mainframe computer is using in many sectors like as airline reservations system, payroll computations, large scale accounting, business transactions, information retrieval, scientific and engineering computations, etc.

What is the most important characteristic of mainframe?

Mainframe system has higher availability, so mostly it is used those areas where as downtime would be expensive. Mainframe computer’s characteristics can be defined as Reliability, availability and serviceability (RAS).

What are the three main features of mainframe computers?

Mainframe computer is designed as per the principle of Reliability, Availability, and Serviceability that lets to make system unique from other computer systems.

Final Remarks

In this post, we have been explored detail information about what is mainframe with their examples, types, components, as well as involving its functions, working, applications, uses, features, characteristics, advantages, disadvantages and more.

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