Category: System z

zIIPs, zAAPs and IFLs, MIPS, MSUs and ICFs – if you’re in the know it makes good sense, otherwise it can sound like a lot of mumbo jumbo. Here’s a very brief run down on some of the terms used in the mainframe space. First things first – Why System “z”? “z” Stands for zero [...]

Softek Replicator – Helping to recover data more quickly with volume-level replication Softek™ Replicator software provides an efficient, reliable method to help ensure usable data recovery regardless of storage vendor or server platform. In doing so, it enables any data protection budget to stretch further. In addition to being essential for disaster recovery, Softek Replicator [...]

Have you ever considered Computer Merchants for your Mainframe? Mainframe vendors are few and far between, and very few of them would have 30 years of experience in dealing with mainframe systems. Since 1979, Computer Merchants has been dealing with large systems. We can help you with many of your mainframe requirements: Our systems come [...]

On a recent trip to Melbourne, one of our reps had the opportunity to walk through probably the largest collection of operational mainframes in Australia, including some fairly recently installed z10′s (love the green touch IBM!). Rows and rows of 3494 tape libraries are also an impressive sight and a reminder of the changing landscape [...]

Here’s an extract from IBM’s website giving some insight to IBM’s green direction: Energy supply, consumption, and environmental impact are now part of the IT decision process As energy costs rise and concerns for the environment make the front page, IT managers have a new responsibility in addressing energy efficiency concerns in the IT infrastructure. [...]

This month we added another newsletter to our web site from the print archives. This time, we’re revisiting December 2005. Highlights of December 2005 IBM iSeries Technical Update 2005 Hardware Management Consoles – A One Minute Guide IBM Support Line How To Reset The Dedicated Service Tools Password  Buying Hardware From Computer Merchants How We Streamline [...]

As a service to our customers, we’re making available updated tables for IBM zSeries MIPS values. These are based on current models and use a different set of ratings to our previous zSeries Reference Tables. z800 – 2066 Model MIPS MSU | Model MIPS MSU | Model MIPS MSU 0E1 41+IFL 7 | 0X2 160 [...]

With over 40 years of history, it is no wonder that the Mainframe continues to set the standard for computing technology with even IBM competitors using the mainframe as their benchmark: “Fujitsu debuts powerful next generation of entry level servers with Mainframe-like performance and reliability” “Sun‘s high-end servers and storage systems combine the power of [...]

Here’s a snapshot of the IBM zSeries range These machines are all available on the broker market and represent great processing value starting at below $500 / MIP. Our zSeries machines all come with IBM MSQ banding. This means that when IBM install the equipment, they will make sure that the systems are in good working [...]

Congratulations to Bruce who celebrated 10 years with Computer Merchants in February Bruce started with the company in 1998 to develop the open systems market. Our open systems team now consists of 7 sales specialists, focussing on: IBM System p (RS/6000), IBM System x (x86/Intel), IBM mainframe, as well as Sun and HP products. Both Carl [...]

Dear Margaret,I’ve just got to share! I visited a zoo today – haven’t they changed! Lovely glass windows to look through to beautiful rooms, no more of the harsh bars and ugly concrete enclosures. And very high tech you know! They can control the temperature so the animals don’t get too hot – or too [...]

Here at Computer Merchants, our approach in assisting customers to connect their “green screen” legacy systems onto Internet sites, extending their functionality through rich portal and web-based interfaces has lead us to team up with a company called Eos Solutions. Eos offers solutions and services for Lotus Notes and Domino, IBM Web Content Management, IBM [...]

At Computer Merchants, we’re able to help customers get the performance they need and save money by buying refurbished Mainframe systems instead of buying new units. Success Story  One customer recently needed to move a Mainframe workload from unsupported hardware to a new system, but the price of a new Mainframe server made this prohibitive. [...]

Pricing does NOT include the following: GST Delivery Installation Plain English Terms and Conditions Apply. Subject to prior sale. Call us on 1800 777 111 and quote “IBM Specials” for more information on the following items. IBM Disk Arrays Fiber #1722-60U FASTT600 TURBO + 5 x 146GB FC DISK $12,365 IBM Processors #5221 6 way [...]

Pricing does NOT include the following: GST Delivery Installation Plain English Terms and Conditions Apply. Subject to prior sale. Call us on 1800 777 111 and quote “IBM Pricing Guide” for more information on the following items. IBM – System – S/390 IBM 9672 X17 System S/390 Parallel Transaction Server – 174MIPS $65,000 IBM 9672 [...]

Due to be released in November 2007, with promises to deliver new and exciting advances to the current AIX portfolio is AIX 6. The planned AIX release will allow full binary compatibility with previous releases of AIX 5L, and will work on any hardware supported by AIX6 including POWER4, PPC970, POWER5 and POWER6. AIX6 is [...]

Pricing does NOT include the following: GST Delivery Installation Plain English Terms and Conditions Apply. Subject to prior sale. Call us on 1800 777 111 and quote “IBM Specials” for more information on the following items. HP Servers HP rp7400 with 2 x 440MHz CPU, 4GB Memory, 2 x 73GB Drives $4,320 HP rp5470 with [...]

“Delivering great personalized service since 1979, our people, values and systems guarantee you are happy with the end result.” Our Mission Statement was developed by our current Managing Director, David McDade who has always believed that our people come first. With this in mind, it is with much sadness that we are about to see [...]

Hi everyone, Phew!  . . . almost half way through the year and it really doesn’t seem like it was that long ago I was sunning myself on the beach at Christmas. Now alas, the winter is upon us and the darker shorter days are here. However, for those eternal summer sports fans, there is [...]

Launch of Interaction Canberra Interaction will hold its first meeting in Canberra since the unification of Common and Share/Guide some 8 years ago. This meeting will be held at IBM in Barton and will have a focus on System z. Tuesday March 6th 11.30am. Dates To Remember Feb 27 Sydney meeting. Crowne Plaza Hotel, Sydney [...]

In the past, IBM z800 and IBM z900 systems have been difficult to find from the broker market. However, quite recently the face of the mainframe market has been on the move. When these machines were first released, the price tag on them was a big deal! These systems are finding their way into the [...]

Did you hear the one about the politically correct, gender neutral, politically impartial, racially non-aligned, unbiased, person of non-specific address… it wasn’t very funny. And it’s not funny at all when you upgrade high value IBM mainframe equipment and are no longer able to attach many of your older peripheral devices. There has been a [...]

We’re on the look out for IBM mainframe equipment… …especially IBM 2074 controllers, IBM 3472 or IBM 3192 terminals. It’s funny how these items now have more value than the processors used to run them! We’re also interested in IBM 3480/3490 and IBM 3590 tape units. Auto loaders are fairly tight on the broker market [...]

To help put some clarity around the current range of IBM LTO3 tape drive we have put together a summary. LTO3 is the third release of LTO technology offering 400GB native capacity per cartridge, 800GB compressed. The latest release of IBM drives as shown below offer multiple cartridge capacity on all models. All models support [...]

Just like you, we rely on our IT systems to support our business objectives Without these systems we may as well turn off the lights and go home, as it is almost impossible for us to operate without them. In the mid 1990′s we decided that we needed to implement a Disaster Recovery plan. We [...]

It’s a classic scenario – you’ve just upgraded your production system and one of your team suggests that you keep the old server for development. Of course, it’s a solid, reliable performer and hasn’t caused you much pain for the 5 or so years that it’s been running your production applications. It makes sense… until you [...]

IBM enjoys rebranding products to keep them relevant and current to the user population. For anyone who is yet to ‘catch up’ the following is a quick summary of some products that share ‘dual personalities’. System 390 = zSeries = System z (Mainframe) AS/400 = iSeries = System i (Midrange OS/400) RS/6000 = pSeries = [...]

Pricing does NOT include the following: GST Delivery Installation Plain English Terms and Conditions Apply. Subject to prior sale. Call us on 1800 777 111 and quote “Web Specials” for more information on the following items. IBM zSeries 2064-1C6 zSeries Z900 1271MIPS with: 16GB, 4xFICON SW, 4xGB OSA, 24xESCON, MSQ – $309,000 2064-1C1 zSeries Z900 [...]

IBM has always set the standard for high quality software Support Line Services Just a reminder, we can now tailor your support line services to suit your critical business needs. With a choice of business hours or 24 x 7 coverage, Support Line can be accessed via local telephone or electronic services. IBM has an [...]

The IBM 2074 console support controller replaces the console support functions of the IBM 3174 establishment controller. One 2074 can replace multiple 3174′s. For example you would need one 3174 for every OS/390 LPAR on a system, whereas a single 2074 can manage up to 32 LPARs or system images. In fact, the 2074 model [...]