What does it mean for the mainframe to end the feud between IBM and neon?

It may have been thought that in June, IBM had a small conflict with the software that neon for mainframe users, but things went in the opposite direction. May 31, it's all over, and the enmity between IBM and Neon is over. Let's look at the history of the conflict, the results, and the impact on mainframe users as well as the results.

Neon zhttp://www.aliyun.com/zixun/aggregation/3436.html ">prime and IBM Litigation background information

At the beginning of this century, IBM launched three processor models: integrated facility for Linux (IFL), System Z creator Assist Processor (ZAAP), and System Z integrated Information Processor (ZIIP), IBM initially sought to build dedicated processors as a low-cost alternative to general-purpose processors, since they did install and maintain cheaper and avoided some software costs.

The last one is a big attraction because, in the past, software costs are a big part of the mainframe budget, and each processor upgrade can lead to a budget increase.

Despite the hype at IBM, things haven't changed much. IFL performed well, consumers decided to assemble Linux instances on mainframes; zAAP proved to be a useful way to run Java on mainframes; ZIIP has a problem, because there are some special restrictions, and the notorious "generosity factor" throttling mechanism, It limits the percentage of time that can be run on a given workload on ZIIP, while users continue to search for ways to reduce IT costs.

Neon's zprime is designed to run workloads that were previously unsuitable for running on a dedicated processor, which poses problems for IBM and independent software vendors. First, Neon has solved how to get the workload on the dedicated engine, which is implemented without the IBM license interface. Second, IBM lost hardware revenues and professional engines were cheaper. Finally, and most notably, Zprime represents a major threat that has a serious impact on IBM's software contract revenue.

IBM countered with fear, questioning Neon's inability to keep customers in line, Neon sued IBM for unfair trading practices, sued by IBM, accused Neon of stealing trade secrets, neon technicians to provide illegal cable connections, during which some mainframe customers followed up, The rest waits silently for what will happen next.

Shortly thereafter, the case was sent to the Texas Austin Tribunal, where the two sides collected evidence as of April 2011 and are scheduled to start selecting juries in June.

Final verdict

The crux of the problem is how IBM's customer contracts authorize workloads, and IBM believes that only IBM-approved workloads, or the zIIP interface code that uses IBM's official authorization, are legally recognised, neon that IBM's contracts do not point to these constraints and do not limit how to use a dedicated engine.

May 31, U.S. Magistrate Andrew Austin decision to support IBM's interpretation of its client contract, led to Neon decided to waive the lawsuit, Neon issued a press release released its decision, only IBM has the right to authorize which workloads can be run on a dedicated engine, the press release concludes, Neon agreed to stop selling Zprime immediately and asked the customer to uninstall the software and destroy the installation media.

IBM and the impact of the neon war

Neon's decision immediately had a significant impact on existing Zprime customers, who had to buy a large number of general-purpose processors to compensate for the loss of a dedicated engine, IBM did not give any grace-period deletion zprime, and did not indicate how the customer would treat customers if the Zprime software failed to unload.

In the long run, the ruling effectively squeezes any current and future-like Zprime software, and it also alarms mainframe customers not to fantasize about running unauthorized workloads on ZIIP or ZAAP in other ways. From now on, IBM has the final decision on what workload to perform on a dedicated processor.

Although IBM has won, its reputation and intellectual property are effectively protected, but perhaps not at the right time, because the mainframe installation base is shrinking, it is too unkind to put pressure on customers at this point, and if IBM is really smart, it should use this opportunity to rebuild its customer relationship, Or use control of the dedicated processor to do some loosening to reduce the customer's mainframe costs.

The compromise allows customers to be pushed back by IBM and ISVs, and IBM's restrictions on the use of dedicated engines may prompt customers to look for alternative solutions to other platforms.

June 17, BMC announced the acquisition of Neon IMS Database Tools, neon the remaining product portfolio is very limited, which makes many customers worry about the future of their partner software companies, will also be like neon, said the crash has collapsed.

Interestingly, the BMC applied for a patent to work on the ZIIP, which begs the question of whether to use the same algorithm as Zprime, but this may be an intellectual property that the BMC company has no real meaning.

(Responsible editor: admin)