When people think about Green IT, you don’t find a lot of people who immediately say, “Oh yeah, that’s all about mainframes.” Affectionately known as Big Iron, this tried-and-true technology that has been around for years is not always on top-of-mind when a discussion about energy efficiency in the data center comes up. But it should be for medium and large companies with significant computing requirements, says Dayton Semerjian, General Manager, Mainframe at CA Technologies.
“Mainframes are quite simply the most energy efficient computing systems available today. To start with, an entry-level mainframe provides the computing capacity of about 1500 servers and it does so in a device about the size of a refrigerator,” says Semerjian. “And because mainframes work as a single integrated system, they are designed to make extremely effective and efficient use of their vast computing resources.”
As we discussed in a post (Energy Savings: One of the Key Benefits of Server Virtualization) a few weeks ago, energy savings is one of the key benefits of server virtualization in a distributed server environment in a data center. By having multiple virtual machines run on a single physical server, companies have used virtualization as an effective means to lower energy costs. But here again, don’t count mainframes out, says Semerjian.
“Mainframes have been running at a 95% to 100% virtualization rate for years – well before it became all the rage in distributed environments. The closed environment of a mainframe allows the system to make extremely efficient use of its computing resources in much the same way a more complex, distributed virtualized environment does.”
More Reasons Why Mainframes Are Energy Efficient:
•Lower total power costs: According to Sine Nomine, a research and analysis firm, mainframes are responsible for 1/7 the total power cost, when compared to distributed server environments
•Lower HVAC costs: Sine Nomine also estimates that mainframes are responsible for only 1/20th the energy costs of dedicated HVAC systems
•Less space: According to IBM, mainframe environments only require 40% of the physical data center space required by distributed server environments. Less area to cool and maintain
•Less support: Fewer boxes and more efficient, integrated machines means smaller support staff per unit of computing capability. At up to a 25% reduction in support reduction according to Clabby Analytics, this means less energy consumed supporting the machines.
“Obviously, mainframes are not right for every business,” says Semerjian. “However, for the many organizations they do make sense for, there are clear sustainability benefits, including lower energy costs, lower operating costs and a rapid return-on-investment.” And when you add in a mature, stable, secure environment, what’s not to like?”