Mainframes are very large computers designed to run complex and critical applications. They are typically very large in physical size and computing power, and can be some of the largest machines on the planet. However, due to the continuing push toward greater computational power in a smaller physical package, many mainframes are not much larger than today’s desktop computers.
man holding computer
These large computers are designed to keep running with as little interruption as possible. They contain a host of self-maintenance features, including built-in safety features and backup power supplies. Because mainframes are often the most important computers in a company’s computing arsenal, they are routinely protected by multiple layers of security and power backup, both internal and external.
Among the self-protection measures commonly found on mainframes is an enhanced heat protection mechanism. Because these computers run all day, every day, for years, they naturally build up a lot of heat that needs to be vented. The fans found on mainframes are some of the most effective on the market.
Because mainframes are at the top of the networking food chain, they often have the latest and greatest of everything, including processors, hard drives, graphics cards, network cards, and peripheral connections. With such a computer, which is designed to be super-fast, super-sleek, and super-powerful, read and write speeds need to be super-fast. As a result, many have multiple processors.
One of the most important functions of a mainframe is being able to host applications and work with multiple users simultaneously. Not all computers can handle this, which is why mainframes are very important in a company’s electronic design, especially network design. They are often at the heart of computer networks.
In today’s web-oriented, on-demand world, mainframes play an even more central role in provisioning and controlling access to and from networks. The number of users who can access this computer at the same time is apparently unlimited. Mainframes in this environment are also designed to host web-based applications.
Mainframes can also typically run more than one operating system at the same time. This is useful when a company runs a web-based system whose users include Mac OS, Linux, and Windows XP professionals. It allows a company to avoid having to delete users due to problems with the operating system.
Larger mainframes are not always easy to use unless the user is the system administrator. These computers are designed to continue to function, not to be available to the whims of users. However, the lack of accessibility is more than made up for by its increased ability to continue working in situations that would likely disable other systems.
