Slashdot Mirror
Obtaining Mainframe Experience w/o a Mainframe?
Nice2Cats asks: "So I'm reading all over about how companies are desperate for people who know how to work mainframes, especially now that IBM is shipping them with Linux. But how -- short of a course with Big Blue or some other exercise in expensive formal education -- can I acquire even the most basic information or experience with big iron? There doesn't seem to be many tutorials or introductions online; what would be nice, but I can't seem to find either, would be a simulator that would run on a PC. All I want to know is if I like enough to be seriously interested."
Actually I think that a mainframe may fit better, considering (from IBM paradigm) that the mainframes are more vertically oriented and the AS/400's more horizontal.
Think of a mainframe as a refrigerator form factor (at least the late model ones) and the AS/400 as a very tall coffee table.
The black thing in the foreground of this picture is a late model IBM mainframe. It basically takes up as much room as any 19" equipment rack (or, like I said, a refrigerator).
The downside to an AS/400 or a mainframe no matter which way you go is the exotic (for residential) power hookup requirements. Many local governments preclude residential zoned lots from having three phase power, which could really screw you if you want to bring home the big iron.
You are right.
Companies are no longer interested in training people to do a job, you only have to look at job postings in your local newspaper to see that - 'must have x years experience in some obscure system' (one I saw recently was funny, "must have 5 years commercial experience with ASP.Net").
I wanted to move from writing web applications to more traditional C/C++/Java stuff a year ago - I'm a BSc. in Computer Science, had been working several years in the web. While my CV was good enough to get me on the short list for more or less all I applied for, I would always be dropped because I was not "current" in C, C++ or Java - seems because I didn't have the "right" experience (not in those languages) I was no good to them.
Non tech people (the ones who do the hiring) don't understand that being a Comp Sci. grad means that I CAN do it, it's all the same, just syntax, and that my commercial experience IS relevant. And so they take someone straight from Uni who while being "current" in the language-de-jour has no experience, over the developer with valuable experience who happens to be not current in the language-de-jour but could be within a week or two.
*sigh*
NZ Electronics Enthusiasts: Check out my Trade Me Listings
My dad has been a mainframe guy for years, and out of work for almost 2 now. Nobody will look at him because he only has a 2 year tech school degree. So they may want mainframe people, but don't think they are desperite enough to be flexable on their requirements.
Three Phase ?? Really?
I know what it is used for with moters but why on earth would you need it for a computer? The only thing I can think of is that you would want it to level out the power, but surly there are better ways.
Seraphim
Slashdot, where armchair scientists get shouted down and armchair theologians get modded up.
One day at work the hardware croaked. I was working as a sort of liazon to IT, and my department depended more on that VAX than any other department, or IT itself, so I was investigating replacements such as MicroVAXen.
What I found was an emulator called charon-vax. Test versions were available for Windows and Linux; a commercial version only for Windows. It is with some sense of accomplishment that I can report that I convinced the company to sell the Linux version commercially, on the strength of my company's order, which we delivered.
To use the emulator (evaluation or commercial) with VMS, you need a copy of the OS, which at the time was available for $20 to members of DECUS under a hobbyist license. DECUS membership was free, but they've since renamed themvelves, and I've lost touch.
--
I don't want to rule the world... I just want to be in charge of mayonnaise.
No version of qnx is using Mach. qssl made their own kernal. For qnx6 that kernal is called Neutrino 2.
And even photon(The gfx system) is using c bindings, so I really don't think they have used much c++.
Martin
Just hack into one, and 'borrow' some time on it.
This was modded down, but is actually good advice. This is how I got much of my UNIX experience when I was young and didn't have money. Just don't do anything malicious. And don't get caught.
Zoot!
I think the person with enough time on his (her) hands coud run Hercules on OpenMosix.
Ouch....
"Flyin' in just a sweet place,
Never been known to fail..."