Q&A: Choosing IBM's System z10 BC Mainframe

IBM System z10 Business Class (BC) introduced significant functionality improvements over its predecessor generation, the zSeries 890/990 or System z9 BC. Most importantly, IBM preserved all of the big iron functionality introduced from the quad-core System z Enterprise Class mainframe in the packaging and design of the "Baby z10." Consequently, the System z10 BC is 40% faster, has more than 50% more total systems capacity, and up to four times the maximum main memory footprint versus the largest configuration of its System z9 BC predecessor. If you want to lower your ongoing software costs, improve your power and cooling costs, or expand the performance range of your existing z890/990 footprint, the System z10 BC is worth your consideration. The "Baby z10" is also packaged and priced to encourage the transition of both Java and Linux-led applications, consolidated and virtualized on lower-cost specialty engines.