[Info-vax] CentOS has been effectively killed for production use

[Dave Froble]

On 12/16/2020 12:50 PM, Bill Gunshannon wrote:
> On 12/16/20 9:51 AM, Dave Froble wrote:
>> On 12/16/2020 6:34 AM, IanD wrote:
>>> On Thursday, December 10, 2020 at 11:41:39 AM UTC+11, David Wade wrote:
>>>
>>> <snip>
>>>
>>>>
>>>> IBM mainframes are big. If you need one to run zOS (formerly MVS) or
>>>> zVM
>>>> (formerly VM/ESA, VM/XA etc) then they sell you a box that is over
>>>> sized, but even so you only get to use part of it. You pay with the
>>>> soul
>>>> of your first born, or some other outrageous fee, but IBM know that you
>>>> have a pile of CICS code written in Assembler or Cobol and no one who
>>>> understands the business logic so you are pretty much stuck with a
>>>> mainframe.
>>>>
>>>> You are probably using it to run a big bank, airline reservation system
>>>> or Air Traffic control. Moving from these hits into those risk analysis
>>>> holes you mentioned before.
>>>>
>>>> However now you have the big animal IBM will let you use the spare
>>>> capacity to run Linux. They charge much less for this capacity. Its
>>>> called "Integrated Facility for Linux"
>>>>
>>>
>>> Where I work they recently performed a mainframe upgrade because they
>>> have a number of projects now targeting the mainframe, one of the
>>> drivers being reducing the security venerability footprint and others
>>> from i/o requirements as data volumes explode
>>>
>>> There is currently an industry shortage as federal institutions snap
>>> up personal with their deep pockets and Boomers retire
>>>
>>> They are even embarking upon mainframe training programs, such is the
>>> renewed focus on the mainframe for the areas where it excels. It's
>>> certainly not being treated as a dinosaur
>>>
>>
>> As a general concept, if one needs some capability, training is an
>> option.  Also an option when VMS capable people are needed.
>>
>
> Nice thought.  Sadly IBM Mainframe Operations, Development and Use
> is still being taught in Universities. The same can not be said
> for VMS.  And it's not because some of us weren't fighting for
> it to remain.
>
> bill

The concept is universal.  If there is a need for a particular skill 
set, training is an option.  Hiring those who already have the skills is 
another option.  If such exists.  Sometimes those claiming a specific 
skill can be, "inventive".  They can also be in that group that never 
stops updating their resume.

Adequate training of capable people is sort of a better bet than the 
hiring roulette wheel.  The "free ride" some employers wish for can be 
more expensive than they thought it might be.

-- 
David Froble                       Tel: 724-529-0450
Dave Froble Enterprises, Inc.      E-Mail: davef at tsoft-inc.com
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170 Grimplin Road
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