Institutes, universities, large corporation, government facilities use mainframes for immediate supporting and processing the huge amount of data. The mainframes are computers of a very big size which service different PC users.
For the first time, the mainframe was created in 1950. The purpose of such computers is processing the huge volume of input and output data. The computers of such kind are optimized for the high computational speed which equals to millions of instructions per a second.
Formerly, the mainframes required a separate room as the special cooling, ventilation, and heating if any were necessary. Besides, there was no interactive interface for interacting with the computer. For this, the latest framework versions had a special terminal which reminded a modern monitor and keyboard.
The typical mainframe configuration is close to the configuration of ordinary modern computers. The mainframe consists of the central processor, main memory, operator console, input-output channel, cluster controller, disk drive, storage controller, and so on.
What are the mainframe characteristics?
- The mainframes can be used by a great number of users.
- They are created for the continuous operation without any breaks.
- The computers of such sort are utilized for a reliable processing the transactions (events logging).
- The central administration and mass storage management.
- The mainframes ensure permanent automatic monitoring, backup, and data assurance.
It is even hard to imagine that great number of test cases, necessary for checking the efficiency of the computers of such a kind (whether it is functional testing, module checking, load testing of the system, security control of the data, performance testing of the system, stress testing, and etc.).