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Mainframes: Here Today ... and Tomorrow?
By Mark Gold and Steve Little Brooklyn College, long a leader in administrative computing and computer science within CUW has depended on mainframe systems for much of its computing needs throughout most of its modem history. Our mainframe operates in-dependently, but it is also linked to the CUNY central mainframe systems, as are all CUNY college mainframes. The mainframe has been an indispensable tool which has helped Brooklyn maintain its status as a premier CUNY college. Recently, a great deal of emphasis has been placed on microcomputer systems interconnected by high speed local area networks (LANs). Academic curricula have largely shifted to PC platforms. Office automation systems depend solely on desktop computers. Everywhere, "dumb" terminals are being replaced with microcomputers. The ongoing implementation of the College's Electronic Campus Plan has moved our computing focus rapidly into state-of-the-art distributed computing systems. Mainframe users may be justifiably concerned about the future of their applications. What is the future of mainframe computing? And, of more direct concern, what are Brooklyn College's computing directions? The Death of the Mainframe? Brooklyn College plans on phasing out its local mainframe in the near future, relocating its remaining mainframe applications to CUNY's central computing facilities. This move is being undertaken for financial reasons and has been strongly encouraged by the CUNTY central administration. We are not the first senior college to make this decision (Hunter is already in the process of removing its large systems) nor will we be the last to do so: several other colleges, including other senior colleges, have expressed their plans to move to a shared use of CUNY's central mainframe as a cost-saving measure. What prompted this bold move? Simply put, the College's mainframe. has primarily supported a few very large administrative systems such as student records registration, the Bursar's Office, Admissions, Alumni Affairs, and connectivity (electronic mail). The College's imminent migration to the CUNY-based SIMS student information system, the conversion of Alumni and Admissions applications to PC/LAN-based programs, and the growth of more advanced connectivity and e-mail systems on the College LAN will leave very little usage to justify the substantial expense of maintaining a large campus mainframe system. The hardware and software maintenance costs are significant, and shrinking budgets make staffing and systems support increasingly difficult to maintain. The bottom fine is that CUNY central can provide facilities more powerful than our own, and with more focused support staff. We can access those facilities transparently via our expanding campus LAN and the special telecommunications links already in place. Unfortunately, Brooklyn College cannot do everything; instead, we must focus our resources on those computing systems that are most important to our academic and administrative missions. We can maintain full access to high quality mainframe computing, while freeing up valuable resources to further enhance local LAN-based technologies. Mainframes vs. LANs Should you abandon the mainframe in favor of the LAN? Certainty there are many applications which still make sense on the mainframe: heavy computational computing, some statistical programming, some computer science applications, and large multi-user administrative systems are some appropriate uses. There are, however, many traditional uses of the Brooklyn College and CUNY mainframes that no longer make sense. For example, CUNY and Brooklyn provide basic e-mail capability via their VM operating system, but the College's LAN-based Microsoft Mail system is much more functional, easier to use, and better connected. It has directory browsing, phones lists, and many other features. CUNY-VM provides minimal access to some basic Internet access tools (Gopher, FTP), but cannot offer advanced graphical tools or Web browsers, such as those available via our LANs. For most users, the future will be on the LAN. The University's Directions Clearly, CUNY central is evolving into a large-scale mainframe computing resource for the colleges. However, CUNY is still a major Internet node, and a large number of CUNY-VM users obtain their IDs solely for the purpose of using e-mail or obtaining Internet access. (Although some colleges provide access to CUNY-VM via campus-based LANs, direct dial in access is still a major access point for CUNY's systems.) CUNY central found that it was dedicating a large portion of its now critical VM resources and access lines to users who were simply using CUNY's systems as a jump-off point for other non-mainframe systems. CUNY's recent extensive campus technology surveys verified that campus LANs were growing steadily and beginning to provide many of these same functions. CUNY decided to encourage users to abandon CUNY-VM-based e-mail and Internet access in favor of the more functional local systems, thereby freeing up valuable resources for more traditional mainframe uses. No. . . Our staff and faculty are NOT being thrown off the CUNY mainframes, BUT they are being encouraged to investigate LAN-based alternatives at the College and new applications for CUNYVM accounts are being screened more closely to determine where (LAN or mainframe?) new users needs can best be served. Rumors to the contrary, CUNY has not shut down access, nor do they plan on doing so in the near future. They have, however, asked the colleges to review current usage patterns, clean up old unused IDs, and encourage "connectivity" (or e-mail) users to use local facilities, wherever these can meet their needs. Are LANs a Substitute? Yes. Brooklyn College, with some of the most sophisticated LAN and connectivity systems in the Universit34 occupies a unique position of LAN leadership within the CUNY family Our LANs now serve over 1,000 campus computers. Our e-mail systems have over five hundred local user accounts and service nearly one thousand users, total. The LANs provide:
* High-speed mainframe access to both Brooklyn and CUNY machines Full-featured graphical interface access to virtually all Internet access tools, including Web browsers
It is true that many users have no LAN access on their desktop at this time, but shared systems have been installed in most administrative offices and every academic department office, to facilitate basic access. Public access systems are also available in the College's computer labs and in the Library's Faculty Training and Development Laboratory. In addition, the College distributes scores of new microcomputer systems to faculty and staff each year and is proceeding to completely cable several academic departments each year, using a combination of in-house and contracted resources. Most importantly, the College has obtained capital funding specifically earmarked for completely re-cabling the entire campus with a modern state-of-the-art cabling system. Within the next few years, the College expects to have LAN connections installed in every office, every lab, and all classrooms. It is true that there are currently "haves" and "have nots" in the Brooklyn College LAN world, but new users are added each week and the College's goal is to provide nothing less than universal access for all faculty and staff as quickly as possible. What About Off-Campus Access? OK ... The future is coming. Someday soon you will have a high-speed LAN connection at your desk. But what about access from off campus? ("I can use a modem to dial into CUNY now...") Several different facilities exist or are planned, to provide remote access to various connectivity resources. E-Mail - ITS maintains a dial in facility for its Microsoft Mail system. The system allows a home PC to dial into a mail server, and quickly exchange inbound /outgoing mail. LAN access - ITS maintains a "remote control" access system which can allow a limited, number of users to attach to the LAN via modem and work on the LAN, as if they are sitting at an on-campus PC. Internet access - ITS is piloting a new dial-in Internet access facility for limited use by faculty and staff. Although this resource will probably prove to be popular, it must remain limited because the College cannot accommodate the anticipated demand for this service: users tend to remain connected for long periods of time, and it would be very costly to implement and manage a sufficient number of telephone access lines and modems. Clearly, capacity is a concern for the long-term growth of demand for remote access, especially access to Internet resources. To meet this need in an environment of shrinking budgets and staff resources, both Brooklyn College and CUNY central computing are pursuing an arrangement with a third party Internet access provider that specializes in providing reliable, inexpensive access to large numbers of users via modem. CUNY's considerable purchasing power should ensure that such services can be made available to all faculty, staff, and perhaps students, at attractive, reasonable rates with minimal or no monthly fees. These services will be publicized as soon as they are finalized. Gearing Up For The Future Both ITS, the Library's academic computing program, and CUNY central computing continue to schedule a variety of classes and seminars on Internet subjects. Come and participate! Qualified users with an interest in using the Internet for professional or research use are encouraged to explore the Internet via the LAN Internet gateways. All Brooklyn College faculty and staff are encouraged to apply at ITS for local LAN-based login IDs and Microsoft Mail (MS-Mail) email IDs, which can be used at most LAN-attached PCs and MACs on campus. Mainframes: Here Today ... and Tomorrow? The mainframe is not dead yet, although the focus here at Brooklyn College is definitely evolving. If you need a mainframe, it will still be there for you ... but come on down and try something new and improved. We think you'll be pleased. |