Windows Virtualized On Mainframes

The terms “Windows” and “mainframe” aren’t typically found together in the same sentence.  But if Mantissa Corporation has its way, that could change.  This year, the Birmingham, AL-based company is hoping to release its z/VOS application, which virtualizes x86 hardware on IBM’s System z mainframes.

While z/VOS can support any x86-based operating system, the company is particularly interested in the prospect of running thousands of unaltered Windows instances on a single System z mainframe.  Mantissa CEO and founder Gary Dennis envisions the software being deployed in a VDI scenario: users on thin clients connect over RDP to Windows desktop operating systems running on the System z mainframe.  However, some people question whether the mainframe platform, which is designed for high-volume transaction processing, is appropriate for running GUI-heavy desktop workloads.  They suggest the technology might be better used for running Windows Server workloads, such as SQL Server clusters or Exchange servers.

Either way, how commercially viable would a mainframe-based Windows virtualization platform be?  System z mainframes cost bucu bucks, and would be out of reach for most organizations.  Furthermore, the skill set required to operate System z (z/VM) mainframes is not exactly common.  Knowledge of the z/VOS virtualization platform would be an even smaller niche, especially when compared to the rapidly growing talent pool for ESX, XenServer, Hyper-V and other x86-based platforms.   

Still, a single mainframe supporting thousands of virtualized Windows workloads offers some serious consolidation as well as the data center power/cooling/footprint savings that go along with it.  It would be great to see a TCO and ROI comparison between System z, blade, and rackable server solutions.  

But regardless of its commercial viability, Mantissa and Dennis seem committed to z/VOS: "The product has been a bear for the development group but the thought of being able to run 3,000 copies of Windows on one System z so fascinated the team that we needed very little additional incentive."

Check out an interesting IBM listserv thread on the topic.  Thanks to OSnews for pointing out the story.

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