MAINFRAME TOOLS FOR YOUNGER WORKERS

By D.E.Levine

I remember when I was told that mainframes were "going away." That was some years back and it hasn't happened.

Mainframes contain and process so much information that it's doubtful that they will ever go away entirely.

However, younger workers are definitely not being trained in mainframe use, care or languages.

As a result, CA has made 143 of its 166 products comply with its Mainframe 2.0 specifications, specifically designed to ease the process of installing and managing the high-end software.

Targeting younger workers without mainframe skills, the Mainframe 2.0 strategy automates or streamlines routine tasks. This allows younger workers to undertake some mainframe tasks and frees up the mainframe system administrators for other work.

In addition to automating many of the tasks, Mainframe Software Manager shortens the time needed to go through all of the documentation before installing products manually.

In addition to allowing administrators to hand off duties to younger workers, the automated software provides the ability to transition smoothly in case a mainframe person leaves the company. Until now, if an expert mainframe person left the firm, many companies found themselves without staff to cover the departing worker's tasks.