Chapter 2. Introducing the Mainframe

To understand what the mainframe offers to Linux, you need some basic knowledge of the mainframe's architecture and design. It is difficult to find a concise and easy-to-read mainframe overview. In this chapter, we provide a brief introduction for those who are new to the mainframe.

In this chapter, we discuss the following questions:

• How did the mainframe develop?

• What distinguishes the mainframe from other platforms?

• What does the mainframe of today offer?