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Michael Cooney

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Worlds collide: Apple iPhone app manages mainframe

IPhone, iPad apps manage IBM mainframe systems

By Layer 8 on Wed, 09/29/10 - 5:08pm.

. What's this?

Talk about two systems that are worlds apart. Network management vendor William Data Systems says it has created an Apple iPhone app that lets users manage IBM's z/OS mainframe environment.

What's up with encryption?

Specifically the iPhone app lets users tie into WDS' ZEN z/OS network management suite running on the mainframe. ZEN is made up of a variety of packages that let users monitor network performance, usage and activity displays, system alerts and security. The company touts Zen as a replacement for the venerable IBM NetView mainframe monitoring system.

"Low cost smart mobile devices are now widely available. Companies are asking their z/OS support people to do more with less. Put the two together and another requirement is for z/OS network monitoring and management to be done, remotely when needed, using a single mobile device that support people would normally carry with them," the company's founder Liam Hammond said in a statement.

The company has also developed a similar mainframe system management application that runs on the Apple iPad. A look at that product can be found here.

Follow Michael Cooney on Twitter: nwwlayer8

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