Science & Technology
Science and Technology
Science and Technology
Mon, October 5, 2009 Progress DataDirect: Progress DataDirect and Mainline Information Systems Team to Provide Cost- Effective Mainframe Modernizati
BEDFORD, MA and TALLAHASSEE, FL--(Marketwire - October 5, 2009) - [ Progress DataDirect ], the data-infrastructure division of Progress Software Corporation (
The DataDirect Shadow product is a single, unified platform built exclusively for integration with IBM System z mainframes. The high-performance foundation architecture supports all major industry-standard requirements for integrating mainframe data, business logic, and screens with SOAs and composite application development initiatives. The DataDirect Shadow platform uses patent-pending technology to expand the utilization of the IBM System z Integrated Information Processor (zIIP) specialty engine to additional workloads beyond DB2, including the non-relational mainframe databases Adabas, IMS/DB, IDMS and VSAM, as well SOAP/XML parsing necessary for creating Web services within the mainframe to applications residing within CICS, IMS/TM, IDMS and Natural.
Since its founding in 1989, Mainline has experienced outstanding growth by providing solid technology solutions and high levels of service to its customers. By offering the DataDirect Shadow platform, Mainline expands its offerings to continue to meet the infrastructure, environment and business needs of its customers while helping keep technology budgets in-check. Internal benchmark testing by Progress DataDirect has shown up to 99 percent of the processing associated with SOA integration, SQL data queries, Change Data Capture (CDC) for events and Web-enablement can be diverted from the mainframe's General Purpose Processor (GPP) to be handled by the zIIP specialty engine -- which does the work without using any of the mainframe licensed MIPs capacity. This is an attractive proposition for organizations looking to lower mainframe total-cost-of-ownership and for existing Mainline zIIP accounts who can now realize the benefit of DataDirect Shadow for data sources in addition to DB2.
"Mainline is always looking for innovative products and services that will bring value to our customers and exceed their business and IT requirements," said Doug Harrell, vice president of System z sales at Mainline Information Systems. "The DataDirect Shadow platform's unique zIIP exploitation capabilities, standardized data access and depth of mainframe environment support will help our customers reduce the cost and complexity of legacy data integration and make the mainframe a first-class participant in enterprise-class initiatives like SOA, BI, MDM or ERP."
Technological advancements like SOAs, Web services, ANSI-92 SQL and XML Events address many of the challenges of mainframe integration, but cost still remains a primary concern. Progress DataDirect brings to the Mainline professional services portfolio the [ Shadow Mainframe TCO Calculator ] for measuring the impact of Web services, SOA and SQL data processing on mainframe MIPS capacity and the benefit of zIIP offload. The calculator joins Mainline's CP 3000 studies for capacity planning to offer clients highly effective tools for weighing the risks of deferring a hardware upgrade or extending the value of the mainframe to new workloads through zIIP exploitation. These tools will also help organizations ease the software and hardware procurement process by providing real-time ROI analysis and strategic support for improving control over mainframe cost-of-ownership.
"Partnering with Mainline Information Systems builds on Progress DataDirect's extensive history with OEM partnerships and supports the DataDirect Shadow channel strategy by exposing new opportunities within the System z community," said Hugh Raiford, director of business development at Progress DataDirect. "We look forward to a long and successful partnership helping organizations optimize their mainframe investments through innovative products and services."
Progress DataDirect and Mainline Information Systems are side-by-side exhibitors at the IBM System z Expo, Oct. 5-9 in Orlando. Product information and technology demonstrations will be available at the Progress DataDirect booth #42.
About Mainline Information Systems, Inc.
Founded in 1989, Mainline began by offering information technology solutions and consulting in the IBM midrange markets. Since then, it has become an IBM Premier Business Partner and global provider of information technology and business solutions with more than 600 employees nationwide. Headquartered at 1700 Summit Lake Drive, Tallahassee, Florida 32317, Mainline provides solutions throughout the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Brazil and Mexico. The company may be reached by phone at 850.219.5000 and on the Internet at [ www.mainline.com ]. For more information about this solution, call your Mainline account representative or call Mainline directly at 866.490.MAIN (6246).
About Progress Software Corporation
Progress Software Corporation (
Progress, DataDirect and Shadow are trademarks or registered trademarks of Progress Software Corporation or one of its affiliates or subsidiaries in the U.S. and other countries. Any other marks contained herein are the property of their respective owners.
