Expert practitioners don’t always make the best authors for their topics of specialisation, but one exception to that rule is award winning industry expert Craig Mullins, and his book “IBM Mainframe Specialty Processors”, a high-level overview of pertinent mainframe internals such as control blocks, SRBs, and TCBs, and why they are important for understanding how zIIPs work.
Craig is both President and Principal Consultant of Mullins Consulting Inc. He operates as an in-demand analyst, an author, speaker, and practitioner, with over three decades of real world proven experience, across all facets of database systems development, including creating and teaching database classes, systems analysis and design, along with data analysis, database administration, performance management, and data modelling.
If you are an IT professional who works on IBM z Series mainframes, you will have heard about zIIPs and other “specialty processors”, but may not know what they are, what they do, and why they exist. In this book Craig clarifies both their purpose, along with the benefits specialty processors offer, with expert advice on how you can best utilise them for cost optimisation, along with various types of workloads that can take advantage of specialty processors, including advice on how to promote zIIP usage in your applications and systems.
Craig Mullins’ “IBM Mainframe Specialty Processors” is indeed a must-read, for anyone involved in mainframe computing, and those seeking to understand the intricacies of optimising performance, reducing costs in this domain and glean the most value from specialty processors on the mainframe platform.
There is little doubt this book stands out from the crowd, for so many reasons, none more so that its clear, concise, and practical real world comprehensive exploration of zIIPs (System z Integrated Information Processors), licensing considerations, and strategies for achieving substantial cost savings on IBM System z, all from a leading mainframe and database industry expert with multiple decades of hands on practitioner experience to draw on.
For all mainframe owners, a consistent theme across both business and operational needs, reducing software cost is a regular challenge. This book goes both deep and wide into why it is essential to the know how to leverage the core purpose of specialty processors. Craigs book provides a great high-level introduction to the core topics around both understanding mainframe licensing and pricing, as mainframe pricing and billing is a very complex topic, one which is all to commonly not well understood by business and technology decision makers influencing investments in the mainframe platform.
This book will help you become conversant on the topic, as its attention to detail regarding licensing considerations. Understanding the nuances of IBM’s licensing models can significantly impact cost management strategies, and Mullins leaves no stone unturned in elucidating these critical aspects. Readers will appreciate the clarity with which he explains licensing options, potential pitfalls, and strategies for optimising license usage to minimise expenditures.
Reading IBM Mainframe Specialty Processors, one of the book’s greatest strengths, is its accessibility, the use of every day language and plain english explanations. Mullins has a talent for breaking down complex concepts into easily digestible pieces, making it an invaluable resource for both seasoned mainframe professionals and newcomers to the field. The explanations are thorough yet concise, ensuring that readers gain a deep understanding without feeling overwhelmed by technical jargon.
Mullins’ real-world experience shines through in the practical insights and best practices shared throughout the book. He not only delves into the technical aspects of zIIPs but also provides actionable guidance on leveraging these processors effectively to optimise performance and reduce operational expenses. This blend of theory and practical application makes the book immensely valuable for IT professionals looking to maximise the ROI of their mainframe investments.
In addition to its technical depth, “IBM Mainframe Specialty Processors” also addresses broader industry trends and future outlooks, ensuring that readers gain a holistic perspective on mainframe computing in the modern IT landscape. Mullins’ insights into emerging technologies and their impact on mainframe operations add further relevance and currency to the book.
Overall “IBM Mainframe Specialty Processors” is an indispensable resource for anyone involved in mainframe management, offering a wealth of knowledge, practical advice, and strategic insights that can lead to substantial improvements in performance, cost efficiency, and overall operational excellence. Highly recommended for IT professionals seeking to unlock the full potential of IBM System z and optimise their mainframe environments.
Although this book is primarily focused on zIIP usage, but it also takes a look at the other types of specialty processors, including what they are used for and why it can be beneficial to use them. And finally, the book speculates on the future of specialty processors in the realm of the IBM Z. If you work on the mainframe platform, with any mainframe systems, applications, development, databases et al, you will find this a must read and an indispensable resource, this is a book that you need to read, and you will read more than once.
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