High-End Unix Systems Overpowering IBM Mainframes, According to New Research From Robert Frances Group
WESTPORT, Conn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 23, 2000--
Research Note Published Today Highlights Threats to IBM, Opportunities for Users
New, large, powerful Unix systems are threatening IBM and its mainframes, just as PCs, local area networks (LANs) and the Internet did in years past. As the business world moves increasingly to e-commerce, such enterprise-class Unix systems are increasingly surrounding and supplanting IBM's venerated mainframes, according to new research published today by the Robert Frances Group (RFG).
In its new Research Note "The Duel for Data Center Dominance," RFG, based here, said that IBM still owns the lion's share of the market for installed mainframes. However, in just the past two years, the company has ceded supremacy in the enterprise data center and traditional mainframe spaces to the major Unix vendors -- and IBM apparently fails to grasp the nature and seriousness of the challenges, RFG said. While IBM's installed base is still the largest by many measures, shipments of mainframe-class platforms appear to be growing significantly faster for HP, Sun and other Unix vendors than for IBM.
RFG cites information from sources within IBM itself, as well as from Sun and other public sources, to show that enterprise customers are increasingly running mainframe-class enterprise applications on high-end Unix servers. When compared with mainframes directly, these servers offer more power at less cost than IBM mainframes, RFG found. This fact, and the shift to e-business, is increasingly spurring users to deploy enterprise-class Unix systems alongside or instead of traditional mainframes, according to RFG.
Ignoring conflicting vendor claims, RFG focused its analysis on the amount of computing power shipped by IBM and its competitors, expressed in MIPS or "millions of instructions per second." Despite the difficulties of direct comparisons, RFG found that Sun sold more than twice as many MIPS than IBM did in 1999. "Both HP and Sun appeared to deliver far more mainframe servers and server MIPS than did IBM" during the same period, according to the RFG Research Note. Compounding the problem is the "cost per MIP" of IBM mainframes, which is more than twice that of systems with equivalent power from Sun, RFG found.
"While long perceived as the largest, most successful data center mainframe vendor, IBM has lost that position through an apparent lack of focus. Their view of the market was overly complacent," said Ed Broderick, Senior Analyst at RFG, principal author of RFG's new Research Note. "The new champions are not Amdahl and Hitachi, IBM's traditional mainframe competitors, but Hewlett-Packard and Sun, market-leading Unix vendors that have developed mainframe-class servers with which to knock Big Blue out of its leadership position in the data center space."
"Once again, IBM has lost its grip on a stronghold," said Cal Braunstein, Chairman/CEO and Director of Research at RFG. "What makes it so incredible is that this time it is in the one area that no one thought IBM would ever lose -- the mainframe server market. As e-commerce becomes a more established facet of business, Sun has beaten IBM at its own game by surrounding and outmaneuvering Big Blue in the enterprise data center."
RFG's Research note, "The Duel for Data Center Dominance," was shipped to RFG clients today as part of their subscriptions to the company's IT Agenda advisory service. Others may obtain information about the Research Note or arrange an interview with author Ed Broderick by contacting RFG, by telephone at (US) +203/291-6900, by fax to (US) +203/291-6906, via e-mail to info@rfgonline.com or by visiting www.rfgonline.com on the World Wide Web.
About the Robert Frances Group
The Robert Frances Group (RFG) provides timely research and advice to Global 2000 and mid-market executives who require a business-oriented view of the information technology (IT) marketplace. With a focus on the "business of IT," RFG assists IT executives and their teams to maximize effectiveness by helping to reduce costs, improve productivity, drive revenue or align IT with business strategies. This includes working with clients to plan e-business strategies, evaluate hardware and software purchases and upgrades, negotiate better contract terms, and assess the impact of events, laws and regulations that IT executives need to understand to run their departments more effectively.
Unlike traditional IT advisory services, RFG offers a single integrated service model which allows clients to drive the research agenda. Based on responses to client inquiries, industry events or important technology breakthroughs, RFG produces a daily syndicated Research Note of approximately 1,200 words, written in plain business English and delivered directly to clients via e-mail. RFG clients also receive direct on-demand access to the company's analysts via telephone, e-mail, and in-person contact. More information is available from RFG or at www.rfgonline.com on the Web.
--30--pm/sf* sjk/sf
CONTACT:
Robert Frances Group
Carolyn Crocker, 203/291-6900 |
