Mainframes Survive 4.8 Magnitude Eastcoast Earthquake
A magnitude 4.8 earthquake struck the Northeast on Friday, April 5, rattling the East Coast from Maine down to Virginia. But while people may have been feeling shaken, the mainframes of Poughkeepsie were just fine.
Soon after the shaking stopped, IBM engineer Pasquale “PJ” Catalano posted on X about the event: I am happy to report that all 200 mainframes in Poughkeepse, NY have successfully passed this FREE earthquake test!”
The facility at Poughkeepsie has housed IBM operations since 1941, and the 56,000 sq ft facility has been a manufacturing site for System Z Mainframe and Power Systems following a $30,000 investment from the company in 2010. It was from this location that IBM launched the z16 mainframe.
Catalano’s tweet was quickly followed with a message from IBM’s mainframe general manager Ross Mauri: “We haven’t felt an earthquake around Poughkeepsie in some time … but as PJ says all of our running 200+ mainframes made it through unscathed! (in case you didn’t know we actually simulate a magnitude 7 earthquake as a standard test procedure for mainframes).”
To catch a glimpse of what a seismic test looks like for a mainframe, check out the IBM Mainframe Forum’s video of the test.
Source: Data Center Dynamics
T-Systems Wins Deal To Manage Mainframe Infrastructure For KMD
KMD, the Danish IT specialist, has selected T-Systems to operate its mainframe infrastructure, the largest deal to date for T-Systems in Denmark. T-Systems describes the infrastructure as “a high-performance and highly scalable IT environment optimized for business-critical applications and data processing.”
T-Systems will take over operations in 2025, and the contract extends over seven years with the option to extend – neither company disclosed the contract volume.
According to KMD, its focus going forward will be on its core competencies of developing and delivering industry-specific software and services. The company teams up with specialized service providers to provide customers with reliable, high-quality services.
T-Systems, which is part of Deutsche Telekom and is headquartered in Frankfurt, Germany, continues to see robust demand for mainframe services and competencies in the market.
Commenting on the deal, Ferri Abolhassan, CEO of T-Systems and member of the board of Deutsche Telekom, stressed the company’s commitment to quality service:
“Quality, stability, and security are becoming increasingly important to our business customers. That’s exactly what we want to offer KMD so that they can fully unleash their potential and continue to drive the digitalization of the Danish public sector. This deal is the largest so far for T-Systems in Denmark and emphasizes our commitment in the Nordics. We appreciate the trust placed in us.”
According to Per Johansson, CEO KMD, the deal reflects the parallel values and commitments of the two companies:
“It has been of great importance to us that our mainframe environment will continue to be in safe hands going forward. At the same time, it is crucial that our suppliers have strong values that match ours – with a focus on reliability, security, and sustainability. In T-Systems, we have found a strong European-based partner with a solid foundation to provide sustainable and stable end-to-end services.”
Source: T-Systems
Sonja Soderlund is an Oregon-based B2B freelance writer. Whether writing about mainframe computers, educational technology, or sustainable retail, she strives to bring clarity to complex issues. Connect with her at sonjasoderlund.com or LinkedIn.