Type of Database used on IBM Mainframes?

DB2, ORACLE, also CA/DATACOM and CA/INGRESS are all major players in the Mainframe database arena.

These are ALL mainframe relational database management systems.

AW

Or, it could be IDMS, IMS, or plain old VSAM... it doesn't necessarily have to be relational.  Many government IT shops (especially city,county) are noted for staying with older technology in order to save budget dollars and to avoid software upgrades until they're absolutely nexessary.

Lynn

SQL is another big one.

DB2 is typically used in IBM Mainframe servers. Thwy are the most compactible ones as DB2 is a IBM product only.

Can you really run Microsoft SQL Server on the mainframe?  I mostly used DB2 on the mainframe, although IMS and IDMS are big.

>> Can you really run Microsoft SQL Server on the mainframe?

almost certainly not. SQL ONLY runs on Windows, and as mainframes (exclusively?) run Unix or similar, SQL Server is unlikely to be compatible.

s46.

Not the Microsoft SQL Server.

SQL is a universal database language/scheme.  

http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/html/as400/v4r5/ic2924/index.htm?info/db2/rzajpmst02.htm




AC

>> SQL is a universal database language/scheme.  

... and therefore cannot 'run' as such on any system.

So...
>> SQL is another big one.
... doesn't really make any sense unless you mean SQL Server. Otherwise it's a bit like saying 'HTML is another big one' if you're discussing whether to use Dreamweaver or Visual Studio to write web pages.

s46.

Your link regarding "SQL" is for DB2.  SQL in that context is a programming language.

That's right jrb1.



AC

So, his Mainframes esp. the z/VM system which stores all the police records, warrants, and city's  accounting information, is that run by  the DB2 Universal Database System? Because it was quite lonng ago were my  friend took me for a tour at his datacenter. It  was quite an experience.

Just to confirm here....

If it's running on IBM mainframes, a hestitant guess would be...

probably DB2, possibly Oracle but not ruling out anything else (except maybe SQL Server, MySQL, Access and FoxPro...!)

Rgds,

s46.

p.s. to keep BILJAX happy, I would stake 50 Lounge poinx on it being a SQL database engine...!

There's no way to know which DB system it is.   It depends on when it was written.  I would guess either IMS or DB2.  I personally like IDMS but that wasn't as widely used.  As someone else mentioned, it could be as simple as writing to VSAM files though.

I hope you guys know what Im talking about. I am speaking in terms of what database software they use for like the DMV, Police records, jail records, Inventory, Accounting, etc...

BTW, does the DMV use the Mainframes as there servers too?

Thanks for these replies. Just to people know aroung here, that mostly, I will lean questions focusing on Mainframe series servers or systems including the security aspects if it also. I have alreayd downloaded tons of manuals in PDF format including Redbooks. I am just very interested in these systems.

Right now, Im taking a course in PC repair and beleive me, the PCs that you see in homes are like toys compared to these beasts that my friend works on. The sad thing, is that its hard to find schools like that teach this.

Som I hope you guys dont mind asking about Mainframes and stuff. Thanks...

Also, where my Mother works, they use this program called MAPICS. Is that like a databae application for warehouse stock? And does it run on the AS/400 Server??

My Mom says that thats what they use to look up inventory. Is anyone here familar with MAPICS?

Ah Mapics... we're looking at that or Axapta for a new ERP system.....   jslayton01, you have probably heard of BPCS.....<shudder>

I also have a few questions regarding security on Mainframes, but to be fair, I am going to post this on the Security forums area instead... Thanks. Be sure to navigate to the security forums. My subject line will include Security on Mainframes...check it out..

Thanks.

Its actually in the Linux Security Forums...

MAPICS (recently sold to another company) isn't a database but it is a suite of applications that can be customized for each customer's needs.  It first came out back in the mid-late '70's for the IBM Series 3x systems (Sytem34, System36, and System38).  I don't remember it being available for the "big iron" of the day... System/360, System/370. 30xx, etc.  The Series 3x boxes were repalced by AS/400 (and other "departmental computers").  Nearly all these systems were programmed in RPG.  In the early years, the only modules available was the Manufacturing system later followed by the Financial system.  The now have several modules in the suite such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Customer Retention Management (CRM), etc...

There are other commercial solutions with similar concepts... pre-written packaged software that can be adapted to a customer's requirements.  Examples are: SAP, PeopleSoft, Tesseract, Oracle's packages, etc.  Knowledgeable developers/consultants are usually paid quite handsomely to perform the installation and customization of these products.

For example, what database system does the government use to store everyones ID information including SS#? Are those stored on the Mainframes itself too?

Also, another question -

When police officers read off a vehicles license plate and the dispatcher repsonds with the information including the address, and records history, what database do they get that off from? Meaning, driver's criminal history, records, street address, and all that? Do those go into the Mainframes like the Z/VM, S/390 and so forth?

I would appreciate it if I were not to be ignored. I will not dish out money just to be ignored. Either answer or I am going to contact the board moderator ASAP. So, either I am going to have a response or I will contact the board moderator. Its just a waste of money here.

To be honest here. I do not know whats going on. Am I being put under the ignore list or what? I would appreciate some answers as soon as possible onto whats going on here. Because this is discrimination and plus I have a network to manage for security.

Thanks
JS

jslayton01, calm down.  You have asked MANY MANY questions as this line has expanded quite far from the original question you asked, and there has been quite a lot of help.  However, every time you are given an answer, you come up with more questions.  And all for a whole 125 points.  Wow, with those points and about 10,000,000 more, I can go into my local Starbucks and get a Tall Mocha Latte for about $4.50.  We all here are 'volunteers', and if I were working for the points, I would starve to death.  You have been offered some help, and it doesn't seem to be enough.  If you want to complain to the Moderator, the be my guest.  No one here is trying to ignore you, after all, it took you almost 2 weeks to respond the the moset recent answer that was give to you by JesterToo.

AW

JS,

As Arthur says, calm down.

>> I have a network to manage for security
Are you sure about this? Most of your questions seem to indicate you're a schoolkid doing some research, or else just very naive. In either case, I doubt very much you have been given the task of maintaining a network, unless it is in your bedroom.

None of us have any problem giving out help to anybody who wants it (except where helping would constitute doing somebody else's job or homework) but remember we're all volunteers and that we generally appreciate a little honesty. Also, try awarding points for the answers you get rather than threatenting us for not answering many questions in one go. Now that you've paid your $10 or whatever the charge is, you can open as many new questions as you like so stop being stingy!

If you want to go to a moderator, feel free but don't be surprised if you are politely told where to go.

Regards,

s46.

You admitted you were going far afield when you said:

"Also, another question "

While most people are tolerant of a little of this, turning a 125 point question into 20 questions is another thing entirely.  You ask what database a city uses, but you don't tell us what city.  You ask what database do they keep social security numbers in...and the DMV records.  The answer is many different databases scattered across every state.  There is no single answer to any of your questions.