Like user bin0 said below, a mainframe can do 30k to 1.1M transactions like wire transfers in a second.
They also have rediculously high up times and much higher security (probably mostly via obscurity).
Unfortunately, they're insanely expensive.
They also have rediculously high up times and much higher security (probably mostly via obscurity).
Unfortunately, they're insanely expensive.
Mainframes weren't nearly as rock solid as their reputation in the 3 years of dealing with them that I had.
Mainframes were great at processes that need high IO.
I've not dealt with them in close to 20 years, so dont know how current x64 linux or Windows stacks line up.
Mainframes are hugely expensive. 20 years ago, entry level for the hardware was around $500k, IIRC. Dont think that even provided storage or software licenses. But, yeah, youve got one largely extremely reliable piece of big iron that can handle nearly all of your needs.
Kind of like how KDB+ is so expensive as they're targeting a niche audience. Even though that is purely software.
It matters, because otherwise any kind of performance number is meaningless. If it's just CPU processing, then 1.1 million is not that much. If it's doing some sort of network handshake/transaction with other mainframes, then it's VERY impressive.