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Introduction | Cost | Sustainability | User Productivity | Reliability and Security | Conclusion
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Introduction | Cost | Sustainability | User Productivity | Reliability and Security | Conclusion
Cost
A switch to client/server computing from mainframe computing is often advertised as a way to decrease operating costs for a company. However a careful analysis of how/if this will decrease costs is necessary.
Karen Watterson's text "Client/Server Technology for Mangers" states that mainframes require large specialized support staffs making them expensive. While this is a true statement it is also true that while a client/server system is distributed and each server may require only one administrator, there are many more servers that must be administered. These servers are generally more administrator friendly than mainframes because they typically run only one application but they still require administrators with specific skill sets. Watterson's text also notes that client/server computing gives you more bang for your buck when based on millions of instructions per second (MIPS.) This is also true but it is misleading in that PC's only utilize 2-5% of their potential CPU processes while mainframes utilize a considerably larger percentage of available processes. These two examples could be misleading and help to illustrate why careful consideration should be given to the criteria that a CIO will base his/her decisions upon.
Overall client/server computing will save money for most companies in the long run when compared with mainframe computing but the return on investment (ROI) may be considerable longer than expected if these calculations are based on inappropriate criteria.