Microsoft Windows on a mainframe?

04.03.2009
Software that for the first time lets users run native copies of the Windows operating systems on a will be by data center automation vendor Mantissa.

The company's is a CMS application that runs on IBM's z/VM and creates a foundation for Intel-based operating systems.

Users only need a desktop appliance running Microsoft's Remote Desktop Connection (RDC) client, which is the same technology used to attach to Windows running on Terminal Server or Citrix-based servers.

Users will be able to connect to their virtual and fully functional Windows environments without any knowledge that the operating system and the applications are executing on the mainframe and not the desktop.

According to the company's Web site, users will be able to create a PC in 15 seconds, have it operational in 15 minutes and use it once or have it permanently without worrying about depreciation of hardware.

Because z/VOS supports x86 architectures, the technology also can run Linux images.