Jeffrey Deaver asks > >If IBM had wanted the zIIP's to only be > >for DB2, they probably would not have > >allowed the interface to leave IBM. > > So how does that work? Can anyone get the zIIP interface code and use it > without having to pay a license fee to IBM?
Yes. If you are an IBM PartnerWorld member you can get a license from IBM. The license is free because in essence the vendor is offering to provide a benefit to IBM customers. These days anything that helps attract or retain work on the platform is in both IBM's interests and the vendor's interests. Once you have signed the license agreement you get access to the interface spec. It is a pretty simple document and there are only a small number of macro calls required to get it going. I do want to emphasize that we are using the formal interfaces and not sneaking in through the back door. > Or is CA paying IBM for access to the ZIIP and that cost will eventually > get passed on in their software cost? No, we're not paying anything so there is nothing to be "passed along". > Just seems like both CA and IBM are giving up money for nothing > since so many of their products are MIPS or MSU based and off-loading > cycles to zIIP processors will have us staying on 'smaller' machines > longer. Or are they just starting to realize a new cost model? IBM says offload engines don't count for software MSUs and the vendor community has a "gentleman's agreement" to follow suit. As far as I know everyone is sticking by that. The bottom line on all of the offload engines is that the whole industry needed a new cost model to remain competitive. There is nothing sinister about it and IBM has given all of the vendors access to the same resources and capabilities. A level playing field is good for everyone. CC ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] with the message: GET IBM-MAIN INFO Search the archives at http://bama.ua.edu/archives/ibm-main.html
