A mainframe is any computer larger than a small piece of furniture. A modern mainframe is more powerful than a modern workstation, but more expensive and more difficult to maintain.
n.: The biggest PC peripheral available.
A very large computer normally requiting a controlled environment in terms of temperature, air quality, and static electricity. (7/96)
A very powerful and very large computer capable of supporting hundreds of users and millions of concurrent requests.
refers to a large computer with far more capacity and processing speed than a PC. Because of this, mainframes are commonly used as file servers (see Server).
A computer system characterized by dedicated operators (beyond the system users); high capacity, distinct storage devices; special environmental considerations; and an identifiable computer room or complex.
This is a type of computer that is associated with centralized rather than distributed computing.
A very large computer capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users simultaneously. In the hierarchy that starts with a simple microprocessor (in watches, for example) at the bottom and moves to supercomputers at the top, mainframes are just below supercomputers.
Roughly speaking, a large computer designed to support many users simultaneously.
1. A computer, usually in a computer center, with extensive capabilities and resources to which other computers may be connected so that they can share facilities. Note: the term usually refers to the hardware only: main storage, execution circuitry, and peripheral units. 2. (IRM) A large and powerful computer that is capable of supporting thousands of simultaneous users.
A large-capacity computer system with processing power that is significantly superior to PCs or midrange computers. Traditionally, mainframes have been associated with centralized, rather than distributed, computing environments. Skilled technicians are required to program and maintain mainframes, although client/server technology has made mainframes easier to operate from the user's and programmer's perspectives. They are generally used by large organizations to handle data processing for enterprisewide administrative tasks like payroll or accounts payable.
A large, multi-tasking computer that is used by many users.
a very large computer that is able to support thousands of users at the same time. Users access the mainframe through a terminal.
Basically, a large and powerful computer designed to be very fault tolerant. Historically, mainframes with lots of memory and disk space are hooked to a bunch of dumb terminals that can be used to access data on the mainframe, but can do nothing without the mainframe.
A very high-powered computer - used to process large volumes of data or transactions, mainframes support multiple users at dumb terminals, though they can connect to PCs via "middleware" or by using a terminal emulator. Microwave – Part of the electromagnetic spectrum between radio and light waves, microwaves can be used to transmit data from point to point. Often used to connect sites separated by a road or river, microwave links are also used to provide long distance links by telecoms network providers.
The first generation of computers. Still in use today, these very large computers are used by only the most demanding users to handle very large amounts of data. Although they are designed very differently than a PC, they share many of the same components including disk drives, memory banks and system I/O. Some design features of PCs are based on mainframe design principles, such as the backplane. Processing on a mainframe is done in “batch” mode, in which jobs are scheduled at the console. Mainframes typically do not run interactive application software such as word-processors or spreadsheets.
Large and very powerful computer used for intensive computational tasks.
A mainframe is an ultra high-performance computer made for high-volume, ...
a large computer system capable of handling many users at the same time
Large (expensive) computers which can handle hundreds of users at once.
In the context of this web site, mainframe refers to an IBM (or "plug compatible") mainframe computer.
A type of computer suited for processing vast quanities of information. WWWebfx Home Page
A large computer to which other computers can be connected, so that they can share facilities that the large computer provides; for example, it could be a System/370 or System/390 computing system to which personal computers are attached, so that they can upload and download programs and data.
minicomputer, micro-computer: Three sizes of computers. Big corporations use mainframes and large school systems might use a mid-range computer, sometimes called a minicomputer, as a file server and administrative tool. The correct term for microcomputer is personal computer or PC.
Large computers designed to simultaneously serve a large number of users, and usually remotely accessed by terminals. (See VT series.) Mainframes have largely given way to workstations, which serve fewer users and usually have the CPU and the terminal at the same location, but can be accessed remotely.
(computer science) the part of a computer (a microprocessor chip) that does most of the data processing; the CPU and the memory form the central part of a computer to which the peripherals are attached
a bigger computer than a PC
a computer system with one main processor and numerous dummy terminals
a computer, usually physically big, that does almost all the jobs for other types of computers that are connected to it
a continually evolving general purpose computing platform incorporating in it architectural definition the essential functionality required by its target applications
a large computer capable of serving applications and data to thousands of users at the same time
a large computer designed to have multiple users connect to it via terminals
a large computer generally running the applications of a large corporation
a large computer that handles business transactions
a large, high-powered computer that can perform billions of calculations from multiple sources at one time
a very big computer which gives up to two hundred users access to the interactive computing power of an expensive desktop computer
a very large computer, which can process a lot of information simultaneously
a very large, powerful, dedicated, multi-tasking computer where enormous amounts of data are processed, sometimes millions of records a day
Mainframe is an industry term for a large computer, typically manufactured by a large company such as IBM for the commercial applications of Fortune 1000 businesses and other large-scale computing purposes. Historically, a mainframe is associated with centralized rather than distributed computing. Today, IBM refers to its larger processors as large servers and emphasizes that they can be used to serve distributed users and smaller servers in a computing network.
A computer used to control large databases, perform high volume transaction processing, and generate reports from large databases.
A large, powerful computer that works with large data chunks and supports a myriad of users simultaneously.
A very large, powerful computer that can handle multiple tasks concurrently. It is commonly used by an entire business or organization. See server, supercomputer.
This word represents an entire computing paradigm. Typically, mainframe computers are very large, are housed in a central, secure location, and offer memory and disk-storage capacities that desktop microcomputers heretofore could not match. Historically, SIUC mainframes have been set up to handle (1) noninteractive (sometimes called "batch") computing jobs through the Multiple Virtual Storage (MVS) operating system and (2) multiuser, interactive computing through networked workstations and dumb terminals. Microcomputers have shrunk in size, dropped in price, and grown in memory and disk capacity, and they now approach the lower-end mainframes in computing power. The time-sharing paradigm used by the mainframe has been replaced with the client/server paradigm.
a large multi-purpose computer system, often said to be no longer cost-effective in comparison to newer distributed systems
A large computer, usually at a central location, which serves many users and is capable of turning out much work.
A large and powerful computer system, capable of providing services to a hundred or more users simultaneously. See also Host Computer.
It refers to a powerful computer with an interactive time-sharing operating system.
Main computer system or Central Processing Unit (CPU)
A large computer which performs and controls all the tasks of a given computer system. Typically accessed via terminals on your desk.
A large computer that can handle many tasks and multiple users at the same time.
A computer which can serve many tasks and store immense amounts of data. However, mainframe usage is giving way to micro- and minicomputers.
A computer primarily used by Global 2000 corporations for large-scale commercial applications. A mainframe is capable of supporting many users from many terminals.
A high-level computer often shared by multiple users connected by individual terminals.
A large, expensive, powerful central computer. Called a mainframe because early computers occupied a number of metal frames, the main one of which contained the processor and memory.
A large computer to which other computers and computer terminals may be connected.
A high-level computer designed for intensive computational tasks and used by large corporations. Mainframes are often shared by multiple users connected to the computer via terminals. Originally refers to the cabinet containing the CPU of a room-sized batch-processing machine.
An ultra-high-performance computer made for high-volume, processor-intensive computing. They are typically used by large businesses and for scientific purposes.
A non-networked, large computer, the predecessor of personal computers.
A large computer to be used in a multipurpose environment. It is usually linked to many peripherals.
The large-capacity computer that provides high levels of processing power, security, and stability.
A very large, fast, multiuser computer. Usually at least as big as a refrigerator.
Mostly a mainframe is only a mainframe when compared to a desktop computer. It's bigger and much more powerful. Sometimes it's called a server or CPU.
Large, expensive computers that support hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously.
A large, powerful central computer, also called a host computer, that accomplishes all data processing instructions it receives from a large number of remote, dumb terminals.
Large, powerful computer that is generally used for companywide computing since it can han- dle multiple users and tasks at the same time.
A large scale computer used to collect and store the administrative data.
before minicomputers and macrocomputers, mainframe computers ruled the world.
Really large computer capable of doing an enormous amount of processing very quickly. Predated personal computers by two decades or more. Ran IBM operating systems such as MVS and VM and the MVS follow-ups up to z/OS today.
Large computers are referred to as mainframes. More precisely, the mainframe is the piece of equipment on large computers that contains the CPU. Mainframe computers most commonly operate with word lengths of 32-bits are more, have large memory capacities and are used where large volumes of data are stored and processed.
a large, multi-user computer. Before personal computers were available, businesses and universities purchased large and expensive mainframes and housed them away in large, air-conditioned rooms.
The first commercial computers in the 1950s: large, fast, and of general application. Today they are widely used as central or host computers in large institutions.
A large computer that runs the core business process applications.
A large, fast computer which can handle several tasks at the same time.
A large computer usually sold complete with all its peripherals and often a dosed architecture (meaning not friendly to other vendors' products). Often refers to large IBM machines.
A large computer, also called a host computer, capable of handling many users and applications at one time.
a large and expensive computer system usually requiring a separate computer room, a team of computer operators, and a highly technical support staff. The data centers being considered for consolidation all contain mainframe computer systems.
A large general purpose computer which is able to store and quickly process quantities of data.
An expensive, general purpose computer with the ability to be used by many users simultaneously.
a large computer used to process massive amounts of information
A powerful multi-user computer capable of supporting many hundreds or thousands of users simultaneously. See also Personal Computer (PC)
A large computer that has access to billions of characters of data and is capable of processing large amounts of data very quickly. Capable of serving hundreds to several thousands of users.
A very large computer capable of supporting hundreds of users running a variety of different programs simultaneously. Often the distinction between small mainframes and minicomputers is vague and may depend on how the machine is marketed. Example of a mainframe: the OIT-administered IBM computer that supports TSO and WYLBUR.
Central Processing Unit, main memory, and control units of a computer typically housed in one large cabinet or in a number of smaller ones grouped together. The term only applies to large computers.
A large-scale computer system that can house comprehensive software and several peripherals.
A very large and expensive computer capable of supporting hundreds, or even thousands, of users simultaneously.
Mainframe refers to the basic or main part of the computer, the CPU. In everyday use mainframe computer refers to the large, ultra-powerful computers operated by governments and multi-national corporations in which the 'main' element in the name distinguishes the unit from smaller satellite terminals which may be able to interface with it.
communications: Big computer you log into remotely.
A large computer, particularly one to which other computers can be connected so that they can share facilities the mainframe provides. The term usually refers to hardware only.
A large centralized computer. ... more
A large computer used for storing large amounts of information available to many users.
Large, expensive, very powerful computer that can handle hundreds or thousands of connected users simultaneously and can store tremendous amounts of data, instructions, and information. 1.26
A large, fast computer that can be used by hundreds or even thousands of users and is designed to manage large amounts of data and complex computing tasks. The term also describes the memory storage and computing part of a large computer system, as opposed to input or output devices, such as video monitors, keyboards or printers.
Term used to describe a large computer.
