The mainframe is the must-have enterprise environment but—for some development teams—ready access to the environment is hard to come by. Until now, that is. PopUp Mainframe’s revolutionary approach is, we think, worth celebrating.
PopUp Mainframe Further Revolutionizes Mainframe Delivery
Instantly Available Mainframe Environments under Linux on Z or the Cloud Dramatically Accelerate Mainframe Delivery Efficiency and Cost-Effectiveness
The team at PopUp Mainframe are delighted to announce the general availability (GA) of its new flagship mainframe modernization products – PopUp Mainframe X Edition and PopUp Mainframe Z Edition. PopUp Mainframe X and Z Edition provide an instantly available mainframe environment whenever required to help mainframe delivery teams accelerate urgent development and testing activities.
“As fantastic as the mainframe is as a production environment, there remain struggles and bottlenecks in how quickly change can be delivered, which brings a high cost of change. Our vision with PopUp Mainframe is to revolutionize the mainframe delivery process by offering a ready-to-use mainframe environment whenever you need it,” said CEO and Founder, Gary Thornhill.
Platform Flexibility
PopUp Mainframe product provides a functionally equivalent environment to z/OS to ensure the behaviour is predictable, regardless of the platform chosen. Separate editions offer flexibility for customers who want to be able to choose between x86 / cloud-based platforms (X Edition) or running on LinuxOne, or inside the mainframe IFL/KVM Linux environment (Z Edition).
Gary Thornhill explained, “For many organizations, cloud or x86 resources offer a cheap and readily available IT resource that can run a PopUp Mainframe instance. Other mainframe shops may have tighter access controls but have ready access to the IFL/KVM environments, or even LinuxOne, and our research suggests there’s a growing market looking to leverage these technologies. PopUp Mainframe Z Edition is specifically designed to support those mainframe users who are looking to maximize the value of those platform investments.”
Release Highlights
PopUp Mainframe’s instantly available mainframe environment removes common bottlenecks in the delivery process, with customers reporting increased delivery velocity of over 400%, while sustaining vital quality and risk requirements.
Key capabilities
Instantly available mainframe environment removes key bottlenecks, enabling teams to accelerate development, testing, and training activities
Deployment via Linux on Z (Z edition) or cloud (X edition) platforms removes additional hardware requirement, while potentially freeing up vital z/OS production LPARs
Fully compatible mainframe environment supports traditional ISPF and modern DevOps toolchains, ideal for cross-team collaboration and training
Robust configuration allows restoration of initial state, perfect for new software testing, R&D projects, and training programs.
Instant shutdown removes any environmental footprint when not in use to support Green IT initiatives
Key Operational Benefits
Accelerated delivery of over 300%
Efficient, compliant testing support through advanced data management
Sustainability improvements of up to 33% through effective platform management
Cost Efficiency improvements through improved platform usage
What They Said
As excited as we are about this release, we are even more thrilled that others share our enthusiasm:
Paul Knight, IBM z Innovation & Business Development at TES Enterprise Solutions, commented, “The PopUp Mainframe capability is another breakthrough technology that adds even greater value to the LinuxOne and IFL/KVM environments. As our clients continue to seek ways to maximise their IBM z investments, PopUp Mainframe stands out as a powerful tool—enabling them to accelerate mainframe innovation and drive measurable business value more efficiently than ever before”.
Steven Dickens, CEO & Principal Analyst at HyperFRAME Research, remarked, “The introduction of PopUp Mainframe’s tools on Linux on Z unlocks new possibilities for mainframe agility and workload testing.This strategic move enables organizations to harness Linux environments directly on the mainframe to allow for the deployment of modern DevOps processes while ensuring operational efficiency for mainframe teams.”
Find Out More
For more information on this release, visit the PopUp Mainframe Z Editon / X Edition product page.
Hot off the press! Read the PopUp Mainframe press release regarding our new mainframe market survey.
New Mainframe Market Survey Reveals Fresh Focus on Silos, Strategic Goals, and Specialization
Results Underline Modernization Appetite to Address Topical Challenges While Leveraging New Mainframe Capabilities
PopUp Mainframe Ltd, an enterprise software company dedicated to revolutionizing mainframe system delivery,today announced the findings of its Mainframe Survey, which reveals the latest market trends and 2025 plans for enterprises utilizing IBM mainframe technology.
The survey reveals the continued reliance, investment and perceived value of the mainframe environment across the sector, with ninety-eight percent of respondents saying that rely on the IBM mainframe to run their organization. A further 94% confirm their “potential to leverage additional workload capacity on specialist / Linux environments on Z,” with 97% seeking to make “increased use” of specialist mainframe processors.
The survey also uncovers major strategic challenges facing leaders today, with around eighty percent in each case citing speed of delivery, cost management, flexibility, risk managementand meeting sustainability targetsas important issues, and for which improvements were needed. Operationally, ready access to mainframe environments was given by nearly two thirds of respondents as a hindrance to meeting mainframe delivery needs, while both technical skills and adequate tooling challenges were cited by most respondents.
“As we see the attitudes around mainframe modernization continue to evolve, the platform’s ability to help deliver change rapidly, without risk, and with the right levels of flexibility, remains critical,” said PopUp Mainframe CEO, Gary Thornhill. “With 60 years of success and a brand-newmodel now available, it is no wonder so many organizations see the enduring value of the IBM mainframe. What our survey shows is a reminder that, in an ever-evolving digital world, overcoming important strategic and operational challenges continues to be an imperative for many organizations, and that there remain a variety of difficulties to overcome. The responses suggest to us that how the mainframe is used must evolve to meet these challenges. Essential is the requirement for organizations to innovate through both tooling and process, with emphasis on cultural change,” he added.
Conducted with Vanson Bourne, a global research and analysis company, the survey asked leading practitioners and IT executives from the UK and North America about the strategic importance of the IBM mainframe to their business, current challenges and future needs, as well as their development toolchains and resources.
“This survey allowed for Vanson Bourne to gather valuable data from the mainframe community on the platform’s continued relevance, as well as the forward-looking insights needed forPopUp Mainframe – and the mainframe community at large — to continue shaping the mainframe technology landscape,” said Katie Haslett, Senior Research Consultant at Vanson Bourne.
Other findings of theMainframe Survey include:
Material concerns over the availability of mainframe environments (88%),staffing limitations, and tooling (both 79%) were given as hindrances to meeting business objectives
Nearly a third of all respondents said 4 or more separate teams were involved in a standard development and delivery process for the mainframe, while 96% reported they experienced development and testing challenges using the IBM mainframe
28% said implementing mainframe change in a shorter timeframe was of critical importance to their organization – and 81% said improvements were needed in that area
36% said improving the flexibility / agility of mainframe deliveries was of critical importance to their organization – and 86% said improvements were needed
37% said the ability to meet regulatory and data compliance requirements was of critical importance to their organization – and 82% said improvements were needed
29% said greater cost efficiency was of critical importance to their organization – and 90% said improvements were needed
30% said the ability to delivery on IT-related sustainability objectives was of critical importance to their organization – and 86% said improvements were needed
“The launch of the z17 underscores the mainframe’s enduring strength, cementing its position in the market,” said Steven Dickens, CEO & Principal Analyst at HyperFRAME Research. “With evolving application needs, organisations are turning to DevOps advancements to enhance performance and maintain a competitive edge, and PopUp Mainframe stands out as a solution worth evaluating in this context.”
Derek Britton, CMO at PopUp Mainframe, commented “These initial findings clearly demonstrate both the commitment of the mainframe market to the platform, and a market that is continuously challenging itself to improve what it can accomplish. The issues uncovered reflect a relentless motivationformainframe-centric modernization and innovation to achieve even greater organizational results”.
Additional Information
The full PopUp Mainframe Market Survey report and related information are now available here.
The popularity of the Linux platform continues to rise—but does that apply equally to mainframe users? This blog examines the growing hybrid trend in a mainframe context.
Wait – Linux on a Mainframe?
Absolutely! Since its inception a generation ago, Linux on IBM Mainframes–such as IBM Z and LinuxONE–has gained significant traction, particularly in enterprise environments.
By 2006, Linux on IBM Z had already been embraced by over 1,700 customers. Its promise to combine the flexibility of Linux with the reliability and scalability of IBM’s mainframe systems, met with wide acclaim, and organizations adopted it to support a variety of use-cases, including modern applications, cloud computing, databases, and containerized workloads, benefiting from features like advanced data security, high performance, and sustainability.
For example, the LinuxONE Emperor 4, is popular among financial services organizations such as Citibank, according to sources.
Facilitating Innovation
More recently, IBM introduced the Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL), a specialized processor designed specifically to run Linux workloads on IBM Z and LinuxONE systems. The IFL provides high server density, reduced operational costs, and
enhanced performance capabilities, such as Simultaneous Multi-Threading (SMT) and Single Instruction Multiple Data (SIMD) technologies.
Additionally, IFLs can be added dynamically to systems and support various capacity-on-demand options. That flexibility means organizations use Integrated Facilities for Linux (IFLs) in a cloud computing context to achieve scalability, security, and efficiency. Beyond cloud computing, IFLs are also leveraged – including to house additional development and testing environments: there’s understandable merit in using a flexible, robust and secure environment to simulate critical workloads, to accelerate delivery while keeping vital z/OS cycles devoted to production.
From an IT sustainability perspective, there are genuine green credentials associated with the platform. According to IBM, running Linux workloads on an IBM z16 single frame or rack mount – instead of on comparable x86 servers in similar conditions – can reduce energy consumption by 75% and space by 67%. Who knew blue was so green?
Measuring Success
In 2020, IBM reported “Linux capacity increasing 55 percent year-over-year,” cementing the strategic nature of its investment commitment.
Industry analyst, Brent Ellis, of Forrester, more recently explained, “[IBM] has a strategy to enable more modern workloads to run on the hardware and the number of people acquiring mainframe hardware to run on Linux is increasing. Over the next few years, it is likely there will be more capability … coming to [mainframe] Linux to ensure a steady and non-disruptive transition to modern environments within the mainframe.”
Further quantifying that trend, however, is harder than you might expect. While there is plenty of information about the mainframe market – in the form of reports and surveys – details surrounding mainframe Linux are only lightly pencilled in. How Linux supports a modern mainframe-centric strategy is not well-defined, despite the uniformly accepted wisdom of its huge potential.
To learn more, PopUp Mainframe included a couple of questions about attitudes towards mainframe usage—and specifically Linux environments—as part of the market survey we commissioned this year with research experts Vanson Bourne. We wanted to hear how Linux matters to mainframe decision-makers.
The survey is still ongoing, so we’re not going to share the numbers yet. But early indications are worth mentioning. Firstly—no great surprise for a mainframe market survey, perhaps—we see an overwhelming loyalty to the mainframe platform, both today and into the foreseeable future.
What’s perhaps more illuminating, however, is that the initial findings suggest a huge appetite – an overwhelming majority of respondents (we will give you the precise number when the survey is closed) – for using Linux-based mainframe environments in their various forms. Simply put, many who hold the mainframe in high regard see the potential and value of Linux as part of that equation.
Make the Most of your Modern Mainframe
Of course, potential is one thing and practical solutions are quite another. Our study therefore also digs into the bottlenecks facing mainframe teams today, and where they most want to improve their capabilities to support the business.
We look forward to being able to report the full results in the coming weeks – revealing key findings, spotlighting challenges, and offering practical steps towards an even more efficient mainframe environment.
Update – we are pleased to announce the survey results are now live – visit this page for more details.
Validating new releases in the mainframe SDLC isn’t just a technical step—it’s a critical risk management process. But without the right data, testing can become a major bottleneck.
If the label Big Iron fairly reflects the mainframe’s resilience and strength as a production engine, it also implies an unbending, inflexible environment. Is that fair? And if so, how can we flex the iron?
At the GSE UK Conference, Gary Thornhill, founder and CEO of PopUp Mainframe, shared the journey behind his company and how it emerged as a response to the challenges faced during the COVID-19 pandemic. In this interview, he discusses how PopUp Mainframe is revolutionizing mainframe accessibility, addressing industry pain points like environment bottlenecks, skill gaps, and innovation barriers while embracing sustainability and hybrid computing solutions.
Show and Tell – CEO Insights from PopUp Mainframe
Hello, my name is Gary Thornhill, and I am the founder and CEO of PopUp Mainframe. My career has been a bit of a journey. I started out in mainframe operations, which later expanded into middleware. From there, I moved into middleware and led a company that focused on DevOps. The idea for PopUp Mainframe actually came about during the COVID-19 pandemic. At the time, I was the CEO of Sandhata Technologies, a DevOps consultancy. Like many others, we faced the challenge of senior, highly skilled consultants being let go from key client accounts as businesses tightened their budgets. This gave us an opportunity to think differently. One of our clients needed a way to quickly create environments for their work, and we realized there was a broader problem to solve. That’s when PopUp Mainframe was born. It was a solution designed to address the growing need for speed, accessibility, and innovation in mainframe.
What are some of the current mainframe challenges that PopUp Mainframe addresses?
The challenges I see in mainframe organizations are often more about the way they’re set up than the technology itself. A lot of organizations still operate with siloed teams, and many rely heavily on outsourcing. This makes it difficult for businesses to innovate quickly. On top of that, mainframes often have static environments—ones that can’t be easily spun up or down—which limits flexibility.
PopUp Mainframe directly addresses these issues. For example, we allow organizations to create temporary environments in less than ten minutes, whether on-premises or in the cloud. This eliminates the bottleneck of waiting for new environments to be set up. Our platform is also designed to be user-friendly; you don’t need to be an expert in green-screen interfaces to be productive. This accessibility opens up the mainframe to more people, solving both the shortage of environments and the skills gap in the process.
How has the mainframe evolved, and what role do innovative technologies play in this space?
When I started in the industry, roles within mainframe teams were very specialized. You’d have one group managing Db2, another handling IMS, and others focused on operations or automation. Today, that has shifted. People are expected to wear multiple hats, often blending mainframe and distributed skills. For example, a developer might now work across mainframe and Linux environments.
This evolution has been driven in part by initiatives like the Open Mainframe Project, which fosters collaboration and innovation in the community. A great example of this is automated testing. Many organizations are still relying on manual testing, or worse, skipping unit testing altogether. Through PopUp Mainframe, we’ve been working with the Open Mainframe Project to advance frameworks like Galasa, which allows distributed testing tools—such as JUnit or Selenium—to be used on the mainframe.
This kind of innovation is critical. Automated testing not only speeds up development but also reduces the cost of change, making mainframes more competitive and easier to maintain.
Do companies without mainframes benefit from adopting the technology?
It’s a fascinating question. While mainframes are often associated with legacy systems, they’re incredibly relevant in today’s world of big data and high-performance processing. In fact, I’ve seen new clients—organizations that have never used mainframes before—embracing the technology.
Mainframes are unmatched when it comes to reliability and processing power. Parallel Sysplex, for instance, has been around for 30 years and remains the only true hot failover system. If you have high processing needs, there’s simply no better platform. Plus, mainframes are incredibly sustainable, with the lowest cost per transaction compared to other technologies.
PopUp Mainframe offers a way for organizations to explore the benefits of mainframe technology without making massive upfront investments. For businesses looking to test new approaches or handle large volumes of data, the mainframe is still the gold standard.
How does PopUp Mainframe support green tech initiatives?
PopUp Mainframe supports green tech in a couple of ways. First, our platform is literally “on-demand” and systems can be turned on then turned off when they’re not in use. Traditionally, mainframe environments tend to sit idle, gathering dust and accumulating technical debt. By adopting a “switch it off” mentality, organizations can dramatically reduce energy consumption and optimise their resources.
On our end, we’ve taken steps to ensure our own operations are as sustainable as possible. For instance, we source data centers with green initiatives like solar-powered servers. It’s a small but meaningful step, and it aligns with our commitment to greener IT practices.
It’s also worth noting that every digital action has a carbon footprint. Checking your bank balance, for example, uses energy. Most people don’t think about this, but by making IT systems more efficient, we can help reduce the overall environmental impact. PopUp Mainframe is part of the Sustainable IT organization, and we’re pushing for broader changes across the industry.
What’s the biggest misconception about mainframes?
The biggest misconception is that mainframes are outdated dinosaurs. In reality, they’re anything but. Mainframes can do just about everything distributed systems can—and often better.
Take z/OS Connect, for example. It allows mainframes to host web services. Db2 is another great example. It’s an incredibly powerful database, but many organizations aren’t taking full advantage of its capabilities.
The issue isn’t with the technology itself but with how it’s perceived. Organizations need to focus on cultural change—encouraging teams to embrace the smart, innovative tools that are already available on the mainframe.
Can you share one of your clients’ success stories?
We’ve had the privilege of working with some incredible clients. One that stands out is a UK insurance company. They’ve completely transformed their developer experience by using PopUp Mainframe. With tools like VS Code and modern CI/CD pipelines, their developers can now work faster and more efficiently. It’s made the mainframe an attractive platform for innovation, especially for cutting-edge work.
Another client, who runs their mainframe alongside Windows applications in Azure, has seen similar success. Thanks to our partnership with Delphix (Perforce), they can perform end-to-end testing with referential integrity. This level of quality testing has significantly improved their release cycles, allowing them to deliver changes much faster and with greater confidence.
What emerging industry trend excites you the most?
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is incredibly exciting. Tools like Watson Code Assistant and BMC’s Code Insights have the potential to transform how we work. Imagine being able to query vast amounts of documentation and instantly find answers—it’s a game-changer for productivity.
That said, I think it’s important for organizations to approach AI thoughtfully. There’s a lot of hype right now, and it reminds me of the early days of cloud computing. Companies need to clearly define what they hope to achieve with AI, rather than jumping on the bandwagon. Used correctly, AI can solve significant challenges, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution.
What’s next for PopUp Mainframe?
We’re incredibly excited about what’s on the horizon for PopUp Mainframe. At the moment, our platform runs on x86 architecture—this includes environments like AWS, Azure, and on-premises virtual machines. But we’re taking things a step further by working on running PopUp Mainframe directly on IBM’s Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) and LinuxONE.
This development will be a game-changer, especially for larger enterprises. It means organizations will have the flexibility to deploy PopUp Mainframe either on traditional x86 setups or directly on the physical mainframe. For example, they’ll be able to leverage the agility of Delphix (Perforce) virtualization, which allows for forward and rewind capabilities on multiple PopUp Mainframes. This creates an ideal hybrid scenario, where businesses can experiment with cloud-based solutions while still maintaining the reliability and power of their physical mainframes.
In essence, our goal is to offer clients the freedom to operate in a mixed environment, balancing the best of both worlds while keeping their infrastructure modern and adaptable.
How can PopUp Mainframe solve the industry’s talent challenges?
The skills gap in the mainframe industry is a pressing concern, and I firmly believe PopUp Mainframe plays a crucial role in addressing this challenge. We’ve already started working with a few North American universities to introduce students to the platform.
The key lies in making the technology approachable. With PopUp Mainframe, you can do everything you would on a traditional mainframe, but with tools that younger generations are already familiar with—like Eclipse-based GUIs and VS Code. This lowers the learning curve and removes the intimidation factor often associated with mainframes.
Today’s graduates care deeply about making an impact. They’re less focused on the technology itself and more interested in what it can achieve. PopUp Mainframe aligns with that mindset by allowing them to quickly implement ideas, make code changes, and bring new functionality to life. Imagine telling a young developer they’ll have to wait a week for a Db2 update—they’d be pulling their hair out! By contrast, our platform enables near-instantaneous changes, which keeps the momentum going and fosters creativity.
The idea of the “big, scary mainframe” from sci-fi films of the 70s and 80s is outdated. With PopUp Mainframe, we’re helping to reframe that perception and show that mainframes can be just as user-friendly and exciting as any other modern technology.
What does it take to get started with PopUp Mainframe?
Getting started with PopUp Mainframe is remarkably straightforward. You can either download our compressed image—now just 60 GB—or access it through Azure. Once downloaded, the setup process takes about ten minutes.
We’ve also created the PopUp Manual, a detailed guide that walks users through every step of the process. It covers everything from connecting PopUp Mainframe to your physical mainframe to migrating data and configurations.
The biggest hurdle isn’t the platform itself—it’s navigating organizational processes to gain access to infrastructure. That’s often where delays occur. However, once PopUp Mainframe is up and running, you can hit the ground running.
Our platform also offers flexibility when it comes to security. For example, in certain scenarios, you can start without full RACF or ACF2 profiles. This allows you to quickly set things up, make changes, and save them to disk. Later, if necessary, you can provide a more secure copy for broader organizational use.
Ultimately, PopUp Mainframe is just another mainframe—only faster, more agile, and easier to use. It allows teams to utilize their existing skills while bringing in distributed expertise, particularly in areas like testing and automation. It’s the perfect balance of familiarity and innovation.
This transcript is from an interview with Gary Thornhill, conducted by Planet Mainframe at the GSE Conference 2024. Watch the full interview here.
According to the Global Sustainability Barometer survey – commissioned by Microsoft, conducted by Ecosystem, and released by Kyndryl, “Although 84 percent of organizations consider sustainability goals to be of high strategic importance, only 21 percent actively leverage technology to minimize their environmental impact and guide their broader sustainability strategy.”
The days are over when technology solutions are purely and simply about helping improve profits and reducing costs; implementing IT initiatives to actively reduce resource usage and emissions is taking its rightful place on today’s strategic agenda.
Innovating Towards Sustainable IT
At the arrowhead of using technology to support a more sustainable business model are pioneering organizations and vendors driving the agenda toward a cleaner, responsible, and sustainable business environment
The work of SustainableIT.org in championing and recognizing IT’s vital role in ESG and sustainability imperatives is noteworthy. Their list of award winners reads like a who’s who in sustainable IT innovation.
PopUp Mainframe was delighted to be among this year’s recipients in recognition of our work in supporting our clients’ ESG and sustainability objectives, as well as our internal efforts towards a cleaner, greener provision of technology.
As the organizers explained, “In August 2024, after a rigorous judging process, 30 companies were named winners, based on their ambitious ESG goals and measurable results. These winners demonstrated the power of technology to impact not just the environment but also social equity and governance. Key Selection Criteria were: Ambitious ESG targets & commitment; – Proven impact with clear metrics (e.g., CO2 reduction, cost savings); Leadership in best practices & innovation; Cross-functional collaboration”
We were delighted to be among the winners of the Environment category award.
PopUp Mainframe – helping customers deliver On GreenIT objectives
While each customer case will differ, PopUp Mainframe’s solution offers breakthrough possibilities for an organization’s sustainable IT strategy –
Removing the need for additional infrastructure investment and energy consumption by reusing existing data center or cloud resources
Maximizing energy-efficient mainframe resources and deferring/removing additional energy requirements through efficient scheduling of production workload
Reducing IT’s emissions and energy footprint by only running testing and development environments when needed
We are actively engaged in supporting our customers’ efforts towards a more sustainable IT provision as part of their operational objectives.
PopUp Mainframe and Green IT
PopUp Mainframe provides a sustainable, low-cost, and rapid solution for organizations looking to modernize IT. The solution enables on-demand availability of virtual mainframe environments, dramatically reducing the need for physical hardware and thereby lowering energy and emissions. By enabling mainframe test environments to run in solar-powered cloud data centers, PopUp Mainframe offers mainframe access to anyone who needs it while serving as a catalyst for sustainable transformation.
Gary Thornhill, PopUp founder and CEO, had the privilege of presenting a fully featured PopUp demo to a group of mainframe and tech enthusiasts at Tech Field Day at SHARE Kansas City, 2024.
The delegates came from a wide range of backgrounds including appdev, mainframe education, security, DevOps, mainframe services, and Open Mainframe Project.
“What is PopUp? Well, we can popup a full mainframe platform in under 10 minutes, in the cloud or on prem.
We are proud that PopUp runs on IBM zD&T under the covers – tried and true industry-leading z/OS virtualisation software.”
Welcome to the Wonderful World of PopUp Mainframe!
PopUp was born out of a direct need to provide customers with mainframe environments so they can action the mainframe transformations they desire.
PopUp is pipeline-ready, and can be fully administered in a distributed way, using APIs to spawn, clone, and tear down a PopUp just like other virtual machines.
Using PopUp to deploy and test code quickly, test the latest security features, meet regulatory requirements, and test upgrades of Z can liberate your teams to achieve their goals more quickly than before.
Modern mainframes are incredibly efficient, cost effective, and provide better per-core performance than the alternatives.* Migrating workloads away from the mainframe requires careful consideration.
Using PopUp to augment your physical mainframe by enabling faster, cheaper testing on ephemeral environments is a fast track to modernising your mainframe processes and continuing to reap the benefits of the physical mainframe.
Gary discussed the key features of PopUp. Some of the call out points are:
PopUp provides system and helper utilities. For example, to help automate archiving, and CPU utilisation monitoring to assist in capacity management.
We have extended the Delphix Continuous Compliance engine to enable masking of ANY mainframe data sourcein a consistent, robust fashion across the entire organisational data estate, maintaining referential integrity across all systems, whether they be mainframe or distributed.
Using PopUp & Delphix for Data masking
PopUp Integrates fully with Delphix to utilise the industry-leading data masking capabilities against mainframe data.
Data can be masked on the physical mainframe, or on the PopUp, depending on your needs. Then we use Delphix Continuous Data self-service portal to provision compliant copies.
“Being able to rewind a full production-like mainframe environment at the touch of a button is absolutely massive for productivity and cutting time-to-market.
Marty McFly would be right at home with the 4D mainframe. Think of it as the ‘undo’ button for a mainframe.”
PopUp is a great way to train people new to the mainframe, as PopUp is a disposable, completely isolated environment with zero risk to the physical mainframe – perfect for training.
“With PopUp everyone is welcome and able to be productive with tools of their choice.”
Use cases on the PopUp are only limited to your imagination
Just some use cases for a dedicated mainframe environment:
Development
Use with a desktop IDE
All aspects of Testing including Regression testing against mainframe
Software evaluation
R&D
Proof of concept development
Offshore or 3rd party environment
Training environment
Use of a mainframe data “gold copy” on demand across the enterprise
Checkpoint, forward and rewind data
What we’ve all been waiting for… the demo!
Gary’s demo covered:
Spinning up a PopUp Mainframe in the cloud through the Azure MarketPlace. The PopUp can be ready to go in 6-8 minutes
Deploying and configuring an application using a GitHub Actions pipeline (covering tasks which would usually be done by a sysprog, automated testing of the UI through Selenium)
Masking the sensitive data through Delphix Continuous Compliance
Creating the baseline ‘Gold copy’ PopUp containing the masked data and full application
Enabling easy creation of on-demand virtualized PopUp instances with fast, efficient checkpointing
Provisioning compliant dev environment through the Delphix self-service portal
Developer commits code change into Git, pipeline is kicked off to generate, test and deploy the change onto a PopUp, then do UI testing
Failure of automated UI testing
Rewinding the entire PopUp environment back to the previous version (not just the data, the entire app) through the self-service Delphix portal
How a developer can understand what went wrong and fix it without any environment overheads
Some great questions from the audience…
Cameron asked if we need to install DB2. Answer: No, DB2, CICS, MQ, IMS and other apps come out of the box with PopUp and are available in 10 minutes.
Mark asked if there is an option for customers who can’t move unmasked data off the mainframe. Answer: Yes, masking can be done on the physical mainframe, and only the masked data ported onto the PopUp.
“Using PopUp allows organisations to easily start doing DevOps and automation on the mainframe in exactly the same way they do for their distributed applications today.”
Thanks to all the fabulous delegates who attended and joined in the conversation with energy and insight.
What a great experience! Thanks to the Tech Field Day team, in particular Stephen Foskett, for running such a great session.
To provide the best experiences, we use technologies like cookies to store and/or access device information. Consenting to these technologies will allow us to process data such as browsing behaviour or unique IDs on this site. Not consenting or withdrawing consent, may adversely affect certain features and functions.
Functional
Always active
The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network.
Preferences
The technical storage or access is necessary for the legitimate purpose of storing preferences that are not requested by the subscriber or user.
Statistics
The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for statistical purposes.The technical storage or access that is used exclusively for anonymous statistical purposes. Without a subpoena, voluntary compliance on the part of your Internet Service Provider, or additional records from a third party, information stored or retrieved for this purpose alone cannot usually be used to identify you.
Marketing
The technical storage or access is required to create user profiles to send advertising, or to track the user on a website or across several websites for similar marketing purposes.
Follow us on LinkedIn