Burying Mainframe
University of Manitoba disposed of its 47 year old IBM 650 mainframe, named Betelgeuse (courtesy HitchHikers Guide To Galaxy), by holding a New Orleans style jazz funeral. The total memory of system is 2000 words (2KB) and the mainframe weighs 1966 pounds. The card reader weighs another 1295 pounds.
The interesting eulogy to the mainframe available on their website:
"For forty-seven years you've served us well, you cast us in your green spell. You processed transactions without complaint, we've asked the Pope to make you a saint.
"The users you were always able to please, with a little training theycould enter with ease, all the data they needed in 2 or 3 screens instead of the 57 in VIP. And getting data was easy in IMS, there were six hundred reports in the RS. And Finance was easy with FRGLA, in the time when the mainframe held sway. And the programmers they had all the tools they need, Easytrieve and COBOL made programming a breeze. And Mantes were there to manage the files, and to help with debugging if it wouldn't compile.
"Now gone are the punch cards and card readers of yore, andmainframe computers that used up the whole floor. With tape drive controllers and large stacks of tapes, that kept operators scrambling all over the place.
"Farewell IMS, we'll remember you well. After forty-seven years,there are many stories to tell. Like when Tel Reg nearly shut down MTS, and when the Y2K bug put us under duress. You helped us achieve our academic objectives, and gave our admin processes a proper perspective.
"But now we must lay you under the flora, because we have to go deal with this bloody Aurora. So we commit your parts to be recycled.Earth to Earth Ashes to Ashes Dust to Dust To the god of computers, please bless it and keep it And give it grace and peace But please do not resurrect it.
The interesting eulogy to the mainframe available on their website:
"For forty-seven years you've served us well, you cast us in your green spell. You processed transactions without complaint, we've asked the Pope to make you a saint.
"The users you were always able to please, with a little training theycould enter with ease, all the data they needed in 2 or 3 screens instead of the 57 in VIP. And getting data was easy in IMS, there were six hundred reports in the RS. And Finance was easy with FRGLA, in the time when the mainframe held sway. And the programmers they had all the tools they need, Easytrieve and COBOL made programming a breeze. And Mantes were there to manage the files, and to help with debugging if it wouldn't compile.
"Now gone are the punch cards and card readers of yore, andmainframe computers that used up the whole floor. With tape drive controllers and large stacks of tapes, that kept operators scrambling all over the place.
"Farewell IMS, we'll remember you well. After forty-seven years,there are many stories to tell. Like when Tel Reg nearly shut down MTS, and when the Y2K bug put us under duress. You helped us achieve our academic objectives, and gave our admin processes a proper perspective.
"But now we must lay you under the flora, because we have to go deal with this bloody Aurora. So we commit your parts to be recycled.Earth to Earth Ashes to Ashes Dust to Dust To the god of computers, please bless it and keep it And give it grace and peace But please do not resurrect it.
posted by insideout at
4:46 AM
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