As an IBM i Business Partner, I always enjoy hearing Frank Soltis talk about IBM i.
In this 41 minute video published December 15, 2014, Dr. Soltis explains why IBM i is the best Operating System for the Cloud.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0dTZVyRDnds
Let me provide the highlight.
Most cloud-based solutions run some form of UNIX or Linux (a variation of UNIX).
When was UNIX invented? In the 1960’s. It was designed for engineering for a single user work station. At the time, there was no concept of multiple users or cloud computing.
Clearly, UNIX was never designed for the cloud…the cloud did not exist.
Later, Windows was based on Digital Equipment’s (DEC) VMS, which was DEC’s interpretation of UNIX from the 1960’s.
As Dr. Soltis explains, IBM i is actually the best operating system for the cloud.
First, unlike any UNIX or Windows OS, IBM i has never been hacked. Dr. Soltis explains this with some detail.
He also tells of when he was speaking to IBM i users in Malaysia, down the hall there was also another conference, “How to Hack the Cloud”, that he wanted to attend. The speaker provided a step-by-step approach how to hack UNIX- and Windows-based cloud systems. It is so simple that a 12 year old in his parents’ basement can hack systems, not just sinister computer power-users working for clandestine organizations.
Simply, Dr. Soltis shares that there is no UNIX or Windows system that cannot be hacked.
Dr. Soltis then asks his attendees, “Ever been hacked?”
No one raises a hand.
Dr. Soltis continues, “That’s because the IBM i has never been hacked.”
He adds, “Ever had a virus?”
No one raises a hand.
Dr. Soltis continues, “That’s because the IBM i has never had a virus.”
Dr. Soltis explains the reasons for no hacks and no viruses are part of the original IBM i architecture that separates the operating system functions from the underlying technologies. This concept is the IBM i Technology Independent Machine Interface (TIMI) that makes is simple to move IBM i and applications to new technology (i.e. subsequent POWER chipsets) without adversely affecting the applications.
Further, the IBM i kernel is written in a proprietary IBM object programming language and the instructions are a secret. This also keeps hackers out and prevents viruses from harming the system and data.
Dr. Soltis covers topics OS designers confronted in the 1960’ and 70’s, including communications, transaction processing, virtualization and data bases. The other OS’s require extra software on their batch-oriented operating systems.
IBM i instead integrated these extra capabilities along with single-level storage and object-oriented architecture. And, single-level storage and object-oriented capabilities are a HUGE benefit for design, performance and integrity!
Because of its robust design foundation, Dr. Soltis concludes IBM I is the best operating system for the cloud.
