Other custom work at Security can be seen in many screens and reports generated by the VAX
midrange computer. One such screenshows quoted versus actual cycle times for each job.
Its file server links the facility's two color workstations to numerous other on-site PCs, some of which serve as workstations for the company's AS/400
midrange computer. The network does not connect directly to TABS.
Analysts categorize servers roughly into three groups with high-end computers, costing more than $1 million,
midrange computers that cost between $100,000 and $1 million, and low-end computers that cost less than $100,000.
CSC will take over the running of mainframe and
midrange computers, servers, desktops, help-desk and system software support.
The retailer, which uses a network of IBM, Armonk, N.Y., AS/400
midrange computers, will be expanding the company's backup facilities over the next year, according to Bob Cargill, systems manager for the privately held Oriental Trading Company.
* Advanced Hardware partners, providing access to a diverse set of advanced
midrange computers and data storage systems, as well as to experimental machine architectures
"We had inventory, shop floor, scheduling, and other systems on PCs, or on
midrange computers, or on paper.
In last month's column, I introduced the discussion of client/server, defined as "an architecture for computing in which applications and/or data are split between intelligent client workstations and their servers (which can be other workstations,
midrange computers or mainframes), interconnected by means of a network." I noted that its hallmark is much greater flexibility in the type of hardware/network configurations and software applications that were now made available to headquarters, remote and mobile employees.
And, adds store manager Keith Callahan of Graham MicroAge in Indianapolis, PCs will be able to do many of the business tasks that today require more costly
midrange computers.
The distributor will be selling Arkansas Systems' new product -- CICS/400 -- a service that enables big corporations to convert their main-frame software programs to run on
midrange computers like IBM's AS/400.
