What Is an IPL Computer?
Initial program load is a term used to describe the process of loading a mainframe computer operating system onto the main memory of an individual mainframe computer. An IPL computer, therefore, is a computing device that requires the use of the mainframe’s operating system to work properly. The IPL process is the same as the booting or rebooting process performed on a personal computer.
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Operating System
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All computing devices require the use of an operating system. Operating systems serve as a platform upon which other computer programs, or applications, operate. Mainframe computer networks use multiuser and multiprocessing operating systems, which allow software programs to run on more than one computer at a time. Multiuser operating systems are capable of supporting thousands of users at a time. Like a personal computer, an IPL mainframe computer relies on its operating system for each of its components to work, such as its keyboard, mouse and monitor.
Mainframe
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Mainframe computers are large computers that not only support a large amount of simultaneous users, but also run multiple programs at once. While supercomputers rank at the top of the computer-size hierarchy, mainframes rank a close second. In regard to running multiple programs concurrently, mainframes support more programs than supercomputers, but supercomputers’ processing speeds are much faster than a mainframe’s. Because of this limitation, it’s not uncommon for an IPL computer to experience slow processing rates or frequent crashes. When an IPL computer experiences one of these glitches, it’s actually the mainframe computer that is causing the problem.
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Booting
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The IPL process, like the booting process on a personal computer, takes place in two forms: cold and warm. A cold IPL process is done when the IPL mainframe computer station is turned on from the off position. A warm IPL process involves restarting the computer after it has already been on for a period of time. The term boot is short for bootstrap and originates from a time when boots contained a strap that helped pull the footwear onto the wearer’s foot. Technically, the entire IPL or boot process is initiated by programs known as bootstrap utilities.
Pro and Con
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Although an IPL mainframe computer station contains its own hardware peripheral devices, it relies entirely on the central computer for access to software and processing capabilities. Because of this, the central computer’s RAM and processors are occupied quickly and can lead to computing delays. One of the biggest benefits of an IPL mainframe computer network is that most hardware- and software-related problems are dealt with directly on the central mainframe computer and not on an individual computer station.
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References
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