Mainframe to Distributed SQL, An Introduction: What is a Mainframe?

The mainframe computer has been a vital technology for over 60 years, serving as the backbone of enterprise computing for leading businesses, governmental agencies, and learning institutions worldwide. Despite predictions of its demise in the 1990s, the mainframe's enduring legacy stems from its unparalleled reliability, resilience, security, and performance. Mainframes are known for their exceptional reliability, robust security features, and high-speed processing capabilities. They have evolved to support modern computing paradigms by adopting open-source software and implementing cutting-edge advances in areas like AI, integrations, and DevOps. However, traditional mainframe database architectures face challenges such as scale limitations, data access and integration issues, limited cloud compatibility, and high costs. Distributed databases like CockroachDB offer scalability, performance, fault tolerance, and resilience, addressing many of the shortcomings of mainframe database systems.