On Sat, Apr 07, 2001 at 09:42:51PM +0200, wojtek@3miasto.net wrote:
> > > what customer-related security you are talking about?
> > 
> > Hi,
> > 
> > a (root) shell user could want to install programms like X or a 
> > database system, or work on some network protocol.
> so you mean customer who needs completely own server but in provider's
> room.
> 
> it such case any of new small rack-mount servers do that job excellent

Yes, and if you need 100 of these "new small rack-mount servers"?

Or 500?

How much would it cost to buy, run, and maintain 100 or 500 machines
when a single mainframe would do the same thing?

Who gets to install 500 hard drives? How often will drives fail?
How often will other components fail? Answer: often

How often would a mainframe fail? Answer: almost never

How long would it take to setup another box for a customer? What if
you run out of boxes and have to turn away customers? Mainframe is
the solution.
-- 
Kevin P. Neal                                http://www.pobox.com/~kpn/

"It sounded pretty good, but it's hard to tell how it will work out
in practice." -- Dennis Ritchie, ~1977, "Summary of a DEC 32-bit machine"