In what may be the end of an era, Amdahl Corp., rival to IBM in mainframes for decades, has announced that it is shutting down its mainframe operations. A 64-bit version of its IBM System 390 compatible mainframes has been cancelled, so the company can focus on Unix and Intel-based servers. Amdahl supports Linux for its’ enterprise customers interested in running the open source operating system as an alternative.

“These are systems that will satisfy 95% of users,” Vice-President of Server-Marketing Carol Stone said. The company will reveal its first Unix
servers November 2000, according to Stone.

Amdahl, Hitachi Data Systems and IBM are the three major players in the diminishing mainframe market.