Latest version of Macro 4 archiving software embraces IBM System z specialty processors

Columbus lets mainframe users move legacy data and documents to lower cost z/Linux platform.

Crawley, UK, March 18, 2010 – Macro 4 has introduced a new version of its Columbus archiving software that lets users retire legacy applications and retain important legacy information in a mainframe archive, using the lower cost IBM z/Linux platform. “The new z/Linux version of our Columbus software is ideal for mainframe users who are keeping obsolete applications alive just in case they need to access the data. Now they can retire these applications – freeing up IT resources and cutting maintenance and support costs – while retaining access to key application data within the high performance mainframe environment. Any data and documents they may need in the future – for customer support or legal compliance, for example – are simply moved to an archive running on a lower cost specialty z/Linux processor,” said Alan Ackers, Head of Development at Macro 4. “The software is also certified for SAP® archiving - allowing companies to remove and compress historical data from live SAP applications and place it in an archive to free up space on the database. This helps reduce storage growth, improves application performance and shortens backup and restore windows. The archived data is still accessible directly from the SAP system. Again, running the archive in a z/Linux environment is a low cost option.” According to Macro 4, some mainframe users prefer an archive they can retain on the mainframe rather than on a separate server system. This allows them to continue using the existing infrastructure, including mainframe hardware and support skills.

“Mainframe users now have the choice of hosting their archive on the mainframe, running under z/Linux, or alternatively on a separate Windows or UNIX server. Whichever platform they choose will have significant cost benefits when compared to keeping data live within the z/OS environment,” Alan Ackers explained.

Alan Ackers pointed out that when regularly archiving very large data volumes, maintaining the archive on the mainframe can also speed up the archiving process as it eliminates network traffic overhead.

Columbus, now available for z/Linux, can archive all critical business documents including JES printer spool output, SAP documents and data and legacy data from any application, on any platform. The information is held online so it remains accessible to end users. If required the archive can be integrated with the original application, making the source of the data transparent to users. The data and documents are also highly compressed, so that they require significantly less disk space. SAP and all SAP logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries. All other product and service names mentioned are the trademarks of their respective companies.

Media Contact

Uday Radia
uradia@cloudninepr.com
+44 (0)7940 584161

About Macro 4

www.macro4.com

Macro 4, a division of UNICOM Global, develops software solutions that accelerate business transformation. Macro 4’s cross-platform enterprise information management solutions make it easy for companies to go digital, personalize customer communications and unlock the value of their corporate content. Macro 4 solutions for DevOps, session management and performance optimization are used by many of the world’s largest enterprises to modernize their mainframe applications and development processes.

About UNICOM® Global

www.unicomglobal.com

UNICOM Global consists of more than fifty (50) corporate entities encompassing a wide range of businesses across all geographic regions. With its corporate headquarters in Los Angeles, California, to offices in Illinois, Kentucky, Florida, Massachusetts, Maryland, Minnesota, New Hampshire, North Carolina, New Jersey, Texas and Virginia, throughout EMEA in the UK, Ireland, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Denmark, Belgium, Switzerland and the UAE, and across Asia/Pacific with locations in Japan, China, India, Australia, Korea, Thailand, Taiwan and the Philippines.

UNICOM Global offers deep in-house resources and flexible IT solutions to our partners worldwide. UNICOM Global focuses on acquiring and integrating mature and growing mid-cap NASDAQ, London Stock Exchange AIM and German publicly-traded companies in technology, financing, IT, real estate, and business services. Please visit our websites for additional information about the services, products and solutions that UNICOM Global offers:

www.unicomglobal.com

UNICOM Global - Assets, capital and investment management

www.unicomsi.com

UNICOM Systems - IBM Mainframe software products

www.unicomgov.com

UNICOM Government (formerly NASDAQ: GTSI) - Government IT solutions

www.unicomengineering.com

UNICOM Engineering (formerly NASDAQ: NEI) Appliance platform

www.unicom.org

UNICOM Science and Technology Parks

www.unicomtechnologypark.com

UNICOM Technology Park – Innovation Labs in Virginia

www.unicomsciencepark.com

UNICOM Science and Technology Park – Innovation Labs in New Jersey

www.unicom-capital.com

UNICOM Capital - Business and Financial Services

www.usrobotics.com

USRobotics - Data communications products

www.memeo.com

Memeo - Enterprise-grade Secure File Sharing for the Cloud

www.firetide.com

Firetide - Wireless technology solutions for security and transportation

www.detec.com

DETEC - Document composition products

www.softlanding.com

SoftLanding Systems - IBM i software products

www.macro4.com

Macro 4 (formerly LONDON: MAO) - Document Management products

www.illustro.com

illustro - z/OS and z/VSE software products

www.iet-solutions.com

iET Solutions - ITSM software products

www.eden.com

Eden - Mergers & Acquisitions, Business & Financial Services, and Real Estate

www.cics.com

CICS.com - Hardware, Software, Outsourcing and Professional Services

All trademarks referenced herein are trademarks of their respective companies.