Free linux mainframe!!

Working on a Linux app but don’t have the cash to lay out for a server to test it on? IBM thinks it has a solution for you. Late last week, the company announced that it will make one of its 10-processor zSeries mainframe computers available for online access by folks working with the OS. According to a Zdnet story, the mainframe has been set up to give people "virtual servers," allowing them to log in, check out Linux features, and test applications. According to IBM, the server will be able to allocate processing power and storage space to more than 1,000 people at a time. Along with its processing power, the mainframe is equipped with 2.1 terabytes of storage. The LCDS mainframe is supported by an IBM Virtual Machine and its software configuration includes Z/VM, VM PRF, a C runtime library, a REXX compiler and library (still pushing REXX after all these years?), VM TCP/IP (FL32A with SSL support), DIRMAINT, Tivoli Storage Manager Version 4.1, VM TCP/IP NFS feature, and VM EREP. IBM’s Lou Gerstner has promised to spend $1 billion pushing Linux this year. It seems like, with this move, he’s putting his money where his mouth is. Interested parties should check out IBM’s site. Participants are given access to the server for anywhere from 30 to 90 days.