Thursday 12 May 2011

How Does a Mainframe Encryption Processor Work?

Mainframes were the standard form of computing hardware before personal computers. Mainframes centralize computer computing power, which multiple terminals access. Consequently, the central unit handles encryption processes from remote terminals.



Mainframes vs. Servers
Mainframes are different than servers. Although both are centralized hardware to which remote terminals connect, mainframes can operate at much higher processor capacity than servers. This means that a single mainframe can do the work of several servers.
Encryption
Encryption refers to the process of obscuring the true content of a document into a code that is unreadable by anyone who does not know how to decode the obscured information. These processes can use simple ciphers, where a specific character corresponds to some symbol or different character, or complex mathematical equations that need to be solved to reveal the information. Many modern forms of encryption, such as Pretty Good Privacy, require a computer processor to perform such equations.
Mainframes and Processing
Mainframes have no dedicated processor for encryption. Rather, different terminals take turns getting CPU time, or time when the mainframe's processors perform the calculations the programs on a given terminal need to perform. Encryption is no different. The terminal sends the mainframe's processor the equations necessary to encrypt or decrypt the information.

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