Mainframe Blog

Modern Mainframe Momentum: BMC AMI + IBM® z17 Raise the Bar

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4 minute read
David Jeffries

There are moments in technology when everything seems to align—new infrastructure, smarter software, real business urgency, and a wave of innovation just waiting to crest. As the R&D leader overseeing the entire software engineering team for BMC AMI, I can tell you: the launch of IBM® z17 is one of those moments. It’s more than a hardware refresh—it’s a powerful signal that the mainframe is not only alive and well, but playing a starring role in the next chapter of enterprise transformation.

And here’s the good news: BMC AMI is ready to take full advantage of it on behalf of our customers and partners.

Our full BMC AMI portfolio—spanning DevOps, AIOps, SecOps, DataOps, and hybrid cloud data management—is designed to meet our customers where they are today, while preparing them for where they need to go next. If you’ve invested in the mainframe as your business-critical foundation, this next chapter is about unlocking more value from it—not ripping and replacing what already works. That’s what BMC AMI is all about: modernizing in place, transforming with confidence, and putting smarter tools in the hands of the people who run your most essential systems.

Not just AI—A modern mainframe platform that works together

Before we talk artificial intelligence (AI)—and we will—let’s talk about the bigger picture. Because while AI is a powerful catalyst, it’s just one part of a much broader story. A story that includes developer speed, operational efficiency, data agility, security resilience, and the ability to manage everything across environments without a dozen tools that don’t talk to each other.

The BMC AMI portfolio is unified, integrated, and ready to take full advantage of what IBM® z17 offers. Here’s what that means for you:

  • DevOps: BMC AMI DevX gives your mainframe developers the modern experience they expect—VS Code-based tooling, pipeline integration, and generative AI-powered code insight to reduce delays, frustration, and risk.
  • AIOps: BMC AMI Ops gives your operations teams proactive visibility into system health, performance anomalies, and workload behavior. And with hybrid AI, they’re not just alerted—they’re guided to resolution.
  • SecOps: BMC AMI Security is all about catching emerging threats before they slip through the cracks. Think real-time intrusion detection and deep correlation—not just alerts, but intelligent defense. Pair that with BMC AMI Cloud Vault’s immutable backups and you’ve got the foundation for true cyber resilience.
  • DataOps: Mainframe data doesn’t live in a silo anymore. BMC AMI Data solutions help ensure data is accessible, portable, and reliable—whether it’s for analytics, recovery, or hybrid cloud integration.
  • Hybrid cloud data management: With BMC AMI Cloud, organizations can manage mainframe data with cloud-like flexibility—simplifying storage, reducing cost, and keeping things fast and secure.

So yes, AI is a big deal. But it’s most powerful when it’s part of a strategy—not a bolt-on. That’s the BMC AMI difference.

Why IBM® z17 matters

IBM® z17 is more than faster hardware—it’s a modern platform built to fuel innovation, streamline operations, and strengthen security. And with BMC AMI solutions alongside, our customers are ready to take full advantage.

  • It fuels innovation and growth with AI.
    With z17’s AI acceleration and BMC AMI’s hybrid and generative AI (GenAI), customers gain deeper insights, unleash the power of GenAI on core data, and drive greater impact from their most important systems without data even needing to leave the platform.
  • It automates and transforms for efficiency.
    Together, z17 and BMC AMI accelerate application modernization, streamline IT operations with AI-driven insight, and boost team productivity with intelligent automation across DevOps and Ops workflows.
  • It secures the most important data.
    From quantum-safe encryption to real-time intrusion detection and immutable backups, z17 and BMC AMI simplify compliance, neutralize threats faster, and protect business-critical data with confidence.

AI that works the way you do

Now, let’s talk AI. Not hype. Not theory. Real, practical AI that helps you get more done.

At BMC, we see AI as the great enabler—not the goal. And it’s not just “AI.” It’s GenAI and hybrid AI, applied intentionally across the BMC AMI portfolio to solve real problems.

  • In DevOps, our GenAI-powered BMC AMI Assistant in BMC AMI DevX Code Insights helps developers understand unfamiliar code in seconds. You don’t need to dig through dusty documentation or hope the last guru of COBOL, Assembler, JCL, PL/I, or REXX left notes—you just ask AMI Assistant, and you get clear, actionable answers in plain English.
  • In Operations, our hybrid AI engine in BMC AMI Ops detects performance issues before they become outages, explains the probable cause, and recommends a resolution. It combines rules-based logic, machine learning, and GenAI to give teams context, not just noise.
  • In Security, our tools use AI to cut through the fog of alerts and surface real threats. And with BMC AMI Cloud Vault, you can automate rapid recovery of critical data with zero guesswork.

This isn’t about replacing your experts. It’s about amplifying them; about capturing the institutional knowledge that’s disappearing with every retirement and turning it into accessible, repeatable intelligence. AI becomes the bridge between generations—between what was known and what needs to be done next.

Looking ahead, the BMC AMI Platform, our core architecture for delivering consistent services across all of our products, has been architected with the future of IBM® Z in mind. Today, the core components of our GenAI infrastructure can already be deployed on Linux on Z. But with the upcoming availability of the IBM z17 Spyre cards, we see the potential for a complete GenAI solution running natively on the IBM® Z platform. This aligns perfectly with BMC’s direction and continued investments in our portfolio—offering customers the power of z17 combined with the flexibility to choose the right language models for their business. It’s a combination built to fuel growth and unlock what’s next.

Real outcomes, not just cool features

We’ve seen what happens when our customers put BMC AMI and AI to work on top of modern hardware. Here’s what they’re experiencing:

  • Faster application delivery with fewer errors and less rework.
  • Shorter outage resolution times thanks to guided diagnostics.
  • Greater developer productivity even when working with unfamiliar systems.
  • Improved security posture with quicker detection and automated recovery.
  • Better data agility across environments, without added complexity.

These are the results that move the needle, the ones that get noticed not just in IT, but in the boardroom.

The bottom line: Mainframe transformation is here, and you’re ready

IBM® z17 is a powerful signal that the future of the mainframe is brighter than ever. But hardware alone doesn’t deliver transformation. It takes software that’s just as smart, just as future-ready, and just as committed to helping organizations modernize without compromise.

That’s why we’ve built the BMC AMI portfolio—not as a collection of tools, but as a transformation platform, the BMC AMI Platform—one that integrates with your existing systems, supports your evolving teams, and scales with your strategy.

Together, IBM® z17 and BMC AMI don’t just prepare you for the future, they help you lead it.

So, if you’re looking to modernize faster, operate smarter, and innovate with confidence—you’re in the right place. Let’s get to work.

Access the 2024 BMC Mainframe Report

The results of the 19th annual BMC Mainframe Survey are in, and the state of the mainframe remains strong. Overall perception of the mainframe is positive, as is the outlook for future growth on the platform, with workloads growing and investment in new technologies and processes increasing.


These postings are my own and do not necessarily represent BMC's position, strategies, or opinion.

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About the author

David Jeffries

Dave joined BMC in November 2022 as the VP of R&D across the Mainframe product portfolio. In this role, Dave is responsible for all aspects of design, delivery and new technology innovation for BMCs market-leading monitor, DevX and AI-related products. He has a track record of helping teams transform into modern agile development organizations leveraging the best of the creative talent that exists in the organization and delivering innovative and delightful products and solutions to customers.

Dave was previously with IBM for over 30 years, responsible for development, support and, services across such products as CICS, MQSeries, WebSphere, Db2, and most recently the head of Development for the IBM z/OS operating system.