Run Hercules on a Raspberry Pi
Hercules is an open source software implementation of the mainframe System/370 and ESA/390 architectures, in addition to the new 64-bit z/Architecture. Hercules runs under Linux, Windows (98, NT, 2000, and XP), Solaris, FreeBSD, Mac OS X (10.3 and later).
So why not turn your Raspberry Pi, the $35 ARM-based mini computer, into an emulated mainframe?
Load up your Rasberry Pi with the latest Debian image.
The Raspbian respository actually already has a compiled Hercules package. You can install with just a simple:
sudo apt-get install hercules x3270
This will install Hercules 3.07 from the Raspbian repository as well as a TN3270 called x3270. In the mainframe world, you’ll need this type of emulator.
Now launch hercules and give it a configuration file:
hercules
That starts Hercules. Use the TN3270 emulator to access the Hercules console.
x3270 localhost:3270
And you should get a screen like this:
/=======================================================================\
| |
| Hercules Version : 3.07 |
| Host name : raspbian |
| Host OS : DEBIAN |
| Host Architecture : armv6l |
| Processors : UP |
| LPAR Name : HERCULES |
| Device number : 0010 |
| Subchannel : 0004 |
| |
| HHH HHH The S/370, ESA/390 and z/Architecture |
| HHH HHH Emulator |
| HHH HHH |
| HHH HHH EEEE RRR CCC U U L EEEE SSS |
| HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH E R R C U U L E S |
| HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH EEE RRR C U U L EEE SS |
| HHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH E R R C U U L E S |
| HHH HHH EEEE R R CCC UU LLLL EEEE SSS |
| HHH HHH |
| HHH HHH |
| HHH HHH My PC thinks it's a MAINFRAME |
| |
| Copyright (c) 1999-2011 Roger Bowler, Jan Jaeger, and others |
| |
\=======================================================================/
TADA. Your Raspberry Pi thinks it’s a MAINFRAME.