IFS is the integrated file system on IBM's midrange platforms. It can integrate with Unix/Linux, Netware, and Windows among other things. One can also create user defined file systems, if needed. These servers also have a POSIX environment and an AIX runtime. In addition, one can set up logical partitions (LPARs) to run multiple OSes concurrently (e.g. Linux, Windows, and soon Unix).

This particular app currently has available 14 processors (non-distributed app). However, a portion of those processors will be shifting to another LPAR shortly to handle some other processing. Using the multi-instance approach with smaller files (which is how the data arrives anyway) seems to work well with the current number of processors (hardly taxing the machine at all). I'll have to measure the before/after processor shift performance and tweak as needed.

I have not yet read Data Munging in Perl, but will grab a copy.

Thanks,
Slugbug