OS/400 Alert: Trials and Betas

by Shannon O'Donnell

In this issue of "OS/400 Alert" you'll learn about a new TCP/IP communications trace tool that should make diagnosing communications problems much easier. In addition, we'll alert you to a nasty little virus that is poised to initiate a world wide denial-of-service attack starting on February 1. And, if you are looking for a way to fill some unused time, we'll let you know where you can go to download dozens of IBM trial software.

INTELLIGENT COMMUNICATIONS TRACE ANALYZER FOR ISERIES

IBM has unveiled a new tool you can use the next time you experience problems with communications on your iSeries. Known as the Intelligent Communications Trace Analyzer for iSeries, the new tool is designed to make understanding and diagnosing problems with TCP/IP communications, if not quite simple, at least much easier on the average iSeries administrator. The Trace Analyzer is designed to help you diagnose and identify problems, including excessive packet retransmissions, duplicate and out-of-order packets, unexpected resets, fragmented frames, window shrinkage, slow packet round trip times, failed pings, and much more.

The Trace Analyzer tool runs as an Operations Navigator plug-in and works by scanning an existing trace analysis for anomalies. If you are interested in checking out this new beta Trace Analyzer, point you can download it from IBM's Web site.

THIS WEEK'S NASTY WINDOWS WORRIES

The only real virus of note this week is the W32.Novarg.A@mm worm. This nasty little virus is yet another mass mailing worm. Like most e-mail worms, it contains various attachments that you should not open. In fact, never open any e-mail attachment that you are not sure of. If this virus is activated, by opening one of the attachments, a denial-of-service attack will be initiated on February 1.

BETAS, BETAS, WE'VE GOT YOUR BETAS

Do you have time to kill? Are you looking for something else to do besides writing your four hundred and fifty-ninth RPG subfile program? Is there a specific problem you are experiencing in your shop that you need help finding a solution for? If you answered yes to any of the above questions, or, heck, if you are just curious like me, you might be interested in IBM's trials and betas Web site. There is a list of dozens of software trials and betas you can download and experiment with.

PTF'S AND FIXES FOR OS/400 AND RELATED PROGRAMS

IBM issued the latest cumulative package for V5R2 customers on January 21.

The latest HIPER package was released on January 20, so you'll want to grab this one if you're not current.

The latest Database Group PTF was issued on November 11.