Top OS/400 Stories from Around the Web

(IT Jungle) Before you swallow the "we're all in this Power Systems thing together" sandwich (where i is p and p is i), take a look at the three new servers IBM announced last week. All three support the recent releases of AIX and Linux as well as the i5/OS V5R4 or i 6.1 operating systems, but you still have to know which ones are designated as i Editions. And remember the user-based pricing available on the i515 and i520? It's still available, but not across the board on these new boxes. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Jump back. Here comes the feedback. Actually, there's no need to run for cover. IBM welcomes the constructive criticism of its Power System users. The executives don't seem skittish at all. Being customer-driven is good business and IBM used the stage at the COMMON Conference in Nashville last week to chirp about how much user feedback went into the new servers, the new operating system, and the new Power Systems branding READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) All the news about Power Systems and unification and reorganization at IBM is a little "unsettling" for Brian Kelly. OK, for those of you who know Brian Kelly, that may be a bit of an understatement. To describe him as unsettled is like calling this past winter in Chicago mild. In both cases you have to feel the cold wind blow to get the true effect. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) The COMMON user group bills itself as the world's largest organization of midrange IBM and IBM-compatible technology users. Traditionally that's resulted in a focus on AS/400, iSeries, and System i technology. Now that Power Systems unification has taken place, what's in store for the future at COMMON? READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) When IBM introduced its first blade server supporting the i-class operating system, the installed base was stunned. That can be good and that can be bad. The technology was welcomed, but product positioning in the P20 software tier made the small and mid size businesses see stars--as in the after effects of getting sucker punched. That's not the end of the story though and this one has a happy ending. READ MORE >

(MCPress) Last week's edition of Four Hundred Monitor caught the early reports of the Power System unification announcement IBM made at the COMMON Conference. But talk of this development won't go away for quite a while as opinions about whether this is good or bad for existing and new customers continue to flow (overflow) like a mountain stream in spring time. READ MORE >

(MCPress) Did someone say "a penny for your thoughts" about how the new Power processor-based servers will play out over the months and years ahead? Here's seven thoughts about how things will work out, and you can keep your penny. READ MORE >

(System iNews) Al Barsa was one of those rare, bigger than life characters. In the AS/400 world, many people referred to him as Mr. 400. Sadly, he passed away last week while attending the COMMON Conference in Nashville, Tennessee. His absence leaves a void that won't be filled. I think it's safe to say there's simply no one else like him. READ MORE >

Vendor Announcements, Promotions, and Deals

(IT Jungle) Business intelligence on System i is getting increased attention since IBM chose DB2 Web Query as one its favorite marketing darlings. That's not to say that Web Query is being unanimously praised by any stretch of the imagination. It does, however, shine a light on BI and cause some discussion about what it is and isn't and what it can and can't do. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) If IBM's Data File Utility is what you think a database editor is supposed to be, then you'll likely be shocked when you see what this new Web-based database editor for DB2/400 can do. There's a free "get acquainted" model with limited functionality, a basic model with search, sort, edit, and export capabilities, and a pro edition with an expanded feature list. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Check out those red marks on the necks of the IT staff. You know what that is? They've been bitten by the data transfer jinx. Evil critter that jinx. If you have users that need to move data among all the major server platforms without a hitch, here's an idea that can keep that pesky jinx off your back. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Don't just stand there with the door open. You're either in or you're out. It's not quite the same for document management and workflow processing. You might be dependent on paper, you might be paperless, or you might be somewhere in between. Here are a few tips on how to integrate paper-based documents into electronic-based document processes. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) I've heard quite a few software companies describe the conversion process for getting applications ready for V6R1 (now i 6.1) as being easy as a hot knife through butter. But that's not universally true. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Hosted disaster recovery has a new player with a game plan that focuses on small to mid size financial institutions. The benefits? How about mitigating risks associated with transporting tapes? Want more? Let's throw in compliance with regulatory requirements and a superior audit trail of backup data compared to tape. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Is it unnatural, you ask, for upper management to get cranky because the system can't be coaxed into accessing RPG- or COBOL-based applications from the convenience of the boss' Outlook e-mail program or by using Google's Gadgets interface? Sheesh! Those guys can be so uncouth while making their demands. Before this one gets under your skin, read this and find the easy way out. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Lotus Notes and Domino users have a unique set of security challenges when it comes to running that software on the System i. It's not the mail server that lacks security software. It's the database server. If you are trying to scan the Domino database with a PC, you are missing stuff that you are probably unaware of. READ MORE >

Redbooks, White Papers, and Other OS/400 Resources

(IBM) The new Power Systems Web site has a five-minute video recorded at the COMMON Conference when Mark Shearer, vice president of Power Systems marketing, and Ross Mauri, general manager of the Power Systems product line, introduce the new Power Systems lineup. READ MORE >

(IBM) Also on the new Power Systems Web site is information on individual server models that includes product details, features and benefits, specifications, and power performance data. Specialized Web pages are also dedicated to PowerVM and PowerHA. READ MORE >

(Aldon) This just released white paper on compliance provides best practices, compliance information and advice, while outlining how to use regulatory requirements as an opportunity to integrate business and IT. "Making Compliance Work for You with Application Lifecycle Management" demonstrates how ALM focuses on development organisations and also presents business benefits achieved through business efficiency. READ MORE >

(BCD) This white paper discusses PHP as a technology and as a productive method for transforming legacy applications to Web applications or creating new Web applications from square one. It explains the popularity of PHP, how it is different from other technologies, and uses the company's WebSmart PHP as the focal point for Web application development. READ MORE >

Chats, Webinars, Seminars, Shows, and Other Happenings

See our full calendar of events at
http://www.itjungle.com/fhm/fhm-calendar.html

April 6-11 -- Las Vegas, Nevada - Impact 2008, IBM's "Smart SOA Conference" is a showcase for WebSphere as the foundation, the tools, and all the materials needed to create a service oriented architecture. Technical experts from IBM, analysts, and companies that have implemented SOA solutions are taking the starring roles in this production. In addition to educational sessions and keynote addresses, there will be a solution center expo area. LEARN MORE >

April 8-10 -- Lake Geneva, Wisconsin - The 23rd annual Wisconsin Midrange Computer Professionals Association (WMCPA) Spring Technical Conference will be held at the Grand Geneva Hotel. Educational session topics include: security, backup and recovery, RPG, PHP, XML, CL, and SQL. A tentative agenda featuring these and more topics can be found online. Session speakers include well-known experts such as: George Farr, Jon Paris, Susan Gantner, Bryan Meyers, Carol Woodbury, George Weaver, Linda Hirsch, Mark Holm, Linda Cole, Jim Oberholtzer, Bruce Vining, Debbie Saugen, Robert Bestgen and Barbara Morris. An experts' roundtable discussion is scheduled for 7 p.m. on April 8. The two-day technical conference follows on April 9 and 10. Accommodations are reasonably priced at $85 per night. LEARN MORE >

April 10 -- Maryland Heights, Missouri - Margaret Fenlon, a member of the IBM Integrated File System Team, will discuss the IFS and its many uses at the monthly meeting of the Gateway/400 Group, an iSeries user group serving the greater St. Louis area. The meeting time is 11:30 a.m. with lunch at noon and the presentation following lunch. RSVP no later than Monday before the meeting date. LEARN MORE >

April 14-16 -- Framingham, Massachusetts - Eight System i user groups from the northeastern United States will once again be combining efforts to host "The Power of i," their annual System i technical conference. The event includes more than 100 technical and professional development sessions. A schedule of educational classes (session grid) can be viewed at the link provided below. The conference also includes a vendor expo and specialized training in the areas of RPG and DB2 that require separate registration. The keynote speaker is Jim Herring, IBM's Director of High End Power Systems. Herring was responsible for the development and launch of the System i product line in 2007. LEARN MORE >

April 14 -- Secaucus, New Jersey - A one-day application modernization technical seminar focusing on service oriented architecture, Web services, and extending the value of RPG-based applications and OS/400-based system hardware is being presented by ASNA. This event provides an introduction to Web Services and service oriented architecture while emphasizing team skills. LEARN MORE >

April 15 -- Atlanta, Georgia - The Atlanta Midrange Users Exchange monthly meeting will feature a panel of experts answering System i and i5/OS questions from the audience. The panel includes experts in topics such as programming in RPG ILE, technical architecture and configuration, planning and implementation, LPAR migration, IOP/IOA and IOP-less placement, the HMC, and systems management including the implementation of AIX, Linux, and Windows Server on the System i platform using IXS, System x, and Blades. The meeting is scheduled from 11:30 a.m. until 2 p.m. and is held at the IBM Hillside Building located at 4111 Northside Parkway. LEARN MORE >

April 15 -- Irving, Texas - DB2 for i5/ OS features play a key role in modernizing the architecture of your solution. Database modernization can range from utilizing existing System i programs as stored procedures to embedding business logic into your database with the usage of triggers and databases. Guest speaker Kent Milligan, a DB2 for i5/OS expert, will cover the bases on this topic at the monthly meeting of the Metro Midrange Systems Association, a user group for the Dallas and Fort Worth metro areas. Topics to be discussed include Migrating from native, record-level access to SQL-based data access, and a comparison of SQL and Native interfaces. LEARN MORE >

April 15 -- Lombard, Illinois - The featured topic at the monthly meeting of the OMNI User Group will be the IBM Rational Software Delivery Platform for System i. This session will describe the Rational suite of tools that can be used to modernize aspects of your enterprise, including asset management, architecture, and application development infrastructure. Information on the newest features in the Rational application development tools for System i ; WebSphere Development Studio V6R1, Rational Developer for System i V7.1, Rational Developer for System i for SOA Construction V7.1, Rational Business Developer V7.1 and HATS for 5250 Applications V7.1 will be reviewed. An overview of the Rational Business Developer product, the development offering that is used for EGL application development will also be included. Guest speaker is IBM's Linda Cole, the Rational System i Ecosystem Manager. The meeting begins at 5 p.m. LEARN MORE >

April 15 -- Costa Mesa, California - A presentation on the new unified IBM Power Systems that has replace System i is the highlight of the regular monthly meeting of the OCEAN User Group. Guest speaker is Brian Podrow. Topics of discussion include blade servers, new Power Systems models, and organizational changes taking place at IBM. The meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at the IBM offices on Anton Boulevard. LEARN MORE >

April 15 -- Minneapolis, Minnesota - An introduction to iClusterand high availability will be presented at the regularly scheduled Quser local user group meeting. The presentation will be made by Mark Watts. LEARN MORE >

April 16 -- Webinar - System i application modernization proponents look for ways that allow solutions to communicate with each other. That's what this session is all about. It features the BCD Software ClearPATH Modernization Suite. Topics of discussion include instant Web enablement of green-screen applications, rapid Web app development, Web portals, Web queries and graphical drill-down reports, and automated report, document distribution, and Web archiving. This session begins at 2 p.m. EDT. LEARN MORE >

April 16 -- Independence, Ohio - Productivity tips for green-screen developers will be the highlighted topic during the Application Systems Users Group of Greater Cleveland meeting, which begins at 5:30 p.m. and takes place at Harry's Steakhouse. Topics on the agenda include creating personalized shortcut commands, turning the SysRqs line into a command line, organizing a complex desktop so tasks can be active with easy access, colorizing source code to improve readability and productivity, and using a tool to convert legacy RPG source members to RPGLE. Guest speaker is Greg Veal, a 35-year veteran with experience on midrange servers that span the System/38 through the System i. LEARN MORE >