Top OS/400 Stories from Around the Web

(IT Jungle) ERP software companies tend to leave some pretty big footprints on the IT landscape in terms of technology and customer relationships. The giants of enterprise resource planning don't have all the answers, however. Although this market seems to be the land of the giants, there are other companies--Lawson Software, for instance--that have a fair share of IBM System i business. READ MORE >

(InformationWeek) We can all agree that blowing up technology silos and gaining interoperability is long overdue in data centers from Toledo to Timbuktu. But there will be no tidal wave of proprietary systems being replaced because unified computing systems (even if you use capital letters) are not going to be achieved in the short term regardless of the current juggling of product portfolios going on at IBM, Cisco, and the other big players. READ MORE >

(System iNews) Good companies are built on good employees. That hasn't changed whether the economy is humming or groaning. Hiring the best and the brightest, the motivated and the productivity enhancers can be accomplished with entry-level people and experienced professionals. Neither category of potential hires is overflowing with personnel, but all is not lost in the System i job market. READ MORE >

(System iNews) The COMMON Annual Meeting and Exposition, which is just wrapping up today after a five-day stand in Reno, Nevada, brings together the IBM i family for a gathering like no other in the world. Despite a dip in attendance, Ross Mauri missing the event, and a limited hardware and software fireworks show from IBM, all who were on hand seemed to enjoy themselves thoroughly. READ MORE >

Vendor Announcements, Promotions, and Deals

(IT Jungle) Some people are just too set in their ways. Here's a good example: closing the office door when Twitter comes to call. Adding it to an application can and does provide the capability to easily send a message to multiple recipients, and here's how it is working in the AS/400 world. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) You have sensitive data to protect. In many cases, that thought doesn't sucker punch you until something bad happens. And the frequency of bad things happening is increasing all the time. Encryption is a great defense, but how and where it is applied makes a difference. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) If foresight was as accurate as hindsight, a lot of companies would be talking about application modernization projects that have been completed instead of as voyages yet to be taken. But the other side of that RPG coin is that the application modernization tools continue to be improved, making the projects all that much easier. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Network security is sort of like an umbrella in a rain storm. It keeps you from getting soaked, but it's a stretch of the imagination to say that it will keep you completely dry. Database monitoring should be part of your IT protection plan. You probably already knew that. What you might not know are the differences in database monitoring that exist. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Application modernization can seem like a huge project, but in reality it is most often a series of small projects that address issues that aren't enormous or terribly complex. The majority of companies take small steps before they begin putting those steps together. This may be the case for the IBM System i users of the aXes suite of products. The software company that introduced aXes, has sold the technology to another firm. READ MORE >

Redbooks, White Papers, and Other OS/400 Resources

(Patrick Townsend Security Solutions) Several white papers on the topic of security techniques on the IBM System i are available on this site. The topics include AES encryption, regulatory compliance, FTP transfers, XML Web services, salesforce integration, AS2 over the Internet, TCP sockets, and encryption key management. READ MORE >

(LANSA) Steps for managing the infrastructure associated with building a service oriented architecture without risking an organization's stable business applications, environment, and operations are covered in this white paper. Basic concepts, terminology, and potential benefits that can be achieved are included in the presentation. READ MORE >

(Zend) This technical paper explains how System i applications can be integrated with external applications and services using PHP. It provides information on creating and deploying Web services that provide the interoperability that many System i shops are hoping to achieve. READ MORE >

(Aberdeen) This analyst report on ERP in manufacturing serves as an industry benchmark. It quantifies ERP usage, identifies preferences for fully integrated suites versus point solutions, measures total cost of ownership as well as the business benefits derived from best-in-class implementations. Those participating in the survey will have access to the full benchmark report, including advice on best practices and maximizing business value from ERP, as soon as it is published. Individual responses will be kept strictly confidential and data will only be used in aggregate. To participate, follow this link. READ MORE >

(Aberdeen) Measuring the return on investment of an enterprise resource planning system is seldom done, despite the substantial investments made in ERP software. This is particularly true in small to mid size businesses. This report looks at key performance criteria derived from best in class companies. READ MORE >

Chats, Webinars, Seminars, Shows, and Other Happenings

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

May 3-8 -- Las Vegas, Nevada - IMPACT 2009, IBM's largest SOA event, features more than 150 interactive executive-level sessions, including industry-specific presentations for financial services, distribution, manufacturing, communications, healthcare, and government. Overall, the number of sessions tops 500. There will be an emphasis that highlights strategies for the current economy, maximizes the supply chain, addresses changes in customer behavior, and increases channel efficiency and cross-selling. LEARN MORE >

May 7 -- Webinar - Creating IBM System i Web applications using BCD WebSmart ILE is the focus of this online technical session. The presentation includes how to use templates to quickly create Web applications, defining business and presentation rules, application security, and accessing DB2/400, SQL, and MySQL databases. The session begins at 12:30 EDT. LEARN MORE >

May 14 -- Webinar - This technical session focuses on BCD WebSmart PHP users. It walks through the IDE and with a product demo creates an application, changing the HTML, and calling an RPG program. Those considering System i PHP development will also find this Webinar useful. The session begins at 12:30 p.m. EST. LEARN MORE >

May 14 -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Making modifications to third-party applications and then dealing with product updates is the topic of the day at the monthly meeting of the Wisconsin Midrange Computer Professional Association. Guest speaker is Christopher Burns, director of client system modernization at the GEMKO Information Group. Burns is well versed in the areas of custom programming, modernization, networking, database, web development, the IFS and Windows integration. This session will focus on "Externalization," which he describes as "getting ample equivalent custom function without altering the vendor's source code." Two sessions are on the agenda. The first begins at 4:30 p.m. The second begins at 7:30. In between is dinner and networking with the members. LEARN MORE >

May 20 -- Melville, New York - The annual May Education Day event sponsored by the Long Island Systems Users Group will feature 20 sessions and a vendor expo during its all-day training opportunity. Sessions are divided into four tracks: System i, Web Technologies, Project Management, and Career Advancement. The event will be held at the Melville Marriott. LEARN MORE >