Top OS/400 Stories from Around the Web

(IT Jungle) What would you call an appliance that combines software and hardware, promises the elimination of routine maintenance, provides simplified disk backup technology, and is designed to maximize collaboration opportunities? IBM would like you to call it a good reason to dump Microsoft. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) As the economic drama unfolds on its way toward a conclusion to 2008, IT spending--particularly as it pertains to server purchases--is tighter than an overcompensated CEO's fedora. It's inevitable that IT vendors will add some tasty discounts, rebates, and assorted buying incentives on the menu this time of year. What's IBM cooking up to stimulate Power System sales? READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Say it ain't so. Layoffs at the IBM Rochester facility aren't all that surprising. We're seeing and feeling the torment of job losses in hometowns in all directions. It's reality. Running just ahead of reality is rumor. The "what next" scenarios travel with the speed of the Internet. One stunner is that Frank Soltis, "Father of the AS/400" and the "Goodwill Ambassador" of the platform is getting divorced from IBM. Say it ain't so, Frank. READ MORE >

(System iNews) The rumors about Frank Soltis leaving IBM? They're true. According to none other than Frank himself, his official retirement date is December 31. It's not likely, however, that Soltis will race off into the sunset never to be seen again. He says, "I don't think it is possible for me to entirely leave the System i community." READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) It's about time the general manager of the IBM Power Systems division sat down for a little chat with the IBM i customers, those intensely loyal and increasingly uneasy users that may be better described as the AS/400 confederacy. The conversation went in the direction of applications, technology, the independent software vendor community, and (don't be shocked by this) what is being done to build the IBM i installed base. READ MORE >

(eWeek) IBM's PowerVM software, which is the key to running Linux applications on Power Systems hardware rather than X86-based boxes, is expected to play an expanding role in server consolidation (read cost-cutting) projects that are hotter than a California wildfire. The technology behind PowerVM, also allows Sun Solaris/SPARC applications to run on Intel Itanium systems. That technology sprouted from a company called Transitive, a company that IBM just acquired--for reasons just mentioned. READ MORE >

(System iNews) You've read the articles about the aging near retiring AS/400 professionals and the local user groups that are folding their tents because networking with other professionals once a month isn't the best way to get answers to IT questions you have today. So try this story about the Young i Professionals (YiPs) organization promoted by COMMON and one individual with a goal of bringing more professionals to the platform and extending networking resources to the Web. READ MORE >

Vendor Announcements, Promotions, and Deals

(IT Jungle) You manage System i servers and you manage them well, because if you don't there are regulatory compliance audits that shine a spotlight on you for your negligence. It would behoove you to stay in compliance, if receiving a regular paycheck is any incentive. But what can you do to automate the process of monitoring compliance so that you can get some of your other work done? READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) IBM likes its Power Systems servers because they give organizations the options of running native versions of i OS, AIX, and Linux on one piece of hardware. The advantages of server consolidation will appeal to many customers, according to Big Blue. And the expanded selection of applications will be appreciated, too. Companies like Gillani, a software company specializing in ERP software for the distribution market, hear opportunity knocking. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Some people would say that the gaming industry depends on the concept of wasteful spending. That's a judgment call based on the individual budgets of those who convert cash into entertainment. But the business side of gaming keeps a watchful eye on wasteful spending, just as any other business would. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) More than one independent software vendor has decided the grass is greener in pastures where platforms other than the IBM System i roam. And more than one ISV has later reconsidered that decision and returned to its familiar neighborhood. In the case of Seagull Software, it looks like they've set out to prove you can go home again. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) The Global Gaming Expo in Las Vegas last week provided the backdrop for more gaming industry news that relates to IT. The high end of this business is not shy when it comes to technology. Data analytics and real-time information are high priorities as these businesses fight for customer loyalty. For some folks, what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas. But with regard to IT, what happens in Vegas has applications in businesses around the world. READ MORE >

Redbooks, White Papers, and Other OS/400 Resources

(ARCAD) An archive of Webinars pertaining to topics such as testing productivity and automation, change management for application modernization, multi-platform deployments, managing ILE development, application analysis, and WDSc and RSE are available for viewing in exchange for your e-mail address. These recorded sessions are presented by well-known experts Ray Bernardi and Trevor Perry. READ MORE >

(LANSA) Modernizing IBM i legacy applications and integrating them with new applications built with other technologies has IT managers considering how the foundation of their enterprise application architecture fits into this equation. This white paper, "The Eight Pillars of an Enterprise Application Architecture: Building a Stable and Agile Software Foundation in a Dynamic IBM i and Microsoft World," by well-known author, speaker, and consultant Paul Conte, is a guide to navigating the issues surrounding application architecture, modernization of legacy applications, and integration of new technologies. READ MORE >

(Vision Solutions) IT departments are learning the hard way about the risks imposed by downtime and data loss. Added stress to the system comes from a 24x7 operating environments with no "off hours" to perform regular system and database maintenance. This white paper provides effective strategies and technologies that focus on fast recovery from downtime including a discussion about lost or corrupted data due to accident or malicious action. READ MORE >

(NGS) Business intelligence on the System i and the new Power Systems servers comes in a variety of options. IBM is very fond of its own software called DB2 Web Query. New Generation Software, in this white paper, compares DB2 Web Query with the NGS alternative called NGS-IQ. Among other things, this report examines the capabilities of these two products, the cost of implementation, licensing terms, and product support. READ MORE >

(SafeData) This report covers data backup topics such as selecting the correct recovery option, avoiding common data-protection mistakes, and cutting costs without compromising data protection. The focus is on small to mid size businesses that have invested in a data availability and recovery solution yet remain vulnerable. READ MORE >

Chats, Webinars, Seminars, Shows, and Other Happenings

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

November 20 -- Webinar - The V6R1 release of IBM DB2 for i includes a number of tools database administrators can use to handle typical, real-life situations. This session explores how someone wearing the "DBA hat" can use these System i Navigator tools. Guest speaker is Jim Flanagan, team leader for IBM's System i Navigator Database team. This event begins at noon CST. It's free to COMMON user group members. LEARN MORE >

November 21 -- Costa Mesa, California - A presentation on 5250 application modernization is the highlight of the regular monthly meeting of the OCEAN User Group. Guest speaker Eamon Musallam, a product specialist with LANSA, will discuss the importance of applications that can be accessed through a variety of interfaces and devices, and that easily integrate with other systems. This presentation will cover the latest application modernization trends, challenges, and technologies. The event begins at 6 p.m. at the IBM offices located at 3545 Harbor Boulevard. LEARN MORE >

November 25 -- Atlanta, Georgia - Jon Paris and Susan Gantner, expert trainers and part of System iDeveloper team that organizes the RPG Summit events, will present a half-day session on a variety of topics including modernizing RPG applications, coding standards and practices, the latest features in RPG, programming with PHP, Web browsers and the System i, WDSc and RSE developer tools, and the Rational Developer for System i. The event is scheduled from noon until 5 p.m. It will be held at the Embassy Suites Atlanta - Perimeter Center located at 1030 Crown Pointe Parkway. RSVP by November 19. LEARN MORE >

November 25 -- Webinar - This session introduces the Rational Business Developer (RBD) product and Enterprise Generation Language (EGL). EGL is a programming language that integrates with existing IBM i applications and many new technologies that are standard in IT infrastructure. It can be used to extend the capabilities of existing RPG programs or to write new business applications. This is the first of a four-part series presented by Claus Weiss, an advisory software consultant with the System i application development tools team at the IBM Canada Toronto Laboratory. The following sessions are scheduled for December 2, 9, and 16. Each session is one and a half hours in length. This educational opportunity costs $149 for COMMON members and $249 for non-members. LEARN MORE >

December 2 -- Webcast - Scott Handy, IBM's Vice President of Marketing and Strategy for Power Systems, and Ed Vesely, Vision Solutions' Senior Vice President of Marketing, will be discussing the findings of a new study on the state of resilience and optimization on Power Systems. The session will include topics such as the evolution of AS/400 and RS/6000 into IBM Power Systems, the benefits of the Power Systems platform, disaster recovery, and system optimization. There will also be a Q&A opportunity. This online event begins at 10 a.m. CST. LEARN MORE >