Top OS/400 Stories from Around the Web

(IT Jungle) You probably understand why System i shops resist database change. Applications access the databases through DDS and reformatting the databases means coding existing applications to be compatible. That leads to lots of monkey work. What if there was an automatic conversion to make databases accessible to other applications and extend database tables without disturbing the DDS access to the converted databases? Yep, we're talking database modernization. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) None of the business executives interviewed in this article are expecting to find the treasure of the Sierra Madre in 2008, but there is a great deal of optimism about the System i ecosystem. In the year ahead, we have the Power6 servers rolling out, the debut of V6R1, and the user-based pricing formula at the entry level to brighten the way. The independent software vendors, too, are looking forward to next year. Here's what they're saying about a healthy System i customer base. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Pat Botz knows i5/OS security from the inside out. He was IBM's security architect until recently founding his own company, which coincidentally specializes in i5/OS security. His involvement in the Payment Card Industry (PCI) security specifications makes an interesting story for those System i shops wrestling with that compliance standard. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Analysts at IDC, after drawing conclusions about the third quarter server sales picture, are forecasting a growing IT investment tendency fed by the desires for achieving a more flexible IT fabric. (I love it when they talk like that.) Server sprawl and inefficient use of existing servers will drive the investment in new systems, but the possibility of an overall economic cooling trend will be the wild card. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) You or someone that you know is likely to be in the market for an IT industry job. Those not actively looking for a job are usually keeping watch on the overall IT job market and looking for trends. Are companies adding staff, cutting staff, or just holding on to what they have? Clearly the majority of companies are in a holding pattern, but according to this survey, 13 percent will be hiring in the next three months. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Like yelling "Fire!" in a crowded theater, the words "data breach" can cause IT managers' pulse rates to double and their instincts to quickly search for an exit. The good news in this report: Companies are responding to data breaches more efficiently. The bad news: Consumers seem to be less forgiving when their personal information is compromised. Costs associated with data breaches continue to rise. READ MORE >

(System iNetwork) Two out of three companies that have implemented a service oriented architecture project say there is no return on investment. But before you make any SOA funeral arrangements, take a look at what a few analysts have to say. READ MORE >

(System iNetwork) Samuel J. Palmisano, IBM chairman, president and chief executive officer, describes his company's plan to repurchase up to $1 billion of its outstanding common stock in February 2008 as "an element of our long-term roadmap for earnings per share growth through 2010 and also represent a good value at today's prices." Indeed. You can almost hear the stockholders cheering from here. In April 2007, the board of directors authorized $15 billion for the company's stock repurchase program, followed in May 2007 by another repurchase plan totaling $12.5 billion. READ MORE >

Vendor Announcements, Promotions, and Deals

(IT Jungle) Log management's role in security procedures is hard to overstate. It provides information on the number of times users log on, how many failed log on attempts have occurred, and status reports from the firewall. Can you see how this data might save your skin when attacks take place? READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Monitoring the System i server using log management software is the topic du jour or maybe the Four Hundred Monitor blue plate special today. This article discusses what happens when applications and environments that run on the System i server don't use the native i5/OS message queues and journals to communicate critical events. Then what will you do to monitor those? READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) How much recovery time does your company require should things suddenly go to hell in a hand basket? A disaster recovery plan doesn't necessarily call for high availability or the purchase of software that is loaded with features that will not be put to use in your situation. Here's an option that might be the right fit for your backup planning. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) When you create reports in PDF, Excel, or HTML formats (assuming that you do or that you would like to), have you mastered the ability to present them in a uniform fashion across all those formats? Staying on the same page, so to speak, is a key to keeping end users happy. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Remember when there were three IBM System i server distributors? After Arrow bought Agilysys earlier this year, it left Arrow and Avnet as the two still standing. Meanwhile, Agilysys just announced it would be reselling several Oracle enterprise software products, including the J.D. Edwards EnterpriseOne and World and PeopleSoft Enterprise ERP suites, Siebel CRM, and Hyperion business intelligence software. READ MORE >

(IT Jungle) Which tool would you choose to create composite application screens that are delivered as Web-based dashboards? If you are a WebSphere fan, as well as a System i user, and you are looking to develop and deploy pattern-based interfaces to existing business processes, then pay attention to this. READ MORE >

Redbooks, White Papers, and Other OS/400 Resources

(Tango/04) Some companies continue to struggle with Sarbanes Oxley compliance issues that require a great deal of manual effort. This white paper highlights the implementation of internal auditing controls featuring the vendor's software, which centralizes the control of all security and operations events. READ MORE >

(Vision Solutions) Combining uptime objectives with a more effective IT strategy is sometimes like completing a jigsaw puzzle with a few pieces missing. This whitepaper covers the concepts of disaster recovery and information availability as well as how to calculate the business impact of downtime and evaluate software solutions. 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 >

(PowerTech) "PCI Compliance for IBM System i (AS/400)," is a white paper that examines the 12 main requirements of the Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard and explains the steps to reach compliancy in i5/OS terminology. The company's Compliance Monitor software plays a large role in this process; however, much of the information is vendor neutral and useful to those who do not use PowerTech products or services. READ MORE >

(BOSaNOVA) When it comes to data security, it is necessary to take steps beyond firewalls, virtual private networks, and intrusion prevention systems. That's why the topic of data encryption has gained so much attention. This white paper looks at risk assessment and regulatory compliance while make a strong case for encryption. READ MORE >

Chats, Webinars, Seminars, Shows, and Other Happenings

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

December 13 -- Milwaukee, Wisconsin - Developing Modern RPG Web Applications is the topic of the day at the monthly meeting of the Wisconsin Midrange Computer Professional Association. Guest speaker is Jim Cooper, Coordinator of the Internet Application Developer program at Lambton College. Cooper has taught System i technology since 1991 and serves as the liaison with the IBM Academic Initiative program. This session will focus on the development of browser-based applications using native RPG and embedded SQL, but without CGI, Java, Apache, WebSphere, PASE, WebFacing, HATS, or third-party generator tools. This program will be presented in two sessions. The first begins at 4:30 p.m. and the second begins at 7:30 p.m. In between will be the traditional cocktails, networking, and dinner. The event will be held at Klemmer's Banquet Center located at 10401 West Oklahoma Avenue. LEARN MORE >

December 13 -- Webinar - The Hardware Management Console, how it's managed and how it's connected to the System i, will be explained by guest speaker Larry Bolhuis of Arbor Solutions. Topics of discussion will include the new browser-based interface plus remote access to the HMC, the ASMI, and to i5/OS console sessions hosted by the HMC. This one-hour session begins at noon CST. LEARN MORE >

December 13 -- Maryland Heights, Missouri - Roxanne Reynolds-Lair, chief information officer for the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising (FIDM) will discuss IP telephony at the monthly meeting of the Gateway/400 Group, an iSeries user group serving the greater St. Louis area. FIDM estimates a cost savings of several thousand dollars per month since switching from PBX to VOIP. Gateway/400 meetings are held at the Graphic Communication Banquet Facility located at 105 Progress Parkway. LEARN MORE >

January 15 -- Costa Mesa, California - A presentation on WDSc for RPG programmers presented by Joe Pluta will center on every day programming tasks in WDSC. It begins at 3:30 p.m. At 7 p.m. Pluta will present a session focused on using EGL to develop System i applications. In between the two sessions will be the usual user group networking and a dinner. The event takes place at the IBM offices located at 600 Anton Blvd. LEARN MORE >

January 17 -- Webinar - An online session titled "Using System i Projects in WDSc is being presented by COMMON for its membership. Guest speaker is Don Yantzi from IBM. The session begins at noon CST. LEARN MORE >

January 20-24 -- Orlando, Florida - The annual Lotusphere conference attracts a large following of developers, administrators, and IT and business professionals who come for the presentations on the latest innovations, the hands-on training, and perhaps most of all, for the networking with other Notes and Domino peers. New for additions to the Lotusphere agenda include the product-oriented "QuickStart" sessions for the Lotus products announced at last year's conference and shipped during 2007. These products include: Lotus Notes and Domino 8.0, Lotus Quickr 8.0, Lotus Connections 1.0, and Lotus Sametime 7.5. There will be two Opening General Sessions Monday morning and regular events such as YellowSpace, JamFest and SpeedGeeking. A complete listing of educational tracks and sessions can be found on the event Web site. LEARN MORE >