-
What Degree? Kisco’s RCL Fellowship Spotlights Value of Training, Hard Work
April 22, 2024 Alex Woodie
Having a college degree is certainly one path to having a career in IT. But it’s not the only one, a point that Kisco Systems president Justin Loeber is making with the latest round of the Richard C. Loeber Fellowship, which is now accepting applications.
It’s not that Justin Loeber is adamantly opposed to college degrees. After all, the current Kisco Systems owner eventually received a diploma in environmental science and public policy, which he called “a passion play.”
But his father, Rich Loeber, never got a college degree. Despite proving his worth in data processing at a railroad and …
Read more -
IBM Hardware, Software, And Support Prices Hiked
April 8, 2024 Timothy Prickett Morgan
Last fall/summer we caught wind of the fact that IBM was going to raise prices on hardware and software effective this year, and then we never saw the announcement letter from Big Blue on General Price Harmonization or the one on price increases relating specifically to Power Systems and IBM i.
As it turns out, those announcements were made on September 1 last year and they went into effect on January 1 – something that was not apparent to us (or the business partners that we talk to from time to time) until we were reviewing the subscription pricing deal …
Read more -
Four Hundred Monitor, February 7
February 7, 2024 Jenny Thomas
We finally flipped the page into February after the year that was January. (Did January seem extra long to anyone else?) While everyone seems to be proceeding with caution in the face of these uncertain economic times and world unrest, we are nonetheless proceeding. This week’s Top Stories continue to focus on AI and cybersecurity, and all things IBM, and that’s probably not going to change any time soon. We are also happy to see our calendar starting to fill back up, so be sure to take a look to see what learning opportunities have been added.
Top Stories From
… Read more -
IBM Retired Db2 Web Query; It’s Time You Did, Too
February 5, 2024 Bill Langston
Just as you were returning to work to begin the new year, IBM published a security bulletin alerting Db2 Web Query customers that the software is “vulnerable to a remote attacker bypassing security restrictions or executing arbitrary code, to a local authenticated attacker obtaining sensitive information, or to denial of service.” The Four Hundred reported on the vulnerability in detail here.
The security bulletin only references release 2.4.0 of the now withdrawn Db2 Web Query software, but we suspect that is only because IBM doesn’t test unsupported releases. We believe the security vulnerabilities listed in the bulletin also exist …
Read more -
IBM i Shops Have Alternatives to Db2 Web Query
November 15, 2023 Alex Woodie
The sudden demise of Db2 Web Query has sent customers looking for alternatives. The good news is that IBM i software vendors offer a number of pre-built solutions that can fit the bill.
Here are some potential business intelligence tools from vendors that could serve as replacements to Db2 Web Query. We’ll take a look at open source alternatives in a future article.
Cozzi Research SQL World
Cozzi Research develops two query tools for IBM i, including SQL iQuery and SQL Tools, and bundles them both in a single product called SQL World.
Cozzi positions SQL iQuery as a native …
Read more -
Four Hundred Monitor, November 15
November 15, 2023 Jenny Thomas
If you’re looking for the next generation of IBM i, let us introduce you to the COMMON Education Foundation. CEF is dedicated to educating and engaging future IT generations. This week, CEF is hosting a virtual meet and greet to bring students together with working IBM i professionals and organizations who are seeking talent. CEF is a nonprofit supported by community contributions and volunteers who want to see the IBM i ecosystem continue to survive and thrive. Find out more about the meet and greet on November 16 in our Redbooks, White Papers, Blogs, Podcasts, and Other Resources section below. …
Read more -
Four Hundred Monitor, November 8
November 8, 2023 Jenny Thomas
Depending on where you live, you may be struggling this week from the dreaded time change that happened to many of us over the weekend. I, for one, and definitely dragging this week, and it got me wondering: What would happen if clock changes were abolished? We’d reduce schedule disruptions and having to remember which clocks auto-update. Without losing an hour of sleep in March, you’d probably wake up feeling more refreshed and less tired than on that same weekend in past years. Even falling back has an effect as we try to establish a new rhythm and get used …
Read more -
IBM, TIBCO Remain Mum on Db2 Web Query Future
November 1, 2023 Alex Woodie
While Db2 Web Query users are left hanging in the wind without any official way forward to protect their investments in the product, IBM and TIBCO have yet to make any public announcements about how to support these IBM i customers moving forward.
IBM shocked the midrange last month when it announced the sudden end of life of Db2 Web Query, the IBM i-based analytics tool that was largely based on an OEM (original equipment manufacturer) version of the WebFOCUS product originally developed by Information Builders and now owned by TIBCO.
The October 10 announcement – the same day …
Read more -
Four Hundred Monitor, November 1
November 1, 2023 Jenny Thomas
There is so much happening in our world today that as startling as it is that we have already reached November, it might be a good thing to see this calendar rollover and have a new year to begin again. For now, we’ll focus on our little piece of the world, which also has a lot if different things happen as we try to keep up with the advancements in AI, quantum computing, and, of course, Power Systems. So let’s kick it off with some good news from our fearless leader (and editor in chief) TPM as he takes a …
Read more -
Four Hundred Monitor, October 25
October 25, 2023 Jenny Thomas
Get ready to add a new column to your org chart. Artificial intelligence is growing at such a rapid rate that some organizations aren’t asking the existing CIO to wear another hat. Instead they are adding a new position. A chief AI officer, or CAIO. This position would have a lot of responsibilities, including staying on top of emerging AI technologies, develop an AI strategy, and make sure that AI implementations align with business goals. Sounds like a big job, doesn’t it? Based on what we’re seeing in the news cycles, it also seems like it’s becoming exceedingly necessary. Read …
Read more