“He Definitely Knew What He Was Talking About. He Was Able To Look At More Than Just The Upgrade Part - He Was Able To Figure Out The Dilemmas We Had And Come Up With A Solution.”
Background
In 1975, Blake and Mary Christian started C&C Wholesale Distributors in Dallas, Texas with a borrowed pickup truck and a dream of providing flooring installers and dealers with quality products at a reasonable price. Over the years, C&C has expanded by opening branch locations in major cities in Texas, Shreveport and New Orleans, Louisiana and Oklahoma City and Tulsa, Oklahoma.
Now with sixteen locations and a fleet of trucks, C&C Wholesale’s mission is to provide education, service, solutions and products that assist dealers and installers in the proper installation of floor covering.
IBM 8286-41A On V7.3 At End Of Life 9-30-2023
Robin George, C&C’s IT Manager, was concerned that their IBM i OS at V7.3 was End of Life September 30, 2023. Robin wanted to continue to have supported IBM i OS and access to monthly IBM i security patches.
Robin George contacted Source Data Products for help. Mark Breisacher, SDP’s IBM i expert, stepped in to help C&C with a version upgrade.
Excellent Preparation and Communication
Robin explains, “Mark was great. Mark’s proactive approach played a crucial role in the success of the upgrade. His excellent communication skills and meticulous planning ensured that we were well-prepared for the transition. Despite encountering a storage hiccup during preparations, Mark swiftly identified an underlying storage issue on the IBM SMTP side that required immediate attention.
Expert Problem Solving
“Mark’s expertise extended beyond the upgrade process. He demonstrated a deep understanding of our system. His ability to look beyond the immediate upgrade tasks and resolve dilemmas showcased his proficiency.
“He definitely knew what he was talking about. He was able to look at more than just the upgrade part- he was able to figure out the dilemmas we had and come up with a solution.”
Efficient Remote Access
“Mark’s remote access to our IBM i system was seamless. He effortlessly navigated the system, addressing concerns and implementing solutions. Prior to the upgrade date, Mark had pre-downloaded necessary components, demonstrating foresight and preparedness.”
Flexible Scheduling
“Recognizing the importance of minimizing disruption, Mark accommodated our schedule by scheduling the upgrade when our team had logged out for the week. His flexibility and willingness to work on a Saturday ensured a smooth transition.
“He had everything pre downloaded, and because we are open Saturday he was flexible and scheduled the upgrade to happen when everyone had logged out.”
On-site Support
“As an IT manager, I was on-site during the upgrade. Mark logged in remotely via my laptop, initiating the backup process. After completing the backup in just two hours, he proceeded with the upgrade. Mark’s efficiency and autonomy were impressive.”
Smooth Execution
“The entire upgrade, including the backup and the transition from V7.3 to V7.4, went smoothly. Mark’s keen eye caught a memory issue during the preparation stage, preventing potential disruptions. Apart from addressing the SMTP server issue, the entire process was flawless.
“It went smoothly – it would not have if Mark hadn’t have caught the memory issue in the preparations stage”
Robin George Recommends Source Data Products
“I would absolutely recommend Source Data Products. Working with Mark, I found him to be one of the most competent IBM i technicians I’ve ever worked with during an upgrade, and I’ve worked with a few other companies before.”