“We saved $44,950 on System i POWER 6 8203-E4A and $10,389 on System i POWER 6 CBU. Source Data proposal for these two 8203-E4A 2-core servers provided the most expandability and the least expensive approach compared to the two other AS400 resellers’ proposals we considered. The CFO is very happy with the nearly seamless transition! In addition, I especially appreciate how Source Data untangled some of the IBM bureaucratic issues, like our software licensing and support billing. With Source Data, it is so much easier than trying to work directly with IBM.”
Garratt-Callahan Company provides custom water treatment solutions.
Withdrawal of Support Requires AS400 Technology Upgrade
In early 2009, Garratt-Callahan Company was under pressure to upgrade its AS400 technology. With 140 users on an IBM 9406-270-2432 with 50/1050 CPW on OS400 V5R3, Betsy Hobson, one of Garratt-Callahan’s ERP consultants, felt it was time to move to newer technology rather than merely upgrade to V5R4. The current 9406-270 capacity included 2 GB memory, 204 GB disk capacity with RAID, OPS console, 50 GB QIC tape, (3) V.24 com lines, (1) Ethernet and running V5R3. A comparable 9406-270 was installed in their New Jersey office as their Maxava High Availability target server.
Besides the push to upgrade to V6R1 to stay current with IBM support, Garratt-Callahan had several other IT requirements.
“First, in planning for the transition from 9406-270 to POWER6 8203,” Betsy explains, “we had to assess the number of concurrent users for our production server as well as our CBU [backup target server] to properly support role swaps with our Maxava High Availability software.
“Second, although a POWER i 1-core server initially appeared adequate for our current workload, we planned an upgrade from VAI System 2000 V3R7 to the newest VAI V5 version using IBM middleware, including WebSphere Express and WebSphere Portal. Our workload assessment indicated that these two IBM middleware software products would increase the processor demands for the proposed server.”
Betsy continues, “We also were planning to add more web-based applications that integrated to our iSeries-based VAI ERP application.
“Even though our 9406-270s could adequately handle our current transaction volume as well as run IBM OS400 V5R4, we had our eye to the future so our organization was positioned for ongoing IBM support with subsequent releases of OS400 beyond V6R1.”
Two IBM Business Partners Proposed New IBM POWER i Without Requirement Assessments
“My initial search for a POWER i (AS400) included a prominent local IBM Business Partner as well as one of our software vendors. I was disappointed with their approach because they proposed new POWER i servers without assessing our HA target server needs and future workloads. The local IBM Business Partner proposed an 8203-E4A 1-core. I was concerned that this proposed entry server did not have enough growth capability for our future.
“On the other extreme, the software vendor simply quoted an 8203-E4A with (18) 139 GB disk units and unlimited concurrent users without any file sizing, disk utilization assessment, High Availability assessment or workload modeling. Simply put, they had proposed an IBM POWER i that was way too big and too expensive for the next 7 years.
“We had also worked with Source Data Products over the years,” Betsy continues. “In early March 2009, I invited Source Data to participate in our AS400 technology upgrade assessment. I found early on that Source Data takes a very different approach before proposing an IBM POWER i.”
SDP Conducts Complete Requirements Assessment First to Configure the Right Servers at the Right Price
“For starters, Source Data conducted an initial workload assessment and basic infrastructure analysis prior to its server recommendations. Several key issues were uncovered as part of their assessment.
“First, we had seen 9406-270 performance declining. Our current 9406-270-2432 with 50/1050 CPW ran VAI with increasing use of embedded SQL commands in its reporting. Source Data explained that although an entry POWER i with 1 active core might initially handle current production volumes, with no upgrade growth path and no CBU option for our Maxava HA software, the 8203-E4A-5633 1-core was a dead-end. In fact, SDP pointed out that the 8203-E4A 2-core CBU was $10,389 less expensive than a second 8203-E4A-5633 1-core as proposed as the HA target server by this local IBM Business Partner.
“Second, as far as the 8203-E4A with (18) disk units, Source Data pointed out that we would have to increase our business by 800% to fully benefit from this many disk units. As desirable as such growth might be, we determined it was very unlikely that our business would grow more than 10% per year for the foreseeable future. Clearly, a configuration with (18) disk units was unnecessary for this company.
“Third, even though we had 140 users, there was only a need for 70 concurrent users. To have a margin for expansion, with help from Source Data, we concluded that 80 concurrent users was appropriate. This meant that we would spend $44,950 less compared to the 8203 the software vendor had proposed.
“Fourth, Source Data pointed out that when disk expansion might be needed, the cost of disk and expansion features would be substantially less expensive in the future due to IBM price decreases as well as the availability of used features on the open market. Better to buy what you need when you need it rather than pay today’s IBM prices for unknown future needs.”
As a result of the assessment, Source Data proposed a POWER i 8203-E4A 2-core production server and 8203-E4A 2-core CBU as the target server. “Source Data prepared detailed configurations for us to review comparing the 8203-E4A 1-core to the 2-core solutions as well as to the 8203-E4A 2-core CBU,” Betsy continues. “Although the 8203-E4A 2-core production server was slightly more expensive than the initial 1-core option, the CBU was $10,389 less than a second 8203-E4A to serve as the High Availability target server. This meant that the Source Data proposal for (2) 8203-E4A 2-core servers provided the most expandability and was also the least expensive of the three options presented to us,” concluded Betsy.
A Demanding Migration — SDP is Up to the Challenge
Once the approval was given in late August 2009, Garratt-Callahan wanted the new POWER i 8203-E4A POWER6 servers to be in production with V6R1 by November 2009.
Betsy continues, “We worked closely with Source Data to develop a migration plan to ship the 8203-E4A POWER6 servers to SDP’s technology center for the initial migration and testing of all of the applications in V6R1. A traditional version upgrade and migration generally takes 18 to 30 hours. By shipping the servers to SDP, our production and test environment would not be impacted by this one-time migration.”
During the migration process, one of SDPs senior POWER i technicians worked closely with Betsy and her team and Garratt-Callahan’s various software vendors. Concurrently, SDP worked closely with IBM to properly register the new POWER6 8203-E4A CBU to access the correct software keys from the IBM key center.
Second, upon completion of the upgrade to V6R1, Garratt-Callahan remotely dialed in to test their applications. As expected, the VAI V3R7 migrated and tested cleanly. On the other hand, the Seagull JWalk GUI environment and Cybra Mark Magic (used for forms and bar-code labeling) required special software keys and downloads to work properly in the V6R1 environment. Again, the off-sight testing saved Garratt-Callahan from any onsite disruption for this one-time migration.
“With all applications migrated to both 8203-E4As and properly operating in V6R1, we decided to conduct side-by-side high availability testing at the SDP technical center to verify the MAXAVA role swap executed properly prior to shipping the servers to the client for final set-up,” Betsy explains.
“In October 2009, we gave Source Data the green light to ship the 8203-E4A processors to our Burlingame, CA office for set up and onsite testing. As with any transition, we had a few minor issues. Mark Breisacher, the Source Data POWER technician was fabulous. He made everything easy. Even though the transition felt a little nerve-wracking, I felt very comfortable that Mark would make everything right.”
In November, 2009, the Garratt-Callahan invited SDP to complete the onsite integration of the 8203-E4A into its corporate network, the final save of production files from the 9206-270 to the 8203-E4A and the final go live.
“We never lost a day of production with the cutover,” Betsy marveled. “I especially appreciate how Source Data untangled some of the IBM bureaucratic issues, like our software licensing and support billing. With Source Data, it is so much easier than trying to work directly with IBM.”
Nearly Seamless Migration – Excellent Performance
“This new 8203-E4A runs so much faster”, noted Betsy. “A production query that used to take 1-2 minutes finishes in a second.”
At the end of the project, Betsy said, “We were very happy with Source Data, from the first assessment to the project completion. We felt from the start that you and your team really knew your stuff – the IBM POWER i, how to size it and configure it so we got our best value, and the ins and outs of migration. We found Source Data to be very responsive. Everyone on the team is a pro – especially Mark Breisacher. Mark’s knowledge, patience and helpfulness guided us through the entire process. He is clearly one of the best IT support people I’ve worked with.”
The nicest compliment we got from Betsy? “The CFO is very happy with the nearly seamless transition, thanks to you and your team!”