Our Cloud400 client has requested us not to disclose their identity. We can, however, tell you about their move from their IBM i (iSeries/AS400) production server to Cloud400. Disclaimer: IBM i is an Operating System for IBM POWER servers. iSeries and AS400 are IBM servers. I use them interchangeably to make is easier for users to find related content relevant to their searches. Regional Airline Running Production Applications On IBM 9406-520 A regional airline with over 100 aircraft … [Read more...]
9 Common Server Upgrade Pitfalls
There are 9 common snags you may encounter when you upgrade your server (capacity, OS level, non-supported devices, etc.). Double check to understand what is involved when you change hardware server. I will cover 9 Common Software Upgrade Pitfalls in my next blog. You must do your research! Prepare your checklist to avoid these common upgrade pitfalls. Research Your Needed Steps To Move From An Older Server To A Newer Server. Appropriate Capacity. Is your new server properly … [Read more...]
The “RIGHT” ERP RFP For Success…And No Surprises
I am shocked how many “IT experts” miss the mark for successful software selection and implementation without surprises. This probably explains why Gartner estimates approximately 75% of all ERP implementations fail. So, what’s missing? I have had several conversations with a colleague who is an ERP selection and implementation expert. How good is he? Well, in his 40 year career he has selected and installed 55 ERP solutions, for small businesses to multi-billion, multi-national … [Read more...]
IBM i V5R4 Support Now Available Through 9-30-17 – Extended 1 More Year!
IBM has just announced today service extension support for IBM i Operating System V5R4. The extended service extension offering extends support for IBM i Operating System V5R4 for an additional year, from October 1, 2016 through September 30, 2017. The extended support covers usage and known and new defect problems. A service start date of October 1, 2016 or later and the service end date of September 30, 2017 or earlier must be manually entered by the user. For further details, contact … [Read more...]
What You Don’t Know About IBM i Disaster Recovery Replication Solutions Can Hurt You
Operations with critical needs to quickly recover from IBM i (iSeries/AS400) server downtime want Disaster Recovery Replication Solutions. Disaster Recovery Replication Solutions allow users to recover in minutes, not hours…if they make the proper choices and clearly understand the limitations of each solution. There Are 3 Basic IBM i (iSeries/AS400) Server HA Solutions When it comes to Disaster Recovery Replication Solutions, you … [Read more...]
“End Of Life” IBM i (iSeries/AS400) Applications
This blog discusses considerations for those thinking about outsourcing “end of life” or “sunset” IBM i applications. I often hear these issues when speaking to larger Fortune 2000 clients that explore hosting their applications. I was talking to a prospective hosting client the other day. He called because he is interested in moving his “end of life” IBM i applications off multiple IBM 9406-520 servers to a hosted solution. Why? Several reasons. The BIG reason is to save … [Read more...]
IBM Has Announced BIG SWMA Price Increases
This bog briefly describes IBM’s SWMA (Software Maintenance for IBM Licensed Program Products) price increases beginning March 1, 2016 and an overview of some of your options. IBM plans big SWMA price increases effective March 1, 2016 announced on August 25, 2015 by IBM Announcement 516-035. You can expect to see your SWMA renewal to increase in a range of 11%- 43%, depending on the age and version of your software. For P05 and P10 users, expect to pay $150-$777 per year. Some … [Read more...]
Expert IBM i (iSeries/AS400) Skills Fuel Cloud Hosting Growth
This blog provides key insight into why IBM i users turn to expert IBM i hosting for their core business applications. I recently attended a summit sponsored by a leading High Availability software solution provider. Fifteen IBM i (iSeries/AS400) Cloud Hosting providers attended. The solution provider presented several recent studies that noted that 70% of IBM i users in North America have 2 or less IBM i skilled people on staff. In fact, about 36% have no on-premise IBM i … [Read more...]
13 Steps To Get FREE IBM i (iSeries/AS400) Software Keys For Your Backup Server – THE SEQUEL
This blog is The Sequel to How To Get FREE IBM Software Keys For Your Backup Server. Since my last blog on this topic, I became aware of IBM’s newest Backup Form to get IBM LPP Software Keys. Just like my last blog, my purpose is to explain the latest process so it is easier to understand and execute. Many IBM i (iSeries/AS400) users have a Backup Machine to continue to run their critical applications when unexpected downtime occurs. This can be as simple as a Backup Machine ready … [Read more...]
First Failure Data Capture: Why You Probably Never Heard Of It
A question IBM POWER users rarely ask—unless they work on other platforms—is what an intermittent error is? It’s a kind of bug that occurs without rhyme or reason. Your system may lock up, or worse, it may come to a complete halt. Windows users are very familiar with it—as well as users of non-IBM hardware—and it has been a major nuisance for years. But when it happens to mainframe-class systems it can be much more than a nuisance. It can be very costly. Several years ago, eBay … [Read more...]