This is a blog about 2 examples where IBM users encountered unexpected delays and expense to get the needed software keys when they replaced their donor servers with newer servers. Anyone familiar with installing IBM i software is familiar with software keys. As a quick reminder, software keys certify you have IBM authorization to use IBM licensed software on a serialized server in your enterprise. Without the software keys, the IBM software will stop working within 70 days of … [Read more...]
Is It time To Review Your IT Disaster Recovery Plan?
OK, time for a reality check. You Either Have A Recovery Plan Or You Don’t. If You Do Have A Recovery Plan, Are You Sure It Will Work? IBM reports of all businesses with recovery plans 75% do not conduct regular recovery testing. But even if things go as planned, how realistic is the plan? Industry studies document that when downtime strikes, 33% of all recoveries do not go as expected. Can You Afford To Be Down For More Than 24 Hours – And Recover With Data That Is 36-48+ Hours … [Read more...]
3 Reasons Cloud400 30%-70% Less Expensive Than Other Hosting Providers
Cloud400 clients that shopped around before they settled on our IBM i (AS400/iSeries) hosting solution commonly tell us that we are 30%-70% less expensive than other providers. How can Cloud400 be 30%-70% less expensive than other hosting providers? Other hosting providers managing a wide-range of technologies require way more infrastructure and specialized staffing than needed for just IBM i. That also means they have higher costs that they have to pass on to hosting customers. And you … [Read more...]
Your 4 Options When IBM Stops AS400/iSeries Support
Please be aware that IBM has announced that they intend to withdraw hardware maintenance (HWMA) for AS400’s and iSeries effective January 31 2019 through October 31, 2020*. IBM is telling us that it is more difficult to get parts for these servers. So, they have announced that after the termination date, no more hardware support. Review Your Options And Start Planning For The End Of Your IBM HWMA. When IBM HWMA expires, here are your choices: Do Nothing. Run your server until you … [Read more...]
5 Reasons To Keep IBM i PTFs And Technology Refreshes Up To Date
This blog explains the importance of keeping your IBM i OS current with PTFs and Technology refreshes. My purpose is to provide a clear understanding of the important of PTFs. I am concerned about a common inattention among our iSeries clients that neglect IBM PTFs to keep their IBM i OS (OS400/i5/OS) current. I understand the common justification – “the system is working fine, and it will all get taken care of on the next version release. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it. So, why not … [Read more...]
We Just Made IBM i Version Upgrades Better: They Take a Lot Less Time And Cost Less, Too!
An IBM i (OS400, i5OS) version upgrade generally takes 10-20 hours (depending on server spend and number files) though unexpected surprises can extend that, sometimes even forcing you to start all over again on some future weekend. During this time, the server is in a restricted state. This means all users must have any access shut off, no jobs can run and the entire server is dedicated to the version upgrade process. For users running two or three shifts a day, a 20-hour restricted state … [Read more...]
“Oracle, iPhone…IBM i? What?”
Oracle, iPhone, IBM i Tight Hardware And Software Integration Work Best I recently read where Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison touts those customers who bought a suite of hardware, software, and services were significantly more satisfied with their purchase than customers who had purchased a single piece of that technology bundle. Ellison credited Apple’s Steve Jobs with being out in front on this design philosophy: “He believed that if you engineer the hardware and software to work … [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...]
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