The purpose of this blog is to stress the importance of Disaster Recovery testing. What made this topic important to me is that recently we completed a DR test for one of our clients. The DR test revealed that their system backup was bad, which came as a shock to the client. Understandably, the client was unhappy to pay for the test only to learn their DR plan could not work because the backup was bad. So, let’s stress the importance of understanding how to do a clean backup. I have included … [Read more...]
7 Unexpected Costs When You Buy A Used IBM i (iSeries/AS400)
The purpose of this blog is to highlight the extra expenses related to putting a used IBM POWER server into production. In my experience, all too often the buyer of used IBM POWER hardware is unfamiliar with the needed steps and related costs to put a used server into production. Disclaimer: IBM i is an operating system. iSeries and AS400 are names for IBM servers. I use them interchangeably to make it easier to find this information on the web. An IBM i 8202 user contacted me this week to … [Read more...]
Assess On-Premise IBM i (iSeries/AS400) Server Total Cost Of Ownership To Understand Your Options
The purpose of this blog is to identify the elements to make up the on premise server total cost of ownership so you can determine your options to upgrade to a new on premise server or move to the cloud to host your IBM I (iSeries/AS400) applications. Disclaimer: IBM i is an operating system. iSeries and AS400 are servers. I use them interchangeably to make it easier for users to find this information when searching on the web. Every day I speak to IBM i (iSeries/AS400) users to help them … [Read more...]
IBM i (iSeries/AS400) Business Continuity Options
One of the frequent concerns we currently hear from many of our clients is what options do they have for business continuity beyond basic tape backup. Disclaimer: IBM i is an Operating System of POWER servers. iSeries and AS400 are IBM servers. I use IBM i, iSeries and AS400 interchangeably in my title and text to make it easier for internet users to access information like this for their research. Recovering From Unexpected Down Time First, let’s consider the causes of … [Read more...]
10 Common Landmines When Evaluating New ERP Software
You may know it is time to change your ERP software. Even so, there is a lot more to select the right fit then compare 4 or 5 software choices. Software Evaluation Has Complexities And Risks That Cannot Be Overlooked Software evaluation and implementation is fraught with risks and unpleasant surprises, even for competent IT teams and business executives. Neglect to investigate the “landmines” and you dramatically increase your chances for a failed implementation…and a career … [Read more...]
Leasing’s Sneaky Tricks — Part 1 of 3
We are getting closer to that time of year when businesses are most active adding new IT hardware. Many finance these new acquisitions with lease financing. In the 1980s, I was in the leasing industry and saw first-hand many sneaky tricks that are still in use today. If you are unaware of them you may wind up paying WAY more than you ever expected and, unfortunately for you, you will have no legal recourse to get your money back. So, how do you protect yourself? Well, here’s what to look … [Read more...]
Is Your IBM i Server (iSeries, AS400) Nearing End Of Life?
The purpose of this blog is to identify end of life servers and factors so IBM i users can start thinking about their options. Disclaimer: “IBM i” is an operating system. “iSeries” and “AS400” are servers that IBM used to market. I use these terms interchangeably to reach a broader audience who Google for information. IBM users should be aware that many IBM i Servers (iSeries/AS400) will have hardware support withdrawn between 2019 to 2020. Most notably, these are 9406-520, 9406-525, 9407-515 … [Read more...]
Does IBM i Have A Future? You Bet It Does!
The purpose of this blog is to assure IBM i POWER Users (who also think their server is an iSeries/AS400) that there is a future for IBM i. Disclaimer: "IBM i" is the operating system. "iSeries" and "AS400" are IBM servers that precede IBM POWER. I knowingly use these terms combined to reach a larger audience with web site that host my blog. As an IBM Business Partner and cloud hosting provider, I talk to IBM i users every day. A lot of “pundits” claim IBM i is old, dying technology. I … [Read more...]
How To Prepare For IBM i/iSeries/AS400 Cloud Hosting – The Basics
The purpose of this blog is to prepare you to streamline your process to determine if cloud hosting makes sense for you. My sense is that you don’t do this every day, so this checklist will help you gather the key information you will need to quickly figure out if cloud hosting can work for you. Getting A Quote When you think about the possibility of cloud hosting, you want to get an idea how much it will cost. After all, hosting has to be economically feasible if it is going to make … [Read more...]
IBM i Security Built In From The Beginning. Integration And Hardware Independence, Too.
A few weeks ago I published a blog about IBM i security built in at the beginning. I want to highlight sections of Frank Soltis book “Inside the AS/400.” Dr. Soltis notes that the AS400 security features were not an afterthought. Specifically, the IBM i has actually 2 operating systems – the IBM iOS and the License Internal Cover (LIC or microcode). IBM iOS runs on top of LIC, which is part of the POWER server hardware. LIC runs “under” iOS. LIC knows the details of the hardware and … [Read more...]