Following are the highlights of how IBM i is now better optimized for ISV support:

• Operating system and DB2 runtime performance improvements in code paths used by ISVs
• Deeper integration between IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i and ISV solutions
• Testing of specific ISV applications with PowerVM virtualization capabilities, including suspend/resume
• Rapid installation and upgrade of ISV software solutions
• Operating system and DB2 options to be used by ISV applications to improve performance in specific situations
• Enhanced integration and partner testing of IBM i and ISV applications for higher solution quality

Other enhancements in the refresh include:

• IBM Application Runtime Expert for i enhancements provide one-stop location for service automation.
• IBM DB2 Web Query for i Standard Edition provides a complete query reporting solution.
• IBM Rational Developer for Power Systems Software offers integrated development environments.
• IBM i for Business Intelligence is a new solution from IBM providing a system for operational reporting.
• IBM i support for new POWER7 systems and I/O. 

Summary Overview

IBM i now supports new models of IBM Power 710, 720, 730, 740, 770, and 780 servers with IBM i 7.1 and IBM i 6.1 with 6.1.1 machine code. These new models can be particularly beneficial to customers running applications driving very high I/O or memory requirements. 

The POWER7 processor-based servers are in the following IBM i processor groups: 

• Power 710 and Power 720 4-core processors = P05
• Power 710 and Power 720 6-core and 8-core processors = P10
• Power 730 and Power 740 = P20
• Power 770 = P30
• Power 780 = P50 

IBM i Enhancements

• IBM i 7.1 is optimized for independent software vendor (ISV) support and provides better solutions when using IBM i and Power Systems Software.
• DB2 for i is enhanced and can improve performance, simplify administration of secure database connections, provide additional tooling and feedback options to aid in application development and performance tuning, and can support the latest JDBC specifications.
• Ethernet link aggregation binds up to eight Ethernet links together in a single line description for improved throughput and reliability.
• Ethernet layer-2 bridging provides the ability for an IBM i partition to share a physical Ethernet connection with other partitions in the same system.
• Thin Provisioning for DS8700 and DS8800 storage servers, and for VIOS Shared Storage Pools allows configurations setup with a smaller amount of real disk storage. This can be increased later without changing the partition's view of the storage LUN.
• IBM i mirroring algorithms are enhanced to take into consideration any N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) attached disks.
• Bus level statistics for 12x loops provide a view of the traffic and utilization for your 12x loops and the PCI busses.
• Virtual Partition Manager is enhanced to create IBM i partitions.
• IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i supports V7000 and SVC replication via PRPQ.
• Native archive and un-archive API supports creating and restoring archive files, specifically .zip files.
• The integrated web services client for ILE is enhanced to enable users to generate RPG code that can be used directly from an RPG application to invoke a web service.
• Zend Server Community Edition (CE) for IBM i is a fully tested and enhanced version of open source PHP Hypertext Pre-processor (PHP).
• The IBM Toolbox for Java and JTOpen Java libraries are enhanced with features from the latest definition of JDBC v4.1.
• IBM Application Runtime Expert for i (5733-ARE) enhancements provide a new way for you to automate the servicing of both applications and the environments application run in by allowing a user to run and verify scripts, CL commands, and SQL queries. 

IBM Rational Developer for Power Systems Software V8.0.3 enhancements for IBM i development include the following:

• Secure connections to IBM i development platforms
• Usability improvements to the Screen Designer, Report Designer, and Remote Systems LPEX Editor
• New fixed-term and token licensing options 

IBM DB2 Web Query for i now includes a Standard Edition bundle. Users get a complete query reporting solution in a single, simplified ordering package. The product also includes a new interface that allows users to generate web addresses to query reports for report integration. 

IBM i for Business Intelligence is a new solution which provides:

• Low-cost value built solution (IBM i with Power System)
• A design build on popular DB2 Web Query
• Two-stage implementation: Start with operational reporting and optionally grow into data warehousing (Refer to Technical information section for specific hardware and software prerequisites.) 

The following features became available this month:

• Remove Keys/ePOEs for Transferred Software VRM 5.2(5733-NKY)
• IBM DB2 Web Query for i VRM 1.1(5733-QU2)
• IBM DB2 Query Manager and SQL Development Kit for i VRM 7.1 5770-ST1) 

IBM i 7.1 Enhancements (5770-SS1) Optimized for ISVs

• IBM i operating system delivers a significant change to the internal locking mechanisms used by many parts of the system, including DB2. Very large numbers of locks can be managed by the system much more efficiently with 7.1 than they were in the past. This improvement allows for more efficient handling of large SQL transactions involving very large numbers of DB rows. It also results in better system efficiency and performance when multiple applications, that require locking resources, are running in parallel.
• Cooperative efforts between IBM and certain ISVs provide additional testing to ensure quality of both IBM i and the ISV applications. Special attention is given to integrate specific ISV HA functionality and procedures with the latest version of IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i and test specific usage case scenarios across the IBM and ISV software stacks while also using external storage solutions.
• PowerVM suspend/resume function has been tested with ISV applications. In addition, rapid installation procedures were developed in particular with one ISV as another improvement towards quick and easy deployment of ISV solutions on IBM i.
• The latest IBM compiler is used by one ISV to create highly optimized executable code. The ISV build procedure now not only compiles and links the code, but accepts additional input that is captured while running an interim version of the ISV executable. This additional input provides the compiler with new insights into which code paths are most often executed during the operation of the ISV so that those paths can be streamlined when the final ISV executable is produced. This extra step in producing an ISV executable can yield noticeable improvements in response time and throughput for the ISV application.
• IBM WebSphere Application Server V8 was jointly tested and adopted by IBM i and ISVs, allowing ISVs to take advantage of all the new features of WebSphere Application Server V8.
• IBM Application Runtime Expert for i (5733-ARE) templates are being tailored by ISVs to quickly and easily identify configuration problems in customer environments. They are also used, in some cases, to make sure systems are properly configured before attempting ISV installation or upgrade procedures to ensure that those ISV processes run smoothly.
• Two IBM technical documents have been created or updated to describe how IBM i Solid State Drives (SSD) optimization can be leveraged in an ISV environment and to describe improved techniques for performing certain ISV application upgrade and maintenance procedures. These can be found at
• http://www-03.ibm.com/support/techdocs/atsmastr.nsf/WebIndex/WP101795
• http://www-03.ibm.com/support/techdocs/atsmastr.nsf/WebIndex/WP101412 

More information related to ongoing projects between IBM i and specific ISVs can be found at

http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/i/support/erp/

http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/i/advantages/oracle/

DB2 for i Enhancements

• DB2 includes the following functions specifically at the request of ISVs:

1. Smaller SQL statement sizes within SQL packages. Some ISVs use SQL packages. Smaller statement sizes save disk capacity and improve access times for ISV applications, leading to better performance. It also allows more statements to fit within a package before an overflow condition occurs.
2. Improved ALTER TABLE performance. Some ISVs make significant use of the ALTER TABLE statement during release upgrades when the application must be inactive. Improved performance of these statements reduces solution downtime during ISV upgrades.
3. Administration information is made available via SQL. These functions allows ISVs to view certain TCP/IP and IBM i operating system release settings easily in cases where it may not be convenient or possible to call system APIs. This, in turn, allows the ISV to provide new information and functionality to the ISV application users.
4. Enhancements to the XDA database (DB) interface to allow additional DB connections and improved LOB locator handling. ISV solution performance is improved when using these new capabilities. 

DB2 for i is enhanced with additional capabilities to improve performance, provide additional tooling options to aid in application debug and performance tuning, and support for the latest release of the popular JDBC interface. 

DB2 i now supports asynchronous movement of DB2 table and index data to SSD to virtually eliminate disruptions when running workloads previously needed to move data to SSDs. In addition, SQL Query Engine (SQE) improved its statistics gathering capability using MTI temporary indexes as a source of statistics and by refreshing table statistics preemptively based on table record changes, before they are needed for query optimization. Performance of nested transactions associated with constraints and triggers was also improved by DB2 optimizing its lock conflict search. Scaling improvements made for accumulated record locks dramatically improve the performance of large database transactions involving a large number of changed table records. DB2 now preserves the SQE plan cache size across IPLs to improve startup performance. 

DB2 i improves its popular monitoring tools with additional capabilities that aid application developers to better debug application problems by filtering on error cases, by client IP address, and by specific users or group profiles. These new capabilities can improve the efficiency of developers and administrators to more quickly identify and pinpoint issues and correct them or to track certain users or clients. A new SQL procedure allows users to automatically create permanent SQL indexes based on temporary index usage by the database query engine. Also included are tooling improvements that allow users to identify potential excessive record locks being acquired for a job so as to react and correct the problem before it becomes serious. Additionally, improved feedback from SQL statements allows ISVs to more easily get rows processed and error information programmatically. 

A new server authentication list keyword simplifies user and password credential management for database connections over DRDA or DDM. By use of the new authentication keyword, an administrator can do a one-time assign of connection credentials to a user that automatically extends to new connections, even ones created after the credential information has been set up. 

The popular Java JDBC interface, available through the IBM Toolbox for Java, now supports several features of the latest JDBC 4.1 definitions with DB2 i. This allows Java developers to continue to leverage the latest defined options for JDBC. 

More DB2 enhancement details are available at the IBM i developerWorks for DB2 i wiki

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/ibmi/techupdates/db2

Get the latest PTF fix availability information for these and other DB2 improvements at

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/ibmi/techupdates/db2/groupptf

For additional information reference, go to

http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/data/products/db2i5OS/ 

Ethernet Link Aggregation

Users need their partitions to have reliable, fast connections to the network. With IBM i 7.1, a line description can be associated with up to eight Ethernet links, which will be bound together into an aggregate. Outgoing traffic will be spread across all of the links according to a user-selected policy, and incoming traffic by a policy configured at the switch. For example, two aggregated 1 Gbps links can carry up to 2 Gbps for the same IP interface without any additional configuration. In case a link goes down, the other links will handle all traffic that would have gone on that link. Therefore, aggregation provides additional reliability while neither requiring any inactive resources in reserve nor any additional IP configuration. 

The user creates a line description with resource name set to a new special value *AGG, which adds new aggregation-specific parameters. The user must choose which aggregation method to use, which policy to use for spreading outgoing frames across the aggregated links, and a list of the resources that should be aggregated. The user must select a single speed for all of them and they must all run at full duplex. Then, the corresponding ports on the switch must be bound together into an aggregate according to the switch's configuration manual. The configuration must indicate that all of the ports are always aggregated (as opposed to being negotiated according to some protocol). 

When the line description is varied on, all of the links will be started. Then the line description can be used by an IP interface, for example. The status of each aggregated link can be seen in a new screen under the Display Line Description command. 

For more information about configuring Ethernet resources and link aggregation, refer to the IBM i Information Center 

http://www.ibm.com/systems/i/infocenter/ 

For Ethernet requirements, refer to the Hardware requirements section. 

Ethernet Layer-2 Bridging

Most logical partitions in a Power System need access to an IP network, usually through Ethernet. However, it is not always possible or cost-effective to assign a physical Ethernet adapter to every logical partition in a Power System. Using Ethernet layer-2 bridging, a system administrator can connect a single partition to the physical Ethernet and then bridge all traffic between that network and one of the Power System's virtual Ethernet LANs. Once the bridge is in place, any partition can access the physical network by using virtual Ethernet adapters on the bridged virtual LAN. Thus, Ethernet layer-2 bridging to the virtual LAN allows many logical partitions to share a single physical connection to the site network. 

With IBM i 7.1, an IBM i partition can bridge a physical Ethernet port to the virtual LAN. This reduces hardware costs, since there are fewer Ethernet adapters required in the Power system, fewer ports required at the switch, and fewer cables to connect them. It may also reduce administration costs since there are fewer physical resources to manage, and this Ethernet sharing does not require a Virtual I/O Server partition, potentially reducing the number of environments that administrators need to manage. 

In order to use Ethernet layer-2 bridging, users must have access to the management console for the system. The administrator must use the management console to create a virtual Ethernet adapter in the IBM i partition, indicating that the adapter will be used for external access. Then, the user creates two Ethernet line descriptions: one for the new virtual Ethernet adapter and one for the Ethernet port connected to the physical network. To establish the bridge, the user gives the two line descriptions the same bridge name, which is a new parameter on the CRTLINETH and CHGLINETH commands for the purposes of this support. When both line descriptions are active, traffic will be bridged between the two networks. 

For more information about configuring Ethernet resources and layer-2 bridging, refer to the IBM i Information Center 

http://www.ibm.com/systems/i/infocenter/ 

For Ethernet requirements, refer to the hardware requirements section. 

Thin Provisioning for DS8700 and DS8800 storage servers, and VIOS Shared Storage Pools  

With IBM i 7.1, Thin Provisioning allows configurations to be set up to use a smaller amount of real disk storage initially, and then allows for a later increase in the amount of disk storage without changing the partition's view of the storage LUN. Prior to this enhancement, the full amount of configured storage would be used at LUN initialization time. 

Mirroring with NPIV Attached Storage  

IBM i mirroring algorithms are enhanced to take into consideration any N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) attached DS8000™ disks. The locations of the virtual disks are considered when the pairs of mirror disk units are calculated. 

Bus Level Statistics for 12x Loops  

Enhancements to Collection Services collect and display bus level statistics for 12x loops and PCI slots. These statistics help to give you a view of the traffic and utilization for your 12x loops and CEC PCI busses. 

For POWER6 and POWER7 systems, you have access to utilization statistics for the 12x loops that can provide you a view of the traffic. 

For POWER7 system units that have gen2 slots, in addition to the loop data, you also have access to utilization statistics for the CEC PCI busses. 

IBM i 7.1 and IBM i 6.1, with machine code 6.1.1, provide support to collect the data. In addition, IBM i 7.1 allows the data to be exported to the new QAPMBUSINT file, and places additional PCI bus data for hubs into the QAPMBUS file. 

Virtual Partition Manager Enhancement to Create IBM i Partitions 

The Virtual Partition Manage (VPM) is a partition management tool that supports the creation of partitions that use only virtual I/O and does not require the Hardware Management Console (HMC) or Systems Director Management Console (SDMC). In addition to being able to manage Linux guest partitions, the VPM now supports creation and management of IBM i partitions. 

The VPM function is available on POWER6 and POWER7 Express Servers that do not have an external management console. With this enhancement to IBM i 7.1, the ability to create up to four IBM i partitions is enabled in VPM. Client IBM i partitions, that are created with VPM, use virtual I/O to connect back to the IBM i I/O server partition to access the physical disk and network. VPM in the IBM i I/O server partition is used to create the virtual SCSI and virtual Ethernet adapters for the client partitions. The user is then be able to use Network Storage Spaces (NWSSTG) and Network Storage Descriptions (NWSD) in the IBM i I/O server partition to define the storage for the client partitions. Tape, disk, and optical are allowed to be virtualized to the client partitions. The client IBM i partitions can be IBM i 7.1 or IBM i 6.1 with either 6.1 or 6.1.1 machine code. 

Hardware Support

• IBM i now supports new models of IBM Power 710, 720, 730, 740, 770, and 780 servers with IBM i 7.1 and IBM i 6.1 with 6.1.1 machine code. These new models can be particularly beneficial to customers running applications driving very high I/O or memory requirements.
• The PCIe2 1.8 GB Cache RAID SAS Adapter Tri-Port 6 Gb (#5913) is a large-cache PCIe SAS adapter that provides high-performance capabilities for large quantities of solid-state drives (SSD) or hard disk drives (HDD).
• The SAS SFF 15K RPM 283 GB capacity disk drive boosts the SFF server storage capacity on IBM Power 710, 720, 730, 740, 750, 770, 780, and 795 servers.
• PCIe2 8x 4-port Fibre Channel Adapter (#5729) is a new PCIe Gen2 adapter. It provides four 8Gb Fibre Channel ports and doubles both the number of ports and the total bandwidth available on a Fibre Channel adapter. IBM i requires VIOS for this adapter. With the additional ports and bandwidth, clients can increase virtualization and consolidation of Fibre Channel configurations. 

IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i enhancements PRPQ

IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i now supports replication through the Storwize V7000 or SVC copy services technology via the IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i Enhancements PRPQ. This includes Metro Mirror, Global Mirror, and FlashCopy support for both the Storwize V7000 storage server and the SVC storage server. 

Also provided is new command line only support that is used to create an independent auxiliary storage pool (IASP) and configure geographic mirroring as well as a new graphical user interface for IBM PowerHA SystemMirror for i. This new GUI makes configuration and management of a high availability environment easy to use and intuitively obvious. The overall status of the high availability environment can be easily determined, and supports the ability to drill down to detect and correct specific problems in the environment. The GUI enables basic functionality and allows configuration and management of a geographic mirroring or DS8000 based replication environment. 

IBM PowerHA System Mirror for i enhancements is a no-charge PRPQ, 5799-HAS. The new PowerHA GUI is a System Director Navigator plug-in. 

Application Development Enhancements

Native archive and un-archive API support—IBM i supports the user's ability to both create (.zip) archive files and extract the contents of (.zip) archive files. This support includes native APIs and a service program to create (.zip) archive files, and the ability to extract the contents of (.zip) archive files. Multiple files and directories within IBM i can be compressed and packaged into a single archive file using the QzipZip API. Using the QzipUnzip API, the contents of the (.zip) archive file can be extracted to the target IBM i system. The service program QZIPUTIL has entry points that can be called by any other ILE program to create and extract (.zip) archive files. It is a system state user domain service program that adopts *USER authority. The service program has the following exported functions - QzipZip and QzipUnzip. The zip and unzip implementation on IBM i uses the open source zlib library to inflate and deflate the files. These new APIs are included in the latest level of the HTTP Server Group PTF - SF99368. 

The syntax for the APIs are: 

• QzipZip

(Qlg_Path_Name_T * filesToZip

Qlg_Path_Name_T * zipFileName

Char * formatName

char * zipOptions

Qus_EC_t * error_code)

• QzipUnzip

(Qlg_Path_Name_T * zipFileName

Qlg_Path_Name_T * unzipTargetPath

char * formatName

char * unzipOptions

Qus_EC_t *error_code) 

Integrated Web Services client for ILE

The integrated web services client for ILE in IBM i 7.1, IBM i 6.1, and IBM i 5.4 is enhanced to support RPG stubs (proxy code) that are used directly from an RPQ application to invoke web service. This new capability does not require the user to learn web service protocols, and more importantly, everything can be done within the RPG language. 

The wsdl2rpg.sh tool is enhanced to support generation of RPG web service client stubs. This is the same shell script that, for years, has supported the ability to generate C and C++ stubs given a WSDL file and generate RPG stubs. Once the RPG stub has been generated and compiled into a service program, an RPG application can then transparently invoke web service operations via the RPG stub interfaces. Users have the ability to create a service program automatically that is made up of the C and RPG stubs. 

There are three critical arguments to the tool whose values are dependent on the size of expected strings, arrays, and binary data that is exchanged in SOAP messages between the client and the server. The sizes can be passed to the tool so the tool can generate fields that can contain the data without any loss. Note that even though stubs are generated, RPG files may fail to compile due to sizes of fields or data structures exceeding the language limits. For example, in IBM i 5.4 the size of a data structure cannot exceed 65535 bytes, while in IBM i 6.1, the limit is 16773104 bytes. 

The wsdl2rpg.sh tool is located in the following directory: /qibm/proddata/os/webservices/v1/client/bin. 

The service program that would need to be binded to is QSYSDIR/QAXIS10CC. These new web service enhancements are included in the latest level of the HTTP Server Group PTF - SF99368. 

To learn more about the RPG stub support in integrated web services client for ILE, visit the IBM Integrated Web Services for i homepage http://www.ibm.com/systems/i/software/iws/ 

Zend Server Community Edition (CE) for IBM i Enhancements

Zend Server CE for IBM i is a fully tested and enhanced version of the open source PHP. It provides the PHP runtime and is packaged to make the software installation easier and faster with instant PHP setup. It is enhanced to take advantage of IBM i specific resources and capabilities. Extensions and a toolkit are provided to access DB2 and applications on IBM i. Zend Server is the only Zend certified and supported version of PHP for IBM i. 

Zend Server for IBM i is a robust PHP production environment that helps ensure that applications written in PHP run smoothly at all times. It is designed for IT personnel and businesses that require commercial-grade web applications in highly reliable production environments, high performance, and scalability improve web experience and response time. Enhanced PHP monitoring and immediate problem resolution improves application uptime and reliability. Zend Server also includes the Java Bridge for integrating PHP applications with Java applications and the 5250 bridge for integrating 5250 applications with PHP applications. 

Zend Studio for IBM i is an industry-leading PHP Integrated Development Environment (IDE) designed for professional developers, which includes all the development components necessary for the full PHP application lifecycle. Through a comprehensive set of editing, debugging, analysis, optimization, database tools, and testing, Zend Studio accelerates development cycles and simplifies complex projects. Zend Studio for IBM i is enhanced to work with the integration toolkit provided with Zend Server and Zend Server CE on IBM i. 

Zend Server CE is preloaded on IBM i 6.1 and IBM 7.1. Reference Zend Server in the Terms and conditions section for product purchase and download details. 

IBM Toolbox for Java and JTOpen Enhancements

IBM Toolbox for Java and JTOpen Java libraries are enhanced to keep pace with the latest interface definitions from the overall JDBC 4.1 definition. This allows Java developers to continue to leverage the latest defined options for JDBC. 

Reference

http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/i/software/toolbox/

IBM Application Runtime Expert for i enhancements (5733-ARE) 

The new updates to IBM Application Runtime Expert for i contain: 

• New plug-ins, including Command Runner, Resource Collector, SQL Query Verifier, and a new mode to package all result files into a single archive file. In addition, you can integrate the Application Runtime Expert core binaries into a created template. This feature removes the need to maintain the latest core PTFs on the target systems. These new features support a one-stop solution.
• New console architecture, which is more robust and easy to use.

New Plug-in—Command Runner

This plug-in lets you verify the results of Qshell script or CL command on remote systems. Specify any CL Command or program through Qshell. When the ARE template verifies that program command is run, the results of the call can be verified. For example, you can use this to ensure a device is varied on. 

New Plug-in—SQL Query Verifier

This plugin helps to verify database content. You can specify SQL queries and check the results on the remote system using this plugin. 

New Plug-in—Resource Collector

The new resource collector allows the ARE tool the ability to verify the desired environment but also provide a single command to gather additional information from the target system and package it in a single (.zip) archive file for later review. This is an especially useful feature for servicing an application on a remote system. 

Collector Mode

The -zipFile parameter can be specified on the command line to enable the Collector Mode. This lets ARE verify the desired environment and easily package the results in a single zip file for later review. 

Console Support for Collector Mode

Console now provides a new link to download the remote collected archive (.zip) file for each verified system. This is useful when the Command Runner plugin or the Resource Collector plugin is used in a template. You can put the archive files from the remote systems into a local location to easily review the collected reports and resources. 

Integrated Template

The integrated template option bundles the core runtime with the template being created. This creates a self-contained object including the verification and correct core runtime. This option ignores the core that resides on the remote system. The latest core PTFs are no longer required on the target system when this option is used. This also means that the template file being created is larger than the file without the integrated template feature. 

New Console Architecture

The console now only needs to use a single connection to the target system. In the past, many connections were required for both the outbound and inbound conversation. This created unnecessary stress on the firewall configurations. 

Console - Report Viewer

Console now supports import and viewing of existing ARE reports in a user friendly view. Import ARE reports from any other system verification and review in this console. You can write custom plugin by utilizing Rule Map Interface API. The API enables easy reuse of existing built-in checks and tools. 

Refresh Template

You can refresh an existing template base of the information on the current system. This is useful when you have old templates but an updated system. This function helps you to easily keep templates updated. 

Other Enhancements

• Console: Default user ID and password can be specified to verify multiple system configuration quickly using a common user ID and password for all systems.
• Console: A new link is provided to download all report files of all systems in a single archive.
• Console: Verification report is now group based. You can have multiple groups and each one has its own report.
• Console: Automatically select proper JRE on remote system during console verification.
• General: Dynamic template core requirement adjust, according to feature selection.
• Custom plugin: Warning for custom plugin compiled using JDK 6, or later.
• Configuration File Plugin: The new XML parser is now able to handle text content in XML files.
• User ID plugin: Support for verifying UID and GID fields.
• Script interface to check version: A new parameter version is provided in runARE.sh to display core version.
• Several fixes to ensure that editing an existing template, or importing an existing template from a different system, work correctly.
• The ability to customize the check attributes, such as the check type (equals, not equal, in, contains) that is used when verifying key value pairs in a configuration file.
• The ability to customize the check attributes, such as the check type (equals, not equal, in, contains) that is used when verifying system values.
• A new build status page that displays detailed information about what is happening during the process of building a template.
• The ability to view the full build status summary, from the previous template build, via the Actions button on the main Deployment Template Editor page.

This updated support is included in 5733-ARE PTF SI43867 and the latest level of the HTTP Server PTF Group SF99368. 

To learn more about the Application Runtime Expert, visit the product homepage

http://www.ibm.com/systems/power/software/i/are/index.html 

IBM Rational Developer for Power Systems Software V8.0.3

IBM Rational Developer for Power Systems Software provides a rich set of integrated development tools for organizations creating, maintaining, migrating, or porting applications to IBM Power Systems. These tools include remote file management, searching, editing, refactoring, application analysis, build, and debug. Development is supported in both connected and disconnected modes and all of the tools are integrated into an Eclipse workbench. Supported languages include RPG, COBOL, DDS, CL, C/C++ on IBM i, Java, C/C++ on Linux, C/C++, and COBOL on AIX. 

These tools help organizations to realize the productivity gains of moving from older text-based, command line development tools, to a rich, integrated development environment. They also help organizations to attract, retain, and lower initial training costs. 

When used in combination with IBM Power Systems compilers and IBM Rational Team Concert, IBM Rational Developer for Power Systems Software provides a comprehensive application development environment, including compilers, development tools, and collaborative application lifecycle management. 

IBM i Developer V8.0.3 includes:

• Secure connections to IBM i development platforms. Rational Developer for Power Systems is supported when used in 32b compatibility mode on 64b versions of Windows 7, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, and Red Hat Linux desktop editions V5 and V6.
• Usability improvements to the Screen Designer, Report Designer, and Remote Systems LPEX Editor. Rational Developer for Power Remote Systems Explorer can now establish an SSL connection to an IBM i host.
• New fixed-term and token licensing options.

For product details, refer to Software Announcement 211-344, dated October 04, 2011. 

IBM DB2 Web Query for i Standard Edition V1.1.2 (5733-QU2)

IBM DB2 Web Query for i Standard Edition is enhanced and offers bundling of the right combination of features from DB2 Web Query to provide a complete query reporting solution. With Standard Edition, you no longer need to try to determine which combination of the numerous DB2 Web Query features you should order. Standard Edition can optionally be augmented with additional DB2 Web Query features that target specific environments, for example, JDE applications. 

Also new is a simplified interface for creating web address accessible reports. These web addresses can easily be added into existing applications to provide integrated query reports into the applications or you can simply make the report accessible through a favorite browser. 

These enhancements can be used on supported releases of IBM i. The enhancements simplify ordering by automatically bundling several features of DB2 Web Query into a single order. However, it does not correspond to an actual feature on IBM i, so you will not have to install any additional feature on your IBM i. The new capability to provide web address creations is delivered via PTFs to the product. It is enabled for your use when the SDK feature of DB2 Web Query, 5733-QU4, is purchased and installed. 

For reference, visit: http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/i/software/db2/webquery/ 

IBM i for Business Intelligence (BI)

BI remains a top priority of mid-market companies but budgets, and staff and skills to support enterprise BI solutions are very small in comparison to enterprise accounts. IBM i customers have significant amounts of business data in DB2 for i, yet a large majority may still be using Query/400 for reporting purposes. Other customers may have invested in tools that have limited future or are not keeping up with DB2 for i query technology. 

The momentum around analytics is creating interest and opportunities for new solutions that can lay the groundwork for Data Warehousing while showing immediate results with new levels of Operational Reporting. 

Solution Benefits

• Low-cost value built solution (IBM i with Power System)
• A design built on popular DB2 Web Query
• Two-stage implementation: Start with operational reporting and optionally grow into data warehousing

Stage 1—Building a Reporting Foundation

• Get new reports and information-in days
• Replicate production database to second system
• Isolate query workloads (tune, optimize)
• Limited data transformation
• Low entry price point that you can build on
• Leverage the system for additional purposes 

Stage 2—Growing into a Data Warehouse

• Requires the additional purchase of ETL software and associated services
• Has ETL process that transforms and cleanses data
• Can restructure the data that improves analytics (create a customer profiling database)
• Can isolate query workloads (tune, optimize)
• Requires longer implementation - more services required

For additional details and to read the complete announcement, visit IBM i 7.1 enhancements.

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