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January 13, 2017

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Issue Highlights

January 13, 2017 | Volume 14 Issue 1

• LEAD ARTICLE: TechTip: Trees Are Good for Climbing and More

• FEATURED ARTICLE: TechTip: DB2 Access for PHP

• NEWS HIGHLIGHT: Green Screen Modernization in Half the Time

• WHITE PAPER: IBM i Security: Event Logging & Active Monitoring

• FEATURED VIDEO: Part 1 - Business As Unusual: Success Strategies for a Changing World

• EVENT: IBM i iSeries AS/400 Programming Concepts and Facilities Workshop

Feature Article - TechTip

TechTip: Trees Are Good for Climbing and More

The “tree” command can quickly show you the structure of an IFS directory, but it’s not installed in PASE by default. Learn how to get it.

Written by Aaron Bartell

My days are in large part spent in the PASE environment on IBM i. PASE is based on AIX, and both are Linux-like in their abilities, though PASE does not contain many commands and utilities that I'd consider on the "need" list. Sometimes I'm also doing things on Linux systems and get exposed to utilities and commands that I then desire to have on PASE. Such was the case the other day when I was writing my "PASE Intro" lab for COMMON Spring 2017. I needed to print out a directory listing of parent and child directories, and I knew the Linux “tree” command would foot the bill. Well, I quickly learned it didn't exist in PASE, so this article will convey the…

Profound Logic

Enter Now: State of IBM i Modernization Survey

10 minutes of your time will enter you in a drawing for an Amazon Echo!

Our 2016 survey uncovered valuable data on the attitudes toward IBM i and plans businesses like yours have to modernize their applications.

Here’s your chance to take part in our 2017 study – Just give us 10 minutes to answer questions including:

  • Do you plan to modernize in 2017?
  • What’s your management’s perception of IBM i?
  • Will your development team grow or shrink in the coming year?

In exchange, you’ll be entered to win an Amazon Echo and other prizes!*

*Rules and conditions apply

Take the survey now

MC Press Bookstore

The time is NOW to Learn Something NEW!

Pay only $35 each for our newest titles! You save a whopping 40% to 70% off the regular price.

9 of our best titles for just $25 each!  Treat yourself or a colleague to new knowledge for the new year!

10 titles 70-85% Off. Get your copies today!  Pay just $15 each for popular books on RPG, PHP, Java, Project Management, DB2, and more. Don’t wait – at these prices, books will sell out soon!

19 books for $10 each  Buy them ALL for less than $200. Select every one or just a few before they're gone!

Learn something new in 2017: Over 50 titles for $5 each!  RPG, IBM i, Security, PHP, Programming, DB2, Analytics, and more. Shop now—at these prices, books are going fast!

MC Press Bookstore

This latest book in the MC Press DB2 Certification series is a must-have for anyone preparing for Exam 317. You’ll get an in-depth review of the core exam topics, including the changes to DB2 11. Featuring 60 practice questions and answers, this guide explains every objective included on the test and serves as a day-to-day reference for DB2 11 system administration. Written by a member of the IBM Certification Development team, you’ll turn to this go-to DB2 11 book again and again. Order your copy today!

Feature Article - TechTip

TechTip: DB2 Access for PHP

Last month, we looked at three ways you can access data files in PHP: mysql_*, mysqli_*, and the PDO API set. But there is one more option. Bet you can’t wait to see what it is.

Written by Dave Shirey  

One of the primary reasons for involving PHP in our otherwise pure RPG ILE /free world is to allow us to develop apps that have a GUI interface yet access data from our DB2 (or whatever) database.

Database access in PHP is done via an API set that contains the commands necessary to connect to your database (remember, PHP runs on the server while your database is probably local or at the very least not on the same server as PHP is running in) and then access and return the required information to the PHP program.

MC Resource Centers

IBM i Security: Event Logging & Active Monitoring

A Step by Step Guide

Active monitoring is one of the most critical and effective security controls that an organization can deploy. Unlike many Windows and Linux server deployments, the IBM i can host a complex mix of back-office applications, web applications, and open source applications and services - leaving millions of security events to actively monitor.

This eBook discusses:

  • Real-time security event logging and monitoring
  • Security architecture and logging sources on the IBM i
  • Creating the IBM security audit journal QAUDJRN
  • Enabling IBM security events through system values
  • File integrity monitoring (FIM)
  • A step by step checklist begin collecting and monitoring IBM i security logs

Download your copy today from the MC White Paper Center

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Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: