22
Sun, Dec
3 New Articles
  1. You are here:  
  2. Home
  3. Analytics & Cognitive
  4. Business Intelligence
  5. Migrating from Query/400? Avoid Unnecessary Costs, Complexity, and Confusion

Migrating from Query/400? Avoid Unnecessary Costs, Complexity, and Confusion

Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

DB2 Web Query (QU2) is not your only option and may not be the best one.

 

Editor's Note: This article introduces the white paper "Replacing IBM Query/400: Understanding Your Options" available free from the MC Press White Paper Center.

 

If you're like most IBM i (System i, iSeries, AS/400) customers, your staff members have relied on IBM Query/400 for years to generate simple queries of your DB2 database. Since its introduction with the AS/400 in1988, Query/400 has remained essentially unchanged and has its limitations. But since it's familiar, you may still be running hundreds of Query/400 queries.

 

However, in late 2007, IBM decided it was time to replace Query/400 and withdrew the standalone Query/400 application from marketing. To encourage you to voluntarily migrate off Query/400, IBM announced that beginning at i5/OS V5R4, Query/400 is only available when you license the new DB2 Web Query software, designed and developed by IBM and Information Builders, Inc. (IBI). DB2 Web Query (QU2 for short) is a less-functional, OEM version of IBI's WebFOCUS software product, which originated on another platform and was ported to the IBM i.

 

Because of New Generation Software, Inc.'s (NGS) position as a respected developer of IBM i reporting and business intelligence software, numerous customers, business partners, and the editorial press asked for our analysis of DB2 Web Query's capabilities. We did comprehensive, unbiased research to intelligently assess this product and presented the findings in our white paper "Replacing IBM Query/400: Understanding Your Options" available free from the MC Press White Paper Center. Our research indicates that you should not just assume that QU2 will be the best solution to satisfy your reporting and business intelligence requirements. To assist you, we've examined the critical factors--the same ones you typically evaluate during the selection process of any new software solution--as they relate to DB2 Web Query:

 

  • Total Cost and Licensing Terms
  • Learning Curve
  • Number of Providers
  • Complexity
  • Setup and Ongoing Administration Requirements
  • Performance
  • Disk Space Requirements
  • Training and Consulting Costs
  • IBM i Operating System Release Compatibility

 

There are many BI product offerings in the market, and the white paper provides you with the factor comparison of DB2 Web Query to NGS' own enterprise reporting and business intelligence solutions, NGS-IQ.

 

QU2 offers many functions provided in most BI solutions; however, there are significant differences in licensing and support of additional modules. Contrary to what you may have heard, QU2 is not free. Although IBM offers a base, named user license determined by your IBM i processor group, considerable costs can incur when you require additional named user licenses for anyone who develops queries, regardless of their frequency of use. Also, significant fees and additional licenses can result if you opt for IBM's "runtime enablement" feature, online analytical processing (OLAP) software, "Active Reports" offline report viewing, and the DB2 Web Query Software Development Kit (SDK). To use the OLAP feature, it's necessary to also license at least one copy of QU2's Windows Developer Workbench, which is licensed by the individual PC. If you want to automate report scheduling and distribution, you must also license the IBM DB2 Web Query Report Broker (QU3). Customers who want to go beyond query and reporting must upgrade the base license and engage with IBM or IBM's consulting organization to support that implementation and in some cases may require a complete migration to IBI's WebFOCUS software.

 

QU2 software maintenance is also a cost factor. DB2 Web Query software maintenance is not included in your operating system software maintenance. Also, the new IBM DB2 Web Query Report Broker and SDK have separate maintenance fees.

 

Unlike DB2 Web Query users, NGS customers do not pay separate license and maintenance fees for email and FTP output distribution features, as well as job scheduling through standard IBM and third-party utilities; these functions are built right into the NGS-IQ solution. Your NGS-IQ license allows you to install our IQ Server query software on your IBM i and the companion Windows modules (including OLAP) in either connected or offline mode on a designated number of PCs. Most companies can support a large number of offline users with a small number of concurrent users. Consulting is typically not needed to implement NGS solutions.

 

For more detailed information on QU2 licensing terms and the other factors to consider, please request "Replacing IBM Query/400: Understanding Your Options" from the MC Press White Paper Center. Also, visit our Web site, http://www.ngsi.com/, to view a playback of a recent Web demonstration comparing DB2 Web Query with NGS-IQ and download a copy of our DB2 Web Query Cost Estimating spreadsheet to find out in seconds exactly what DB2 Web Query could cost your organization.

 

Legal Notice: NGS believes all of the above information is accurate at the time of publication. However, IBM software products and marketing policies are subject to change at any time, without notice. Speak to your IBM or IBM Business Partner representative for current product, pricing, and support information.

 

 

 

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

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: