While IBM is closely guarding the announcement details, we can say with relative certainty that the company will unveil at least one POWER4-based iSeries model next week. Since IBM has already rolled out POWER4 on its 16-way and 32-way pSeries models, it will likely roll out similar high-end servers for the iSeries.
Since any POWER4 server will require OS/400 V5R2 for support, we can also expect IBM to unveil the new release during next week's announcement. At last week's COMMON Conference in Nashville, iSeries General Manager Buell Duncan stated that V5R2 is a symbol of IBM's commitment to the iSeries platform. To prove his point, Duncan revealed that V5R2 will be the second largest release--in terms of new lines of code--in the history of the operating system. The only larger release was OS/400 V5R1.
As I've learned from sources close to the Rochester labs, V5R2 has the potential to be a stable and reliable product. One source told me that, after "beating up" the code for a few days in Rochester, his team concluded that the release had a "very normal" number of bugs. While IBM has more tests to perform in the field, this bodes well for customers who need V5R2's features at the earliest possible date.
As for what those features might be, IBM has provided little significant detail. As I've learned from earlier discussions with company sources, one useful feature will be Enterprise Identity Mapping, a directory-based service that will maintain a single identity profile for every user in an enterprise. Through the facility, users will have a single consistent sign-on as they access various servers and applications throughout their companies. Enterprise Identity Mapping is one element of IBM's Project eLiza initiative to simplify and automate systems management across all of its products as well as those of other IT vendors.
If these tidbits have made you hungry for more details, be aware that Kim Stevenson, IBM's VP of Marketing for the iSeries, will review the announcement during an iSeries Nation chat event at 10:00 a.m. east coast time on the day of the announcement. Click here to learn more and to sign up for the event. Then, make a note to yourself to read next week's issue of MCMagOnline, where we'll review the announcement at length.
Lee Kroon is a Senior Industry Analyst for Andrews Consulting Group, a firm that helps mid-sized companies manage business transformation through technology. You can reach him at
More 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.
TRY 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.
Forms 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.
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:
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.
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:
LATEST COMMENTS
MC Press Online