News

News

• October 23, 2009 23 Oct'09

  IBM's System i and System p merger: Users weigh in

  IBM merged the System i and p platforms more than a year ago, which brought concerns about System i's future viability. System i users weigh in with mixed opinions on the results.

• April 16, 2008 16 Apr'08

  System i users: Power Systems merger good, OS name change mixed

  System i users are happy with the System p/System i merger, saying Power Systems could bring more visibility to System i. Not everyone's thrilled about the name change, though.

• April 09, 2008 09 Apr'08

  Power Systems announcement shines at Common

  Attendees at this year's Common user group conference learned about IBM's big announcement that System i and System p will together become Power Systems. The merger has some wondering how to draw the AIX and Linux communities into the i family.

• April 02, 2008 02 Apr'08

  IBM merges System i and System p platforms

  IBM's new Power Systems platform combines System i and System p. But the merger and name change may also mean better pricing -- and greater longevity -- for System i.

• January 31, 2008 31 Jan'08

  System i5/OS operating system due out in March

  Big Blue has announced the new i5/OS V6R1 and its various features, including the ability to run on blade servers.

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• December 20, 2007 20 Dec'07

  Vision board member guarantees high-availability satisfaction

  System i high-availability (HA) software vendor Vision Solutions recently added former Procter & Gamble and Microsoft technologist Bob Herbold to its board of directors. We talked with Herbold about his role at Vision, the importance of HA software,...

• December 06, 2007 06 Dec'07

  IBM's strategy to lure SMBs to System i cast in doubt

  Dividing System i into enterprise- and SMB-focused units was an attempt to acquire new SMB customers. But do IBM application development tools support the platform well enough?

• September 28, 2007 28 Sep'07

  Common board member discusses open source on System i

  IBM System i user group Common recently held elections to fill three posts on their board of directors. Long-time active iSeries and IBM midrange software development professional Dan Kimmel was re-elected to fill one of those posts. In this email Q...

• August 08, 2007 08 Aug'07

  VMware expounds on ESX support for IBM System i

  IBM System i will soon be able to act as iSCSI storage for connected IBM System x servers running VMware ESX Server, and VMotion support will come next year.

• July 25, 2007 25 Jul'07

  IBM previews new version of i5/OS for System i

  IBM's new i5/OS, the System i operating system, has new security and virtualization capabilities, and features can be purchased a la carte.

• July 20, 2007 20 Jul'07

  IBM System i division filing for divorce

  Big Blue will split the midrange System i server platform into two pieces: one that is enterprise focused and aligned with System p and another that's geared toward SMBs.

• March 08, 2007 08 Mar'07

  Fast guide to logical partitioning

  This guide explains what logical partitioning (LPAR) is, how it's used, and where it fits into the iSeries world. You'll find tips, expert advice and more to pump up your LPAR know-how.

• February 08, 2007 08 Feb'07

  Know-IT-All Chapter Quiz: iSeries Backup & Recovery

  Read our free chapter download: AS/400 Primer, Third Edition by Ernie Malaga, Doug Pence and Ron Hawkins and then take the quiz to see how much you've learned.

• February 08, 2007 08 Feb'07

  Know-IT-all Chapter Quiz Answer Key: iSeries Backup & Recovery

  Know-IT-all Chapter Quiz Answer Key: iSeries Backup & Recovery

• January 10, 2007 10 Jan'07

  iSeries/System i Blunder Hall of Shame

  Welcome to the iSeries Blunder Hall of Shame. Here you'll find some of the best iSeries blunders around.

• January 10, 2007 10 Jan'07

  System i shop retires legacy app, starts fresh

  Farm Mutual Reinsurance Plan enlists the help of Magic Software to build new software to replace its outdated insurance administration application.

• November 20, 2006 20 Nov'06

  iTera, Vision look at future of high availability

  Earlier this month, Vision Solutions and iTera, two of System i's biggest high-availability vendors, announced that they would be merging. The combined company will have 3,000 customers and about 13,000 implementations of one of their ...

• November 08, 2006 08 Nov'06

  System i security: It's people

  A recent survey by iSeries security software company PowerTech found that it isn't the hardware or software causing security breaches on System i. It's improper password implementation and other people security issues.

• October 24, 2006 24 Oct'06

  VoIP for iSeries now available

  IBM is now offering VoIP software from 3Com on its System i servers

• September 13, 2006 13 Sep'06

  Disaster recovery to lead Common iSeries user group conference

  The focus of Common's fall conference, being held in Miami next week, will be disaster recovery. The 6,500-member iSeries user group, representing more than 23,000 IT professionals, has had Beverly Russell as president since the fall of 2004.

• August 03, 2006 03 Aug'06

  IBM releases DB2 email archiving hardware and software

  IBM announced the release of its DB2 CommonStore Email Archiving Solution, an appliance that SMBs with little to no IT staffs can install quickly and easily.

• August 02, 2006 02 Aug'06

  Just how invincible is the iSeries (AS/400)?

  Over the years we've all heard stories of the iSeries (AS/400) being nearly indestructible. It may have been thrown from a moving vehicle, caught in a fire, sealed in a wall or immersed in water and still came out smelling like an iSeries. Our ...

• August 01, 2006 01 Aug'06

  iSeries software converts green screen programs to Web

  iSeries software provider Profound Logic has released a new version of RPGsp, which allows developers to take RPG-coded green-screen applications and convert them to HTML for easier viewing in Web browsers.

• August 01, 2006 01 Aug'06

  NETSTAT (Network Status)

  Learn why Search400.com members added the NETSTAT (Network Status) command to their list of favorite iSeries (AS/400) commands.

• August 01, 2006 01 Aug'06

  DSPPGM (Display Program)

  Learn why the DSPPGM (Display Program) command ranked in the top 10 favorite iSeries (AS/400) commands.

• August 01, 2006 01 Aug'06

  WRKOBJPDM (Work with Objects using PDM)

  iSeries users say WRKOBJPDM (Work with Objects using PDM) is a must-use command.

• August 01, 2006 01 Aug'06

  WRKOBJLCK (Work with Object Locks)

  Learn why the WRKOBJLCK (Work with Object Locks) command is a favorite in the iSeries (AS/400) community.

• August 01, 2006 01 Aug'06

  DSPPGMREF (Display Program Reference)

  Learn why Search400.com members say the DSPPGMREF (Display Program Reference) command is one of the most helpful iSeries (AS/400) commands.

• August 01, 2006 01 Aug'06

  WRKACTJOB (Work with Active Jobs)

  WRKACTJOB (Work with Active Jobs)

• August 01, 2006 01 Aug'06

  WRKSYSACT (Work with System Activity)

  iSeries users say that the WRKSYSACT (Work with System Activity) command tops their list of favorite iSeries (AS/400) commands.

• August 01, 2006 01 Aug'06

  DSPPTF (Display PTF)

  The DSPPTF (Display PTF) command is a favorite in the iSeries (AS/400) community. Find out why.

• August 01, 2006 01 Aug'06

  DSPFD (Display File Description)

  The DSPFD (Display File Description) command is a favorite among iSeries (AS/400) users.

• August 01, 2006 01 Aug'06

  WRKCFGSTS (Work with Configuration Status)

  Search400.com members say the WRKCFGSTS (Work with Configuration Status) command is extremely helpful.

• July 18, 2006 18 Jul'06

  Unitrends expands data backup to System i, considers bare metal

  Unitrends, known for disaster recovery software and bare-metal restore, now provides data backup for the iSeries and may implement bare-metal restore for the system in the future.

• July 13, 2006 13 Jul'06

  IBM configures iSeries to jibe with JD Edwards ERP apps

  iSeries users who want JDE's EnterpriseOne software integrated into their boxes can now get it. But customers will dish out $25,000 to Oracle on top of the cost of the iSeries.

• June 27, 2006 27 Jun'06

  Catholic Charities keeps track of homeless with iSeries

  The Twin Cities' chapter of Catholic Charities runs its IT department with a handful of iSeries servers that helps it feed the hungry and provide shelter for the homeless.

• June 22, 2006 22 Jun'06

  Blyth profits from business intelligence software

  Blyth, one of the largest candlemakers in the U.S., says running business intelligence software on its iSeries helps them save big by helping it better manage its inventory.

• May 23, 2006 23 May'06

  System i product news: Tango, Intellinx, Xandros and Quadrant

  Software providers launch new tools for System i, including auditing software, DB2 utilities and others.

• May 10, 2006 10 May'06

  ISCSI integration available on System i, plus new Lotus discount

  New integration capabilities that allow IBM System i servers to manage IBM's x86 machines became generally available this week. Customers can also get a hardware discount for buying Lotus products.

• April 17, 2006 17 Apr'06

  IBM touts VoIP on System i for SMBs

  VoIP isn't new, but it is new to System i. With many small companies just starting to get involved with IP telephony, IBM claims its the right time to bring its all-in-one machine onboard.

• April 06, 2006 06 Apr'06

  Gateway Tech drives System i5 education

  IBM might provide some financial support, but it's the people behind schools like Gateway Technical College in Kenosha, Wis. that make System i5 education work.

• January 04, 2006 04 Jan'06

  New products and updates for the iSeries

  New iSeries software: I/O Concepts adds iSeries support for management tools; NetManage tweaks iSeries SOA product; and Outbound calling assistance from iMessaging Systems.

• October 12, 2005 12 Oct'05

  Native biometrics on the iSeries

  IBM software partner, Valid Technologies, has developed what it said is the world's first biometrics tool native to the iSeries.

• September 22, 2005 22 Sep'05

  COMMON: Products ease iSeries development, administration

  The expo at the Fall COMMON User Conference was buzzing with the latest product news from RJS Software, BOSaNOVA, Lakeview and Aldon.

• September 08, 2005 08 Sep'05

  iSeries tech conference or COMMON?

  With IBM's iSeries technical conference scheduled in Florida, site of the upcoming COMMON show, many iSeries users are wondering which show to attend.

• September 01, 2005 01 Sep'05

  Green screens taken over by .NET

  iSeries software vendor ASNA recently updated its Monarch software, which migrates green-screen applications onto Microsoft .NET.

• August 30, 2005 30 Aug'05

  Updates and enhancements to your iSeries tools

  New updates for iSeries tools include offerings from Quadrant, Stonesoft, inFORM Decisions and others.

• August 23, 2005 23 Aug'05

  Would you recommend COBOL or RPG for your children?

  Search400.com asked readers if they would recommend RPG or COBOL programming as a career for their children. Here is a sampling of the responses.

• August 09, 2005 09 Aug'05

  RFID, more trouble than it's worth

  Many of the iSeries folks forced to implement RFID into their data center wind up dealing with a technology that is still more trouble than its worth.

• July 26, 2005 26 Jul'05

  IBM dropping CGIDEV2 web development tool?

  Free IBM web development tool, CGIDEV2, which enables COBOL or RPG code over the Internet as CGI language, may no longer be supported as a result of iSeries guru retirement.

• June 30, 2005 30 Jun'05

  Form versus function

  Wouldn't a machine touted to be the best in architecture ever conceived also be the best in form? asks columnist, Brian Kelly. Because it is not, the iSeries is often not taken seriously by the computer science community. Nobody bothers looking ...

• May 24, 2005 24 May'05

  Answer sheet: iSeries word search

  Answer sheet: iSeries word search

• May 19, 2005 19 May'05

  PowerTech acquires TriAWorks

  iSeries security company buys SSO software vendor to take advantage of IBM's Enterprise Identity Mapping capabilities.

• May 17, 2005 17 May'05

  New tools for managing your iSeries

  Help/Systems, Lakeview and Kisco are among several companies touting new products and enhancements to current software.

• May 12, 2005 12 May'05

  Lawson goes Java

  Major iSeries ERP vendor unveils a new Java platform for business applications, codenamed Landmark.

• April 21, 2005 21 Apr'05

  Q&A: Mason calls WDSC the tool of choice for Web development beginners

  Read feedback to this Q&A.

  iSeries shops are placing Web development and Web enablement at the top of their priority lists. But if you're just...

• April 13, 2005 13 Apr'05

  Help for iSeries administrators

  New security, change management, script and backup tools alleviate managers' workload.

• April 12, 2005 12 Apr'05

  IBM steps up iSeries, pSeries overlap

  IBM announced Tuesday the latest in a series improvements to its iSeries line, which analysts say is evidence of a trend towards an increased overlap with the pSeries.

• March 31, 2005 31 Mar'05

  iSeries execs give users renewed hope

  Will the iSeries be successful again? After hearing what iSeries executives had to say at the spring COMMON conference, columnist and author Brian Kelly is more encouraged than ever that things will turn around.

• March 28, 2005 28 Mar'05

  Blunder #3: That ever-dreaded "panic" call

  It's never pleasant when you receive that "panic" call in the middle of the night. "All of the jobs are "bombing! What should I we do?" At the time this user's shop was using the Mapics system and a product that allowed them to create multiple ...

• March 28, 2005 28 Mar'05

  Blunder #9: Ending a Telnet session

  How do you end a Telnet session? Not by using ENDTCP *IMMED. Unfortunately, this user found out the hard way.

• March 24, 2005 24 Mar'05

  King for a day

  Application service provider, Kingland Systems Corp., gets high marks for availability policies.

• March 17, 2005 17 Mar'05

  Source code for module P_IFS

  Source code for module P_IFS

• March 09, 2005 09 Mar'05

  WRKJOBSCDE

  WRKJOBSCDE

• March 09, 2005 09 Mar'05

  WRKMBRPDM

  WRKMBRPDM

• March 09, 2005 09 Mar'05

  DSPFFD

  DSPFFD

• March 08, 2005 08 Mar'05

  Readers respond to IBM's iSeries investment

  Recently, Search 400 reported on IBM's efforts to revitalize the iSeries. What do users have to say about Big Blue's investment?

• February 24, 2005 24 Feb'05

  SAP-friendly iSeries lowers ERP barriers

  IBM recently unveiled a new SAP optimized iSeries that allows small and midsized businesses to better focus on business processes rather than IT implementations.

• January 13, 2005 13 Jan'05

  IBM, SAP software alternative for some PeopleSoft, JDE customers

  IBM's new offering allows SAP resources to be virtualized on IBM eServers running the Power chip. Some analysts say the software could be attractive to PeopleSoft customers leery of a future with Oracle.

• December 20, 2004 20 Dec'04

  IBM's spending spree adds up to a portfolio of goodies

  With an aggressive strategy to expand its software portfolio and plenty of cash to spare, IBM bought its way into several vertical markets in 2004. The deals were advantageous for all parties involved and, for IBM, it certainly beat starting from ...

• December 03, 2004 03 Dec'04

  Joe Marx's code for formatted work job scheduler

  Joe Marx's code for formatted work job scheduler

• November 29, 2004 29 Nov'04

  Basic security Journal Receiver Management

  Basic security Journal Receiver Management

• November 29, 2004 29 Nov'04

  System managed journal receivers

  System managed journal receivers

• November 22, 2004 22 Nov'04

  SAVSYS -- Save System

  SAVSYS -- Save System

• November 22, 2004 22 Nov'04

  SAVOBJ -- Save Object

  SAVOBJ -- Save Object

• November 22, 2004 22 Nov'04

  SAVSECDTA -- Save Security Data

  SAVSECDTA -- Save Security Data

• November 22, 2004 22 Nov'04

  SAVLIB -- Save Library

  SAVLIB -- Save Library

• November 22, 2004 22 Nov'04

  SAVSAVFDTA -- Save Save File Data

  SAVSAVFDTA -- Save Save File Data

• November 22, 2004 22 Nov'04

  SAVCFG -- Save Configuration

  SAVCFG -- Save Configuration

• November 22, 2004 22 Nov'04

  GO SAVE

  GO SAVE

• November 22, 2004 22 Nov'04

  SAVCHGOBJ -- Save Changed Objects

  SAVCHGOBJ -- Save Changed Objects

• November 22, 2004 22 Nov'04

  SAVDLO -- Save Document Library Objects

  SAVDLO -- Save Document Library Objects

• November 22, 2004 22 Nov'04

  SAV -- Save

  SAV -- Save

• November 03, 2004 03 Nov'04

  DDL for the sample menu tables

  DDL for the sample menu tables

• October 23, 2004 23 Oct'04

  Halloween: Do you speak -- eek! -- Geek?

  Are you such a Know-IT-All that it's scary? How many of these terrifying terms can you guess without peeking?

• October 12, 2004 12 Oct'04

  Q&A: Pluta touts benefits of RPG over Java

  Joe Pluta has been on the RPG soapbox lately. The founder and chief architect of Pluta Brothers Design, an Illinois-based company that takes iSeries legacy systems and adapts them to work with newer technologies, has been evangelizing the benefits ...

• September 16, 2004 16 Sep'04

  IBM, iSeries users looking for next PeopleSoft?

  A potential takeover of PeopleSoft by Oracle looms large at IBM and within iSeries shops. While the battle rages on, users put new purchases on hold, but IBM is likely putting plan B into place.

• September 15, 2004 15 Sep'04

  John Blenkinsop -- subroutine

  John Blenkinsop -- subroutine code

• September 03, 2004 03 Sep'04

  CEELOCT and CEEDATE information

  CEELOCT and CEEDATE information

• August 16, 2004 16 Aug'04

  Survey: Lack of apps still plagues iSeries shops

  Users pulling work off the iSeries and onto Windows say the decision has absolutely nothing to do with the technology. They say it's the applications.

• August 13, 2004 13 Aug'04

  WDSC gets powerful Surveyor/400 plug-in from Linoma

  WDSC gets powerful Surveyor/400 plug-in from Linoma

• August 02, 2004 02 Aug'04

  Word scramble # 4: Web development

  Need a break from the monotony? Have a little fun while testing your Web development terminology out. Unscramble these 24 Web development-related words. Give it a try!

• August 02, 2004 02 Aug'04

  IBM digs its heels into supply chain management

  As IBM's software group forges into vertical markets, supply chain management becomes a particular pet project for Big Blue.

• August 01, 2004 01 Aug'04

  Fast guide to common iSeries error messages

  We've compiled a list of resources for iSeries error messages that you can browse through quickly to find a possible solution to your error. If you've come across an error message that is not listed, we have

• July 22, 2004 22 Jul'04

  i5 pricing option mirrors IBM on-demand strategy

  Users looking to run multiple operating systems on their i5 server now have greater flexibility in purchasing. But will it end up costing them more in the long run?

• July 20, 2004 20 Jul'04

  Know-IT-All Chapter Quiz: XML for eServer i5 and iSeries

  Know-IT-All Chapter Quiz: XML for eServer i5 and iSeries

• July 20, 2004 20 Jul'04

  Know-IT-all Chapter Quiz Answer Key: XML for eServer i5 and iSeries

  Know-IT-all Chapter Quiz Answer Key: XML for eServer i5 and iSeries

• July 18, 2004 18 Jul'04

  Next quarter may bode better for iSeries sales

  A huge drop in iSeries revenue reflects recently announced i5 and p5 servers, say experts. But one analyst says that while second quarter earnings were poor, third quarter results will be the real sign of whether the iSeries will ever make a ...

• July 16, 2004 16 Jul'04

  Quiz: Who's who in the iSeries world?

  Do you know who's who in the iSeries community? Take our quiz and find out.

• July 15, 2004 15 Jul'04

  IBM buys data management firm Alphablox

  Big Blue makes its fifth acquisition of a data management software firm, strengthening its position in the business intelligence market.