Dan Burger
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NGS And LightEdge Provide New Entry To The Cloud
February 12, 2018 Dan Burger
When does the time come to consider moving your IBM i on Power off premise? Many IBM i shops remain unmoved. An uneasy feeling about losing control or applications and data remains a top concern. Fears of production server accessibility on someone else’s watch persist. After years of successfully running your core business apps on a reliable server, why change what’s working great?
Well, there are IBM i shops discovering compelling reasons and making the move. Gradually is the word that describes it. It’s not unobservable or insignificant. The reasonableness is not universal, and moderation seems to be the mindset. …
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Reckless or Riskless: Another IBM i App Dev Expert Talks Security
February 7, 2018 Dan Burger
Security at the application level was the topic of an article in the Monday edition of The Four Hundred. Subject matter experts Brendan Kay, Alex Roytman, Robin Tatam, and Jon Paris provided insights and advice on the topic, which should be part of every organization’s overall security strategy. An additional perspective, which just missed the deadline for the Monday story, is being added today. It comes from Paul Tuohy, who lives eight time zones east of me, making the deadline I gave him a wee bit tight.
Although this contribution stands on its own, when added to the insights …
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Four Hundred Monitor, February 7
February 7, 2018 Dan Burger
Feedback on something you have written and published can warm your heart or give you heartburn. When his blog sparks some discussion among readers, Steve Will welcomes the dialog. Probably not 100 percent of the time, but let’s say more often than not. On this occasion, the topics are RPG and modernization. The discussion is still open. This would be a good time to makes some points of your own.
Peek inside Monitor to pick up advice on cross-generational hiring and finding RPG programmers, tips on second and third programming languages to put in your skills toolbox, and warning signs …
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Reckless or Riskless: IBM i App Dev Experts Talk Security
February 5, 2018 Dan Burger
It is safe to say that your most sensitive and most valuable data is not safe. The threat of stolen data is a reoccurring nightmare for executive management who are mystified and somewhat dumbfounded by the number of vulnerabilities in their IT systems. Not all of them worry about the same things or are hearing the same strategies from their IT experts.
Most can agree that what’s been done in the past isn’t going to cut it in the present, much less the future. One of the holes in the wall that protects data is at the application level. Existing …
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Overdue Upgrades Perplex IBM i Shops
January 31, 2018 Dan Burger
When decision makers describe their IT environments by saying the more we know, the less we understand, there’s a problem that needs to be solved. Maybe you have the brains on staff to figure out how to put heat-resistant handles on this steaming pot. Maybe not. But the problem isn’t going to solve itself and those who don’t search for an answer become part of the problem.
This specific problem bubbles to the surface when organizations fall behind on unsupported versions of the operating system and unsupported software. It’s risky business and a gamble that has little chance of paying …
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Four Hundred Monitor, January 31
January 31, 2018 Dan Burger
It is important for all decision makers familiarize themselves with current and emerging IT landscapes. Now is the best time to be thinking through future scenarios. A favorite saying of one of my mentors is: “In any moment of decision, the best thing you can do is the right thing, the next best thing you can do is the wrong thing and the worst thing you can do is nothing.”
This week, Monitor hooks up readers with articles that cover important IT trends, the avoidance of training failures, the changing roles of CIOs, and the legal dangers that lurk within …
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LightEdge Shops A “True Cloud” To IBM i Users
January 29, 2018 Dan Burger
IBM i-based cloud computing is not your average everyday IBM i environment. And it’s different from managed services that are sometimes called hosted services. True cloud – a term that’s being used to describe virtualized computing, storage, and networking available with utility-style flexible pricing – is still a rare sight with IBM i. But Roger Mellman knows where you can find one. He built it for LightEdge Solutions, a services provider with an edge on the typical managed service provider.
IBM first approached LightEdge five years ago about building an IBM i-based cloud, Mellman, the director of enterprise …
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Reader Feedback On IBM i Strategy: Technology Choices And The Vendor Ecosystem
January 29, 2018 Dan Burger
Hi Dan:
While Steve Will’s vision for 5 to 15 years out is encouraging and morale-building, it’s not a commitment to the i marketplace – it’s called a “statement of direction” for a reason! I’ll nod in agreement that it’s all good while hoping IBM delivers not only on AI but on enhanced “primitive” processes necessary to make AI useful, if not valuable.
AI is based on events, transactions, and business rules. Without the primitives — robust and high-performance database technology; extreme hardware/software platform stability; and programming technologies that support the development, testing, deployment, and maintenance of complex business rules …
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IBM i Strategy: Technology Choices And The Vendor Ecosystem
January 24, 2018 Dan Burger
When Steve Will talks about IBM strategy for the future, he’s not talking about next week or even next year. His view is five, 10, and 15 years into the future. That’s where the planning is being done. The next few years are past the planning stage and into the development stage. That’s a general statement of direction. Adjustments happen within shorter development timeframes.
Will, the IBM i chief architect, was at the OCEAN user group meeting last week in Orange County, California, making his case for the future of IBM i. His presentation was titled “IBM i in the …
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Four Hundred Monitor, January 24
January 24, 2018 Dan Burger
This week, Monitor connects you with an article that covers the latest version of RDi, IBM’s tool of choice for modern application development. Don’t miss the 60-day trial download from IBM.
Also within reach are articles about an open source integrated development environment for IBM i created by the energetic and community-minded Liam Allan; today’s artificial intelligence reality and tomorrow’s expectations as an IT workhorse; and IBM’s haul of patents in 2017 that are well represented by AI intellectual property. Also look for the latest IBM i Marketplace Survey in the Resources section. Plus, updates to the events calendar worth …
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