• Meet JSON

  November 9, 2011 Alex Roytman

  If you have done Web application development with any modern toolset or technology lately, you have undoubtedly run across a trusty friend of mine: JSON (pronounced Jason). In recent years, JSON, or JavaScript Object Notation, has become the data interchange format of choice for Web applications. It has allowed many Web frameworks to flourish and has tremendously simplified my own job of creating IBM i web applications and frameworks. That’s why I decided to write a series of articles on JSON, in which I will explain the what, the why, and the how of JSON in detail. Let’s get going!

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• Admin Alert: When You Can’t Answer Record Lock Errors

  November 9, 2011 Joe Hertvik

  Recently, a client had a problem with Power i record allocation messages. When a program crashed with an RPG1218 record lock inquiry message, the system didn’t ask for a message reply. Instead, it automatically answered the message with a “D” to dump program data and end the job. The client didn’t want this to happen. He’d rather answer the message himself and retry the allocation. Here’s what happened and how it applies to all i OS shops. A Common Problem The first thing to understand is that this is a fairly common i OS situation. It isn’t magic or a

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• Arpeggio Introduces IBM i Security Monitoring Solutions

  November 8, 2011 Alex Woodie

  Arpeggio Software last week unveiled SIFT-IT Free Edition, a new IBM i security monitoring utility that, as the name indicates, is free. The free edition of SIFT-IT automates the monitoring and review of IBM i security logs, while an enterprise version provides expanded log coverage, in addition to real-time notifications and technical support. SIFT-IT is the first product suite for Arpeggio, which was founded by the developers behind TrailBlazer Systems’ ZMOD file transfer product. SIFT-IT Enterprise keeps an eye on the key logs, journals, and message queues that the IBM i OS and third-party apps use to collect security-related messages,

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• Lavastorm: An Analytic Power Tool for All Seasons

  November 8, 2011 Alex Woodie

  The folks at MDS Lavastorm Analytics have created an analytic tool that defies easy description. On the one hand, Lavastorm is a lightweight ETL tool for cleaning and validating data. But it’s also a graphical, drag-and-drop SQL editor. It provides classic reporting and dashboard functionality, but also detects fraud and other irregularities in billing systems. It’s a cross-reference tool, and a business rules engine too. It slices and dices–and does just about everything but make julienne fries. But perhaps most surprising of all is it’s commonly used in IBM i environments. Traditionally, business intelligence tools are used by non-technical business

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• Attachmate Masks IBM i, z/OS Data Within the Emulator

  November 8, 2011 Alex Woodie

  Ensuring the security of information is the main driver behind Attachmate‘s latest terminal emulation software release. New features unveiled last week in Reflection 2011 R2, such as the capability to mask data on live screens and the capability to prevent users from logging on via unencrypted connections, are designed to prevent the unauthorized access of data from host systems, including IBM i and z/OS servers. Locking down enterprise host systems is not always a straightforward task. While industry regulations like PCI DSS and HIPAA are pretty clear in describing what types of activities won’t be tolerated, it’s another task

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• IBM Rolls Out Security Analytics and Managed Service Offerings

  November 8, 2011 Alex Woodie

  IBM last week unveiled a host of new security solutions aimed at helping customers stay on top of the complex and evolving security threat landscape. The new offerings include four new analytics tools that are available as subscriptions, and one managed security information and event management (managed SIEM) offering that uses on-site hardware and IBM know-how on the other end of the wire. IBM shook up its computer security business a month ago when it created a new Security Services division immediately following its acquisition of SIEM solution provider Q1 Labs. The creation of the division marks a strong push

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• Ari Kugler to Discuss IBM’s IBM i Cloud Strategy in Symmetry Webinar

  November 8, 2011 Alex Woodie

  Ari Kugler, IBM‘s director of business development for the IBM i business, will discuss IBM’s cloud strategy for the IBM i platform in a keynote address this Thursday during a free Cloud University webinar presented by IBM i cloud hosting provider Symmetry Corp. IBM’s cloud business strategy for the IBM i platform has become a mixed message. On the one hand, the company has strongly endorsed efforts by ISVs and business partners to set up IBM i-based cloud systems and sell the services to customers who would be unwilling to buy and run their own IBM i gear. Symmetry

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• ManageEngine Updates Apps Manager

  November 8, 2011 Alex Woodie

  ManageEngine has delivered Applications Manager version 10.1, a new release of its systems management software that works with IBM i and other servers. The new release introduces expanded support for VMware environments, improved SSL monitoring, and better Web services support, among other features. ManageEngine’s Applications Manager is an enterprise-class systems management tool that monitors the gamut of gear found in data centers, including servers, databases, networks, Web applications servers, Web services, SAN arrays, and some ERP applications. The software works in virtualized environments, offers a cloud connector, supports service level agreement (SLA) management, and monitors PHP, Java, and Windows app

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• Quadrant Ships IRS Forms Packs for 2011

  November 8, 2011 Alex Woodie

  The holidays are almost here, which means that people are beginning to think about gingerbread men, mistletoe, eggnog, and … taxes. But fear not, for the folks at Quadrant Software have just released their 2011 Tax FormsPack, which makes generating employee tax forms easy. One of the benefits of using document management software is the automatic generation of tax forms. Companies that use Quadrant’s document management software, called Formtastic, can easily generate the required W2, 1099, and 1096 forms using employee data housed on the IBM i server. The software also allows users to customize their forms with corporate logos

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• Jack Henry ATM Deposit Solution Integrated with Core Banking Systems

  November 8, 2011 Alex Woodie

  Jack Henry & Associates last week announced that its ImageCenter ATM Deposit Management solution, which enables banks to accept checks directly without using an envelope, is now available as a fully integrated solution for all three of its core banking systems, including SilverLake, CIF 20/20, and Core Director. The race is on for banks to replace their old ATM deposit solutions that require envelopes with new automated deposit terminal (ADT) solutions that scan the check directly into the system at the ATM. Aside from customer convenience, it’s not surprising to find that money is driving the change. Jack Henry cites

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