04
Mon, Nov
1 New Articles

IBM Refines Its iSeries Offerings

Analysis of News Events
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

As most seasoned iSeries customers know, IBM normally sets aside one day during the first quarter of each year to make a large number of iSeries announcements. For 2005, that day happened to be last Tuesday. While this year's stack of announcements was not as tall as that of previous years, the contents were nonetheless significant.

As most industry observers expected, this year's announcements focused more on the solutions and middleware that IBM is delivering on its servers and less on the servers themselves. However, that did not stop Big Blue from making some hardware announcements that will have a significant impact on customers' IT plans and budgets. With that in mind, let's start with last Tuesday's software announcements.

  • Solution Editions for SAP and Clear Technologies--In an effort to sell more iSeries servers through independent software vendors (ISVs), IBM announced that two additional ISVs are offering their solutions on discounted configurations of the eServer i5 Model 550. The Solution Edition for SAP includes the mySAP ERP software suite running on either a two-way or four-way Model 550. The Solution Edition for Clear Technologies includes that vendor's C2 CRM solution for customer relationship management along with Domino Utility Server Express on a two-way Model 550.
  • WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.0 for OS/400--As expected, IBM fulfilled the statement of direction that it made last November to ship an OS/400 version of WAS 6.0. Like its Version 5.1 predecessor, WAS 6.0 comes in Express, Base, Network Deployment, and Developer editions. However, unlike WAS 5.1 Express, WAS 6.0 Express provides full support for the J2EE 1.4 specification, including Enterprise JavaBeans (EJBs) and Web Services. In addition, IBM has simplified the installation process for WAS 6.0 Express and added extensions to it that were part of the more expensive Base edition. As a result, WAS 6.0 Express offers significantly greater functionality than WAS 5.1 Express. Owners of eServer i5 models running i5/OS can order WAS 6.0 Express at no charge through the new Web Enablement for i5/OS Offering. Customers running OS/400 V5R2 on older iSeries models can also support any version of WAS 6.0. If you are such a customer and hold a WAS 5.0 or 5.1 Express license with an active Passport Advantage maintenance contract, you can upgrade to WAS 6.0 Express at no charge.
  • WebSphere Host Access Transformation Services (HATS) 6.0-- In a bid to improve its application modernization tools, IBM also released a new version of HATS, one of its tools for extending green-screen applications to Web browsers. For the new HATS version, IBM focused most of its attention on improving the tool's ease of use. For instance, users can now preview how a 5250 screen will be rendered in the browser and can apply Cascading Style Sheets during the design phase. In addition, HATS 6.0 offers expanded support for subfiles, including a larger number of options for rendering subfile data.

Hot Hardware News

Among last Tuesday's announcements, the one that will affect the most customers is IBM's notice that it will withdraw all upgrades from its iSeries Models 270, 820, 830, and 840 to newer models as of October 1, 2005. On the same date, IBM will cease selling OS/400 V5R2 licenses.

As I predicted in an article last year, it was likely that IBM would end upgrades for these models during the second half of 2005. The withdrawal date is consistent with those of previous iSeries generations and should come as no surprise to customers. The models in question have been around for almost five years and IBM has been reasonably generous in providing upgrade paths for this long. While some owners of these models may grumble about upgrading by October 1, they should consider the benefits of doing so. Most customers will realize considerable savings on monthly maintenance charges by upgrading, and many of them will find themselves in less expensive software tiers as well. As such, the operational savings should more than pay for the upgrades over the lifetimes of most systems.

IBM's New iSeries Products
Product Name
Ship Date
List Price
Solution Edition for mySAP ERP--2-way Model 550 (server only)
2/18/2005
$59,000
Solution Edition for mySAP ERP--4-way Model 550 (server only)
2/18/2005
$96,000
Solution Edition for Clear Technologies C2 CRM
2/18/2005
$199,200
WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 6.0 Express – Internet Version (charge per processor)
2/18/2005
$2,000
WAS 6.0 Express - Intranet Version (charge per 20 users)
2/18/2005
$500
WAS 6.0 Express - Developer Version (charge per developer)
2/18/2005
$400
WAS 6.0 Standard Edition (charge per processor)
2/18/2005
$4,000
WAS 6.0 Network Deployment Edition (charge per processor)
2/18/2005
$15,000
WAS 6.0 for Developers (charge per developer)
2/18/2005
$750
WebSphere Host Access Transformation Services (HATS) 6.0 for iSeries (charge per registered user)
2/11/2005
$120
HATS 6.0 for iSeries (charge per concurrent user)
2/11/2005
$195
HATS 6.0 for Multiplatforms (charge per registered user)
2/11/2005
$245
HATS 6.0 for Multiplatforms (charge per concurrent user)
2/11/2005
$365
Hardware


3-Meter HSL1 to HSL2 Cable (for connecting Integrated xSeries Adapters)
2/18/2005
$400
16 GB Memory for eServer i5 Model 570
2/18/2005
$32,000
8/16 GB Memory for eServer i5 Model 570
2/18/2005
$20,200
10 Gbps Ethernet I/O Adapter for AIX 5L Partitions
2/18/2005
$9,853
2-Port Asynchronous I/O Adapter for AIX 5L Partitions
2/18/2005
$285
1.8-Meter Rack Acoustic Doors
2/18/2005
$4,200
2.0-Meter Rack Acoustic Doors
2/18/2005
$4,200

Besides announcing withdrawal dates for selected products, IBM also announced new hardware feature codes that could prove attractive to many customers. Among them are the following items.

  • A less-expensive cable for Integrated xSeries Adapter (IXA) cards--The new 3-meter cable (feature code #1487) connects IXA cards in xSeries servers to iSeries servers and expansion towers that use a High Speed Link 2 (HSL2) port. It does so for $250 less than the 6-meter cable that IBM currently provides for that purpose. Of course, the shorter length of the cable imposes some limitations on where customers locate their xSeries servers.
  • Expanded memory options for the eServer i5 Model 570--IBM announced a new 16 GB memory feature for the Model 570 (feature code #4494) that costs $2,000 per GB. That is 37% less than what the company charges for its current 16 GB and 32 GB modules for the server. However, customers should note that the 4494 runs at a clock speed that is 25% slower than the original 16 GB module and that there are some configuration restrictions. IBM also announced an On Demand memory module for the Model 570 that comes with 8 GB of active memory and the option to activate an additional 8 GB.
  • Acoustic doors for IBM racks--IBM also announced two door kits for its 1.8- and 2.0-meter racks that make it easier to operate them in rooms with noise restrictions.
  • New I/O adapters and lower disk prices for AIX workloads-- To support customers who run AIX workloads on the eServer i5, IBM announced a 10 Gbps Ethernet adapter and a 2-Port Asynchronous Adapter designed for AIX partitions. In addition, IBM slashed prices for 10,000-RPM disk drives that eServer i5 owners can use with AIX (but not OS/400) partitions. The company reduced the list price for its 73.4 GB drive from $1,400 to $750 and cut the price of its 146.8 GB drive from $1,999 to $1,400.

While last week's announcements may not set the IT industry on fire, they will make a big difference to selected iSeries customers and developers. In particular, WebSphere Application Server 6.0 will introduce new capabilities to the iSeries that this magazine's readers will want to explore (and no doubt debate) in the coming weeks. There is little doubt, however, that IBM will use the availability of its latest middleware on the iSeries to make a point with software vendors. The point is that far from being a "legacy system," the iSeries supports the open technologies that the IT community is using to create tomorrow's service-oriented architectures. It is critical for IBM to make that and related points stick, for they touch on the core issue of whether the iSeries is still a relevant solutions platform. That is an ongoing argument in which IBM must stay engaged, and last week's announcement gives it some much-needed ammunition for the debate.

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 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

LEE KROON
Lee Kroon is a Senior Industry Analyst for Andrews Consulting Group, a firm that helps mid-sized companies manage business transformation through technology.
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: