S4i Systems, Inc. has announced it will begin shipping a new module that is designed to extend the reach of its IBM System i disk management solution.

S4i, a provider of electronic document management, imaging, and DASD management solutions for the System i, will ship Version 1.0 of S4i DASD-Plus Chart. The utility produces graphical representations of disk-use and growth statistics supplied by its core product, S4i DASD-Plus.

Pie charts, bar charts, line graphs, histograms, and other types of charts can be viewed online or incorporated into published reports to facilitate disk management and simplify the dissemination of information on disk conditions to technical managers and staff. S4i DASD-Plus Chart gives users the tools needed to graph disk usage data from several network-connected systems, the company says.

S4i DASD-Plus Chart can present three types of disk usage survey data: analysis, variance, and trend charts. Analysis charts include a snapshot of disk consumption for an entire system including ASPs, libraries, and objects. By plotting usage levels, one can understand how disk capacity compares within a single system or across multiple systems for a specific time.

Variance charts take into account two observations. One value can be current and the other can be from a previous date to facilitate the analysis of how disk usage changed between different time periods.

The Trend Chart plots data points that are defined by the survey or the user to provide a visual display of disk consumption over time. The trend line can be compared to other performance and business metrics. An insurance company might plot the relationship between the growth in number of policies with the company's use of disk space.

S4i DASD-Plus allows the user to turn survey data into reports or view the results online and drill down for more detailed analyses. DASD-Plus Chart augments capabilities of the core product by converting raw data into images that can be manipulated by changing colors, fonts, or adding labels before saving as a PNG file. Report data is saved in an XML file and can be exported to Excel for display in a spreadsheet or used for further manipulation or compared to other metrics that might impact usage and capacity planning.

The company says S4i DASD-Plus Chart takes only minutes to install with the help of an installer that is included with the product. On startup it produces sample graphs without any configuration, according to the firm.

Introductory Offer
A 30-day evaluation copy of S4i DASD-Plus Chart and S4i DASD-Plus can be obtained by contacting S4i or one of its authorized resellers. Discounts are available for those who license S4i DASD-Plus Chart before March 31. License fees for S4i DASD-Plus and the Chart module are based on System i model numbers and start at $5,995. Fees include S4i DASD-Plus Chart with online help, the installation tool, and printed documentation.

S4i DASD-Plus can extend the useful capacity life of disk resources with automatic and continuous disk clean-up and reorganization. It improves machine performance by optimizing over-utilized disks, and lessens clutter for faster backups. Twenty-five disk cleanup routines can be scheduled, from clearing history logs, managing QTemp, to re-sizing libraries, job queues and objects.

About S4i Systems, Inc.
S4i provides electronic document management and DASD management solutions for the System i. S4i DASD-Plus is used by thousands of companies worldwide including Staples, Big Lots, and Stanley Works.

S4i provides electronic document management and disk management solutions for iSeries, AS/400 and IBM System i. With a strong commitment to continuously delivering trusted value, S4i's customer and service driven team provides project design, implementation and project management services to ensure a successful software deployment.

S4i is headquartered in San Clemente, California, and has a European facility that also houses development, support and marketing professionals. S4i Europe is centrally located in Warrington, England. Ready access to S4i solutions is also achieved through downstream distribution relationships with value add resellers in 10 countries, and upstream relationships with IBM, as well as many ERP,.CRM, SCM, and other vendors that offer industry specific solutions for iSeries and AS/400 systems.

To find out more about S4i Systems and its products see their listings in the MC Showcase Buyer's Guide.