PTF processing has gotten more complex, but the tools have gotten better as well.
By Joe Pluta
Unless you're running one of the old beige boxes in a closet somewhere (and don't kid yourself, some of those still exist), then PTFs are the lifeblood of your system. PTFs for the i are a bit different than for most of the rest of the world; they're not the necessary evil of the Windows world, where you need to constantly apply fixes just to keep your machine from dying a horrible death and taking your business with it. Instead, they're usually more of a force for good, providing additional features and better performance, especially for the more advanced capabilities such as Web applications and relational database access.
Getting System i Access for Web up and running in your business isn't hard. Here's how!
By Linda Hirsch
System i Access for Web enables users to access their IBM i resources and applications through a browser interface. Users can upload PC data to DB2 for IBM i, query and download database information, start a 5250 interface, work with printer output, and more. The product is running entirely on your IBM i. The only requirement on the desktop is a browser, and no applets are running in the browser. Therefore, the product has lots of appeal for administrators: best of all, you don't have to deal with the installation and maintenance of client desktop software. The product can be used from any desktop or device that has a browser, so your users with mobile devices or Mac, Linux, or other operating systems can get at IBM i resources through the Web interface.
By Joe Pluta
By Linda Hirsch