Database maintenance tasks are necessary but don't have to be tedious or excessively time-consuming if you have the right tools.

Written by John Ghrist

The storied strength of the IBM i in the area of database operations has been a strong selling point for the platform for years. Accordingly, paying attention to software tools that can help with database maintenance projects can be important to keeping that aspect of your business in optimum shape.

Menu documentation doesn't have to be boring anymore.

Written by Mike Faust

If you use User Interface Manager (UIM) menus to create your System i menus, you're probably already aware of the ability to use help panels to define your menu help. What you may not be aware of is that you can actually create much more dynamic menu documentation. In this tip, we'll explore how you can display an HTML document or PDF file instead of the old "green-screen" help text when your users press the Help key.

Looking for virtualization or consolidation resources specific to IBM i? Here are some places to start.

Written by John Ghrist

For larger enterprises using IBM Power Systems (IBM i), options for reducing long-term operating expenses and streamlining operations are more plentiful than ever. Two general groupings of solutions are virtualization and consolidation, but many enterprises use options from each.

Learn the simple way to correct tables with rows in a check-pending status.

Written by Paul Tuohy

Editor's note: This article is an excerpt from the MC Press book The Programmer's Guide to iSeries Navigator.

iSeries Navigator provides an easy-to-use interface for managing constraints, as shown in Figure 6.1. The details for constraints show the following:

It may be to your financial advantage to utilize the cloud, but do your homework first.

Written by Info-Tech Research Group

Small enterprises are often able to make higher-risk investments in emerging technology for lower costs and to take advantage of large enterprise capabilities, such as security and flexibility. Cloud computing is one such technology that can offer immediate benefits for small-enterprise pioneers.

Find out why automating systems management is crucial for minimizing risk, guaranteeing continuity, and remaining competitive in today's highly pressurized business environment.

Written by Martin Norman

Editor's note: This article introduces the white paper "101 Things You Can Automate on Your System i (iSeries) and Ten Top Tips for Peace of Mind," available free at the MC Press White Paper Center.

In today's environment—with computers and applications spread all over throughout most organizations—systems administrators are under increasing pressure to provide high levels of service and reliability. As the complexity of our networks has grown through extensive interconnectivity and global operations, the problem has been compounded.

Allow your server to change as your business changes.

Written by Kristopher Whitney

IBM i has a long history of virtualization. If you haven't looked into virtualization since IBM i 6.1, there are some key enhancements you should know about.

Users can access IBM i through any browser on a variety of desktop operating systems or even through mobile devices.

Written by Linda Hirsch and Jason Hansen

System i Access for Web is the Web-based solution that enables users to connect to their IBM i systems through their browsers. This option requires no additional software to be installed on the desktop other than the browser. It provides many features for browser users to work with IBM i resources: for example, the ability to upload PC data to DB2 for i, query and download database information, convert printer output to PDF format, and more. It also allows users to start 5250 sessions from which they can run host applications or IBM i commands.