13
Wed, Nov
5 New Articles

Eye on the i World: HA/DR Specialist Company Sees the Cloud as the IBM i's Salvation

Managed Services / SaaS / PaaS / IaaS
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Paying attention to the best uses of cloud computing, the business benefits of the IBM i, and shrewd use of the platform can keep the i relevant into the future.

While there are possibly many people who think the IBM i has already seen its best days as a platform, there are also others who don't agree with that assessment. While there are some negative-sounding statistics, there are also hopeful signs that developing technology and services, particularly cloud-related, can revive the platform's outlook.

 

One of these is Simon O'Sullivan, senior vice-president of sales for Maxava's Asia Pacific area. Maxava is a provider of high-availability and disaster-recovery software, Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS), cloud-based monitoring solutions, IBM i and disaster-recovery professional services, and cloud-services expertise. In a recent interview, O'Sullivan laid out the reasons he sees a bright future for the IBM i.

 

"The IBM i base itself appears to be shrinking at a rate of about four percent per year," O'Sullivan concedes. "It’s a very large base, and there are still around 150,000 businesses on the platform according to IBM, so that’s 6,000 businesses that leave each year. The real issue is that these businesses don’t just leave IBM ithey leave IBM. It’s a huge loss!

 

"IBM Needs to Get Serious About Engaging with ISVs"

However, O'Sullivan thinks many cases of migration away from the IBM i can be avoided by taking a clear-headed view of the platform's business benefits.

 

"We hear a lot of stories about how a new CEO will come into a company and want to replace the IBM i. Then they discover the value of the platform and begin to understand the ROI in more detail, and in a lot of cases they stay on the IBM i. I recently brought IBM to a customer site to explain the virtues of the platform, and the customer decided to remain with IBM I, which was great!"

 

What's more, O'Sullivan sees parts of the i market that are expanding.

 

"The companies that are looking for high availability and disaster recovery within the IBM i base are actually growing. Maxava is experiencing strong growth as a company, which is very encouraging. We see the adoption of cloud services and models as a way to stem the flow of customers who are leaving the platform and ultimately to begin to generate growth again in the IBM i market. However, IBM needs to get serious about engaging with the IBM i ISVs to achieve this.

 

"The way in which the IBM i ecosystem (customers, ISVs and IBM partners) is being allowed to shrink due to a lack of focus from IBM is currently IBM's most intractable problem. IBM has a fantastic platform, a loyal customer base, and exciting opportunities, but it requires a total change of focus to realize growth."

 

IBM does at least seem to be thinking in cloud's direction.

 

"I like IBM’s quote: 'Data is what, Cloud is how, and Insight is why," O'Sullivan points out. "Maxava has been investing in our cloud infrastructure for some time now, and we believe we are ahead of the curve with DRaaS on IBM i. We also think this fits perfectly with the direction in which IBM is moving because DRaaS is a big part of the worldwide growth in cloud adoption.

 

"I think cloud will become the predominant mode of distribution for disaster recovery on IBM i. It’s not a fad! With DRaaS, it’s less complicated, less expensive, and just a much better model. Some customers will stick to the traditional model, and that’s fine, and Maxava continues to invest in the traditional DR software, but DRaaS is really gaining some traction. When selling disaster recovery solutions to IBM i customers, it is necessary to offer a variety of options. When you directly compare cloud DRaaS versus traditional, the argument becomes quite compelling."

 

The Cloud Is Friendly to Software Companies

O'Sullivan sees cloud-based computing as a huge opportunity, both for his own company and other ISVs.

 

"Maxava has built its own cloud infrastructure in four datacenter locations around the world, and we also work with our partners to deliver our software via the cloud. We have invested a lot of time, energy, and money in our cloud infrastructure. The issues that we have overcome include developing the correct infrastructure and datacenter, developing our software specifically for the cloud, pricing the offering, and also marketing cloud to the IBM i base."

 

O'Sullivan sees the cloud as a potential boon to nearly any company offering software solutions.  

 

"We have many partners who are third-party MSPs that are running our company's software on their servers. There are no particular challenges to thisin fact, it's easier to control software versions and upgrades in the cloud model because you have a bit more control and visibility than in a traditional model. In fact, for our software licensing, in terms of our current leads, opportunities, and pipeline, I would say it’s about 50/50 cloud services as opposed to traditional software licensing, but I expect it to be 80/20 in favor of cloud within two years."

 

The upshot is that cloud is a fertile area for expansion in Maxava's view.

 

"The outlook for software sales versus services sales is also drastically different from just two years ago! This is changing very rapidly, and it’s without a doubt the fastest rate of change Maxava has experienced since our business began back in 1999.

 

"We want Maxava to be known as the top company for delivering IBM i disaster recovery in the cloud. We really do stand out from our direct competitors in this area with some very large customers using our DRaaS service across our four locations worldwide and also our partner network, which includes some of the world’s biggest disaster recovery vendors."

 

O'Sullivan notes that control of HA/DR services from mobile devices is also an important aspect of success that can't be ignored.

    

"We have put a lot of investment into this area, and now Maxava can be monitored and managed from any type of mobile phone and tablet. We also have our new monitoring software, which can be run from an Apple Watch.

 

COMMON Still Has a Role to Play

"I believe COMMON is still important, and a sense of community among IBM i users is critical to the future of the platform. That is why Maxava has supported COMMON and other IBM i user groups with grants from the Maxava iFoundation. Maxava has awarded $240,000 in grants to various IBM i user groups over the past five years."

 

But the bottom line, at least for O'Sullivan, is all about being mindful of the opportunities that advancing technology presents.

 

"HA/DR, at least, is moving to the cloud," O'Sullivan emphasizes. "If the various HA/DR-type products are not cloud-enabled and cloud-ready, then they will be left behind as customers move to a DRaaS model."

 

John Ghrist

John Ghrist has been a journalist, programmer, and systems manager in the computer industry since 1982. He has covered the market for IBM i servers and their predecessor platforms for more than a quarter century and has attended more than 25 COMMON conferences. A former editor-in-chief with Defense Computing and a senior editor with SystemiNEWS, John has written and edited hundreds of articles and blogs for more than a dozen print and electronic publications. You can reach him at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

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: