July 17, 2019
July 17, 2019 | Volume 12 Issue 35
- LEAD ARTICLE: Now Let’s Consider Vendor Maintenance
- FEATURED ARTICLE: Open-Source Tools for Watson, Part 2
- FEATURED ARTICLE: 2019 State of IBM i Modernization
- NEWS HIGHLIGHT: IBM Closes Landmark Acquisition of Red Hat for $34 Billion; Defines Open, Hybrid Cloud Future
- WHITE PAPER: What to Do When Your AS/400 Talent Retires
- FEATURED VIDEO: Design an Invoice in 10 Minutes
- EVENT: IBM i System Administrator Appreciation Day

Now Let’s Consider Vendor Maintenance
If you’re paying for vendor maintenance, it makes sense to use that to your advantage
By Steve Pitcher
Last month, I wrote a piece called “Know Where Your Maintenance Stands.” The article focused on IBM-provided maintenance. Consider this a lengthy addendum. This time, we’re talking about vendor maintenance. We’re talking about upgrade problems. We’re talking about being caught in an unsupportable nightmare. It’s a cautionary tale.

Open-Source Tools for Watson, Part 2
Models are an essential part of an AI setup. But what is a model anyway? Is there more than one type to choose from? And what relationship does it have to your data? All this and more is only a glance below away.
By Dave Shirey
In last month’s story, we looked at two terms that are used all the time in AI discussions: “free” and “open source.” We also discussed the Data Analysis engines that can be used to prepare the data you will be using in your app—specifically, Hadoop and Spark, although there are other options.
What to Do When Your AS/400 Talent Retires
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:
- Why IBM i skills depletion is a top concern
- How leading organizations are coping
- Where automation will make the biggest impact
Enjoy!
Download your copy today!
2019 State of IBM i Modernization
The annual Profound Logic ‘State of IBM i Modernization Survey” takes a look at the trends and attitudes that shape the IBM i modernization market. We reached out to the IBM i community, and the response was outstanding: close to 800 people, nearly 300 more than last year, took the survey. This enthusiasm resulted in very interesting findings for how businesses plan to use and modernize the platform in the coming year.
As you read through each section of the survey, you will see our summary of the results and suggestions for the future. We hope the survey will help your business better understand what is possible for your IBM i platform in the coming year.
Node Webinar Series Pt. 1: The World of Node.js on IBM i
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.
Part 1 will teach you what Node.js is, why it's a great option for IBM i shops, and how to take advantage of the ecosystem surrounding Node.
In addition to background information, our Director of Product Development Scott Klement will demonstrate applications that take advantage of the Node Package Manager (npm).
watch now!
What Most IBM i Shops Get Wrong About the IFS
Can 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 month 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:
- How phishing attacks are becoming more sophisticated
- Three little-known ways malicious programs can reach your IFS
- Why the IFS is IBM i’s “Typhoid Mary”
You’ll also learn why some of the most common malware solutions still leave IBM i systems vulnerable—and what you can do to protect your organization.
Easiest Way to Save Money? Stop Printing IBM i Reports
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2019 State of IBM i Modernization
The annual Profound Logic State of IBM i Modernization Survey takes a look at the trends and attitudes that shape the IBM i modernization market.
By Profound Logic Software, Inc.
Editor's note: This article introduces the white paper 2019 State of IBM i Modernization, which is free to download from the MC White Paper Center.
We reached out to the IBM i community, and the response was outstanding: close to 800 people, nearly 300 more than last year, took the survey. This enthusiasm resulted in very interesting findings for how businesses plan to use and modernize the platform in the coming year.