RE: AS400 Performance

Thanks.  As you probabaly gathered I am not an AS400 expert, but have had to
pick up the pieces as best I can as my support team from Head Office have
gone.  I have run WRKLICINF, the processor group is P05.  Also I too thought
of achiving some data and yes there is always someone (usually in Finance)
who needs 20 years history and some obscure report.  But I can work round
them.  There is also some old non-MAPICS accounting software which I am told
isn't used regularly.  And you were very perceptive about paying MAPICS a
pile of dough - it's not simply a case of moaning about handing them cash,
but why we need to hand over cash.  I feel it needs more explanation.  I am
going to contact our MAPICS affiliate but sought independent advice first.

Thanks

Rick


>>> DShea@arctools.com 13/02/02 15:40:57 >>>
Rick:

What is the 'processor group' of your machine?  You can get this
information
using command WRKLICINF.

The processor group is usually what the price tiers are based on.  The S20
spans P05, P10 and P20.   These days, when you 'upgrade' to a new machine,
it's common to end up in a lower processor group with a much faster
machine.
The company I used to work for recently replaced their model 500 (a P20
box)
with a model 720 (a P10 box).  The new P10 absolutely runs circles around
the old P20 box.  So, before you conclude that you'd owe Mapics a pile of
dough, do some configuring first.  You may find that you save money, even
on
monthly maintenance and your software subscription to IBM.

You're on an Sxx machine.   I'm not familiar with them, but aren't they
tuned for client/server?  Are you sure that an S machine is the right
choice?  I think the rules have changed there, too.  Maybe a nice lower-end
720 box would be a screamer for you.

The other thing you can look into is purging and archiving your old data.
You are obviously lugging around a lot more data since 4 years ago.  If you
were to archive some of that, your machine would obviously speed up.  You
may find resistance in the user community to 'getting rid' of data.
There's
always someone that wants to see 20 years of history on a quarterly report.
So you end up buying a new box.  It's often possible to archive 18 of the
20
years to another library on disk and relatively easily make all 20 years
(live and archive) data visible to _just_ the quarterly report.  So, the
customer service people on the phone get quick response, and the VP of
Sales
sees 20 years history on the report.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Go... FASTER!  Without an upgrade!  With ARCTOOLS/400(tm)
http://www.arctools.com
info@arctools.com
DCSoftware, Inc.
Ph: (508) 435-8243
Fax: (508) 435-4498
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++



 -----Original Message-----
From:   mapics-l-admin@midrange.com [mailto:mapics-l-admin@midrange.com]  On
Behalf Of Rick Henson
Sent:   Wednesday, February 13, 2002 3:58 AM
To:     mapics-l@midrange.com
Subject:        AS400 Performance

We are running MAPICS Version 4 on an S20 AS400.  When running reports the
machine is so slow it even stops people logging on.  This is getting to be
more than an irritation, it is now stopping people from doing their work.
We
have run the performance tools and an independent party suggested changing
some system settings in the way Batch and Interactive jobs are handled.
Quite frankly it made no difference at all.  The AS400 is about 4 years
old,
it has done an excellent job.  Now I am told we could need a new AS400.  I
appreciate hardware has moved on a lot in 4 years.  Yesterday I was
informed
if we do get a newer model AS400, MAPICS may charge more, because the
annual
fee is dependent on what model AS400 it is runningon, i.e the faster the
box
the more I pay.  As this was originally sorted out by Head Office Staff,
who
were made redundant some time ago, I am trying to pick up the pieces.

Does anyone know what exactly MAPICS Pricing Policy is?  Is it related to
the speed of the processor/As400?  And is anyone else suffering with poor
performance?  Is it a simple matter of extra memory or whatever in the
AS400?

Any suggestions would be appreciated.


Rick Henson
John L Seaton & Co Ltd,
Hull,
Yorkshire
United Kingdom

e-mail:  rick.henson@seatons-uk.co.uk


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