Re: General AS/400 Question -- MIDRANGE-L

Michael, 

welcome to the wunnerful wurld of....!!!

Michael Dorr wrote:

<snip>

> My question:
>    Is there a generally accepted standard set of system tools that most
> companies use on their machines.  By way of an MVS example, if you want
> to do system performance monitoring, CANDLE Corp. has a widely used
> product called OMEGAMON.  Likewise, if I want printer output control I
> would look at a product from LEVY, RAY and SHOUP called VPS.
> 
>    I am assuming that there are plenty of third party software houses
> that provide powerful/useful tools for the AS/400.  Then again, maybe
> the AS/400 does not need the type of products I asking about.  I just
> don't know.

I don't know of any performance monitoring tools, other than the ones that come 
with the OS.  Likewise with printer output control. 
Doing these things on the as/400 is pretty strait forward.
 
>    This is becoming a critical budget issue for my department.  If I
> can't find 'Value Added' tools before our budget deadline, I could be
> forced to go without for a whole year.

Best bang for your buck - Hire a consultant!  :)

The one tool I wish I could have on every as/400 I work on would be Hawkeye 
from Pathfinder (or Pathfinder from Hawkeye, I can never
remember :).

It is a very rich featured documentation aid for as/400 development.  It keeps 
cross references of objects/files/programs, showing
where files are used, updated and added, created, cleared, deleted, etc.  Where 
each program is called from, what files each program
uses and how it uses them.  Very handy when trying to make major modifications 
to an existing system.
 
> Also, as an MVS system programmer about to embark on a long educational
> journey, can anyone give some advice on the best way to get up to
> speed.  After all these years my department has seen fit to provide the
> systems/applications group with a little bit of training and money for
> books/manuals.  Any help will be GREATLY appreciated.  MD

http://www.news400.com (News/400 Magazine) and
http://www.midrangecomputing.com (Midrange Computing Magazine) are the top two 
as/400 specific industry mags.  They both publish an
extensive list of "training manuals" for sale.  Browse their websites and 
subscribe to one or both.

also, http://www.ibmuser.com/train/train.htm (Automated Training Systems) has 
audio/workbook style training courses for everything
from operations to programming to client server.   I have no first hand 
knowledge of these guys, but I haven't heard anything bad
about them.

HTH,

Rick
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