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

Tools for the AS/400, huh?

DBU - A file twiddling tool.  Gives auditors the willies; you can mutilate
any data in any database file.  One setting logs all transactions to a
print file.

BRODERICK - Copies spool files from one AS/400 to another.  A predecessor
to IBM's send spool file procedure, it has more bells and whistles,
including more retry options.

CMS (Change Management System) from Aldon.  Allows version control of
source code, installs Source and Object into production, fixes authority at
the destination(s) (which can include other AS/400s in your network).

EASYMENU - a file-based menuing system.  Currently S/38 native; an AS/400
native version is promised Real Soon Now.  It works.  Allows you to set
'Valid From' and "Expires On" dates.  File system is easy to explore; we've
created a number of utilities to lock/unlock individual options or
applications on the menus.  Menus can be changed on-the-fly with no
compiling.  Security can be set option-by-option and user-by-user.

The ROBOT/400 family of utilities:  Scheduling (predates IBM's scheduler;
has more options (and we're used to it)), paging, UPS, message/console
operations, system tuning (YES! BE QUIET! AUTOTUNE IS BETTER THAN DOING IT
YOURSELF!).

I'm sure we have other utilities; can't think of any right now.

--Paul E Musselman
PaulMmn@ix.netcom.com


=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-

>Let me start by saying that I am new to the AS/400 world.  The Bay
>District Data Center (where I work) has been an MVS mainframe shop
>since 1986.  We are in the process of changing platforms to an AS/400
>S20 model (for application dev) and a 640 series (for production).
>
>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.
>
>   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.
>
>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
>
>-- Michael A Dorr





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