Model 310 cisc hardware upgrade (was 'stuck on slow cisc box ... options?'

First off, I appreciate the responses I received regarding my situation -
you've all been extremely helpful.  I do have some follow-up
questions/issues:

        - First off, I'm still somewhat confused as to why a 5144 external
Additional Battery Backup is required for memory 
          greater than 385mb, when I already have a  5kvw UPS.  Why wouldn't
my UPS suffice to backup the main memory
          in the event of a power failure?  One source has suggested that
failure to add the 5144 could invalidate my maintenance
          agreement, despite my UPS.  Does anyone know if that's true, or
know where I could find out?  If that's the case, so be
          it.  I just want to make sure first.

        - One vendor from whom I received a quote indicated that after
installation I will require a 'serialized mulic tape' from IBM
          for 'future processor maintenance'.  Can anyone fill me in?  If
support is dropped after 5/00, would there be any 'future
          maintenance' to be concerned about?  When exactly does a mulic
tape actually come in to play (never has so far in my
          4 years on this machine)?

        - Same vendor referred to needing to 'identify my alternate IPL
device'.  Between this and the thing with the mulic
          tape, there goes my theory about this being a simple card swap.
Can anyone tell me what steps are involved in
          upgrading the processor?  Perhaps needing to know the alternate
IPL device is just 'in case of emergency'?

        - And lastly, if anyone has any experience (good or bad) with parts
purchases from either World Data
          Products, Inc. (WDPI) in Minnesota or with Pace/Butler in
Oklahoma, and would care to share your thoughts, I'd
          really appreciate it.  They are among the sources I am considering
at this time (I hope I'm not out of line by
          asking).

As always, thanks in advance!  Nowhere is there a more reliable source for
AS/400 issues than this list.  Thanks again!

Regards,

Bob Clarke

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