Re: HELP w/ IBM bureaucracy

[rob@xxxxxxxxx]

Hardware is never an issue.  We treat our local technicians well.

Operations Navigator uses something called Management Central to move
PTF's, synchronize them between machines, along with a lot of other cool
stuff.  You might not have these functions on such ancient releases of
operating system.


Remember, we keep our development machine running at the highest release
possible.  So yes, you can order PTF's for a lower release.  And I think
that you can even order for a higher release.  I think this capability was
added in a later release.  You just have to check all the parameters on a
SNDPTFORD.

I never phone in an order for a PTF.  They get confused when you order 7
versions of the same cum cd so that you may upgrade all your systems at
once.

If I want ptf's on media I order them from:
http://service.software.ibm.com/as400.us.reg/orderptfmedia?lang=english|1
This gives me a powerful method of tracking my order, versus SNDPTFORD.

If I want ptf's electronically I order them from:
http://as400service.rochester.ibm.com/p_dir/ptforder.nsf

In a pinch I'll order them using SNDPTFORD.  But IBM has no intention of
making the AS/400 ready for ebusiness.  They'll never allow you to order a
PTF via your Lan line.  IBM says it you want to do ebusiness you should use
a PC.  Hence the web site for electronically, will put them directly on
your 400 but requires you to have a PC to click on the pretty icons.

Rob Berendt

==================
Remember the Cole!


                                                                                
                                         
                    D.BALE@handleman.co                                         
                                         
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                    owner-midrange-l@mi        Subject:     Re: HELP w/ IBM 
bureaucracy                                  
                    drange.com                                                  
                                         
                                                                                
                                         
                                                                                
                                         
                    03/28/01 06:57 PM                                           
                                         
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                    MIDRANGE-L                                                  
                                         
                                                                                
                                         
                                                                                
                                         




Rob, not sure what you mean.  When you "call service on it", are you
talking
hardware service?  And, then, the "mild duh.  But then they do support it."
-
do you mean that you get a 10- or 20- minute runaround haggling about the
serial number every time you do call for HW service?

Surprisingly, we haven't had any issues with hardware service calls; it
seems
that HW service only looks at the last 5 digits of the serial number (at
least
I believe the CE told me that).

But, yes, my primary concern would be the PTFs.  Would I be able to order a
cume PTF CD for a V3R2 system from a V3R7 system?  (We have V3R2, V3R7,
V4R3,
& V4R4 in our company.)

Have not installed Ops Nav.  Would I be able to use it on all of the OS
versions I mentioned?  Assuming the answer is yes, would I be able to
download
a PTF for a V3R2 system from a V3R7 system?

Dan Bale
IT - AS/400
Handleman Company
248-362-4400  Ext. 4952

-------------------------- Original Message --------------------------

We have a 400 with a 65.  We can call service on it and only get a mild
duh.  But then they do support it.  However, we order all of our PTF's on
one of our other 400's and move them around with Operations Navigator.
Will this option work for you?

Rob Berendt

==================
Remember the Cole!
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