RE: Help Save the iSeries -- MIDRANGE-L

Re Microsoft: I'm reasonably sure it's Urban Legend at this point.  It's
pretty hard to do business of any sort and not cross paths with the iBox;
Microsoft's downside risk of discovery that they're using iBoxes would be
horrible for them and great for us.  They'll just charge ahead with SAP R/3
on NT...what we don't know is how many Nathan Myrvold clones are required to
keep that baby running.  And you can bet SAP has a banks of offices filled
with very sharp SAP folks, and there are likely a couple of very sharp
Microsoft folks living at SAP.  It's good, smart business for both of them.

If the Microsoft business systems guys had to use generally-available
Microsoft resources, they'd be lining up on the Space Needle for the short
way down.  But I digress: presenting these rumors as fact is unprofessional
and you expose yourself to having to counter vehement Microsoft denials.

What's the application?  What are the perceived NT benefits?  How much will
it cost to get there?  And how much will it cost to keep it going?  If the
AS/400 is doing the job, the client should be looking for cost justification
to replace it.  Any assumption offered for cost justification can be
challenged...and sometimes introducing uncertainty into the decision-making
process is enough to derail a hare-brained plan.

If nothing else, you should get the NT gang to offer the "I-bet-my-job"
commitment in writing on hardware and software costs.  There can be
staggering "hidden" costs in shifting platforms...even if you lose this one,
you may have a great war story the next time you face this situation.

I have a friend in Seattle who faced the same problem.  His client wanted to
be able to download data into spreadsheets and balked at upgrade costs.  So
they went NT...but failed to consider (or disclose the cost of) multiple
licenses (for 30 remote locations), additional servers (one per remote
location), and a requirement for faster lines.  The $65K AS/400 option has
been replaced by a >$200K NT option...and monthly telecom costs are up by
$4K forever.  He knows because he's selling them the PC hardware: he's
making money, but he knows it was a boneheaded move.  Go figure...

This is why you need an MBA, not a BS, to sell the iSeries...it's all about
cost justification.

-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com [mailto:midrange-l-admin@midrange.com]On
Behalf Of Jeff Glenn
Sent: Monday, October 22, 2001 9:18 PM
To: midrange-l@midrange.com
Subject: Help Save the iSeries

I've been given the chance by a client to justify the existence of their
AS/400 instead of it being replaced with NT / SQL Server (although the
AS/400 has a small chance, per the client). I have no doubt that keeping
the AS/400 is the way to go, but I'm not very good at selling it. I've
pasted below my very rough notes so far. If anyone would like to
contribute to this cause or can point me to an existing report, I would
appreciate it (either to the list or
private email).

Thanks,
Jeff

Jeff.Glenn@glennconsulting.com

Save the iSeries!
*The existing core applications have been running strong for years and
continue to run today with very little administration. The AS/400 is a
big
part of the infrastructure and success of the company, but not many
realize it since it doesn't require a lot of attention. Integrated
system - describe strengths.

*SQL database can be implemented on iSeries instead of or in addition to
traditional DDS. SQL, DDL and DML.

*Integrated xSeries adapter (IXA) allows the iSeries to centrally manage
multiple physically attached Win 2000 xSeries servers. Will provide
the example and URL describing the company recently featured using
this technology and their benefits.

*Wireless, pervasive computing is supported for future applications.
Will provide the profile and URL of the
Venetian Hotel project in Vegas where guests may check in & out and keys
printed(?) anywhere across their large property with Palms connecting to
an
iSeries. (?DB2 Everywhere or DB2 Anyplace or something similar?)

*With iNotes(?) supports MS Outlook and web browsers as clients to Lotus
Notes/Domino email (wireless also). Provide benchmarks where recently
over 100,000 concurrent users were supported running Notes on an
iSeries. Also, provide the FAA story and URL where they got fed up w/NT
instability and rebooting every night & decided to replace many NT
servers with 1 iSeries.

*Supports Java and beats Sun in performance - provide benchmarks.

*Now supports Linux. Provide info on recent Linux awards.

*Supports Unix w/PASE.

*Now supports logical partitioning (LPAR) centrally managed by
OS/400(?).

*Lowest total cost of ownership (TCO) despite higher initial costs -
provide excerpts and URL to results of the recent TCO study.

*Now has GUI, Operations Navigator for example. Existing applications
may be modernized with relatively small amount of effort.

*Has integrated web server - Apache and IBM HTTP server. Also optional
Tomcat applet server?? Provide a list of web sites powered by iSeries.

*Mention Websphere, its uses and the awards it's won.

*Compilers and IDE (CODE/400) are now included with the OS (verify?).

*Long history of reliability, since '88 (and before w/34, 38). Provide
info & URL on recent award from resellers as best midrange server (3yrs
in a row) (hp was second, Compaq was last). Provide uptime % info and
stories of boxes that haven't been IPLed in years.

*New technology, despite it's longevity and despite misinformation
within and outside the industry that see the box as green-screen only
and old
technology. RISC, early 64-bit, SOI (silicon on insulated...? copper?),
Regatta Power4?, High Speed Link (HSL), gigabit I/O, more?.

*Many large, well-known corporations depend on the iSeries. List some
examples. Maybe % of Fortune 500 companies.

*Maybe mention that iSeries revenue was up in all geographic areas
according to IBM's 3rd Qtr earnings announcement just released.

*Security - OS/400 advantages. Low virus risk.

*Many applications exist for the platform.

*Maybe mention how Microsoft uses (through outsourcing) AS/400s for
distribution(?) (if that's still true).
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