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Justin, >>1. Since the tool appears to work, will IBM release a PTF which will disable it?<< IBM plans to provide fixes across multiple releases of OS/400, re-stock versions of OS/400 resident in IBM distribution libraries, and incorporate code into future OS/400 releases. All of these efforts will be deployed in the coming months to make adjustments to OS/400 as IBM strives to address current and/or future unauthorized enablement of unpaid for capacity. >>2. What does it *actually* do? Any nasty under-the-covers stuff, or is it really simple, anyone with half a brain could do it sort of things?<< The techniques used to alter the identification of interactive workloads in the manner used by TigerTools is not a documented and/or published approach. There are others who claim to have the knowledge and understanding of how to "patch" programs to achieve a similar affect (A patched program is a program that was created by the trusted translator and then altered in a way that violates the definition of the Machine Interface) >>3. What will IBM say if you have a problem and they find you have TTools installed?<< IBM will honor it's service contracts with it's customers. In so doing, IBM will require the machine to be in a serviceable state as outlined in the service contracts. Installing the latest PTFs and/or removing code that may be contributing to server problems are examples of how IBM and it's customers can work together if a service situation arises. >>4. Is there a legal aspect to this that IBM could use against customers? << By asking this question, it is clear you appreciate the ethics of what TigerTools is offering. Is it OK that Tiger Tools can sell interactive capacity to you by circumventing the iSeries technology intended to manage your server to purchased levels of interactive capacity? Clearly, IBM does not think so. Anyway, I'm not so sure you want to be asking legal questions on a forum ... there are to many dime store lawyers around these days. Your best bet would be to check your licensing agreements and I think you will be able to make your own decision. There are applicable Terms and Conditions in the Agreement for Licensed Internal Code (LIC), the IPLA agreement, and in the License Information Document (LID). All of these documents are sent along with the IBM hardware and software when shipped to the customer. In addition, each individual IBM Customer Agreement may have applicable Terms and Conditions. >>I firmly believe that IBM hardware/software is good. Any workaround on that generally decreases your reliability and availability, in my mind.<< Because patched programs do not obey MI, they can cause all sorts of problems, intended and unintended, that will affect correct operation of a system. IBM has a program validation mechanism that can protect against some forms of program alterations. IBM also advises customers to retranslate any program that they do not trust as part of restoring it onto a system. Ed Fishel, edfishel@US.IBM.COM
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