RE: Cheaper Servers?

Rob

<SNIP>
>How many people here are crying for this directly attached graphical
>option, yet every time IBM comes out with a graphical solution they start
>to delve into the api's to determine how to convert it into a 5250 data
>stream?
>
>Rob Berendt
</SNIP>

With all due respect this is not necessarily an entirely fair statement.
The usual complaint is that there is no command line equivalent which has
nothing to do with presentation issues.

In my view this is a stupid design decision as it ignores the fact that
servers need to be stopped and restarted automatically while the system is
unattended, and that bulk operations need to be performed programmatically.
Providing only a graphical interface means that each shop now has to come
up with a programming resource to automate operations from the scheduler.
Or just not do this stuff. Or have someone on site to do it. I'm sure you
get my point.

Long term this will defeat or at the very least reduce the only iSeries
advantage IBM still seem willing to talk about or market: TCO.

People have also complained about having to run the graphical client on
Windows and having no other choice. My personal experience is that when
running Ops Nav and it stops (I admit it rarely crashes, it just stops
responding) I have no way of knowing whether it is the OS (Windows 2000
Pro) or Ops Navigator. History tells me it is easier to reboot than figure
out why.

As to the rest of this thread I simply want a reasonably priced console I
can rely on: Ops Nav does not qualify. As Syd pointed out there is nothing
worse than doing an install - except perhaps as in our case a recovery - to
have the PC go belly up and cause problems. A cheap dependable console is
what is required however it is achieved.

Regards
Evan Harris