RE: Can I SQL-query data from 2 servers at the same time?

> From: Wilt, Charles
> 
> It's no wonder people are moving data off the iSeries.  It just so
dang
> easy to pull the data off to another platform; whereas is impossible
to
> pull data back to the iSeries without big bucks.

I suppose if you're in an environment with loosely decentralized data
that makes sense.  However, loosely decentralized environment are the
most error prone and the least reliable of all systems, primarily due to
the existence of multiple error points for each transaction.

In fact, this is the primary reason we are beginning to see a corporate
move towards re-centralizing their data.  And if you were going to store
your data on a single machine and your requirements were things like
robustness, reliability, accessibility, ease of use, range of tools, and
TCO, all of these point directly at the iSeries.

So, sure, in shops where the data is strewn about multiple servers with
little thought about architecture or design, then some sort of magical
SQL engine that accesses all the machines is a nicety; in fact, it's a
necessity borne of a horrible deployment model.  I've always said that
tools can mask all sorts of architectural deficiencies, and SQL is one
of the best.  In fact, I should copyright that idea: SQL, the Spackle of
Application Design!  The problem with spackle is that it doesn't address
the underlying problems, and in this case the underlying problem is
simple: if any of the machines goes down, the entire application is
fried.  Simple, and simply a bad idea.

On the other hand, if this were the kind of shop that was looking to
re-engineer its IT model to a robust, forward-looking architecture
capable of handling large volume SOA in a highly available multiple UI
environment, then the iSeries is the direction to go.

Joe