RE: Long term storage of iSeries

Thanks Chuck, some food for thought - but I think our approach will remain the same.

On the question of what would be done differently if it wasn't an iSeries we were dealing with - if it were windows server, I expect we would create a virtual server somewhere and copy the application and data to that. I know of no way to do this with an iSeries OS - and I'm not expecting anyone here tell me different...?

-----Original Message-----
Just some thoughts, mostly in the form of questions that may or may
not have any value in consideration, rather than to be responded to on
this forum.

What would be done if the system is physically destroyed tomorrow; in
one year; in five years? Or simply if the system is found to be DOA
only when eventually "needed"? Probably rent access [Platform as a
Service (PaaS)] from someone only because the access is required at that
time?
What would be done differently if the application and data had been
on some other hardware and OS instead? Is the alluded approach a direct
effect of the expense of the OS such that if the OS were Win or Linux
with general consumer commodity hardware and a relatively inexpensive
copy of the OS assumed, that approach might not have been considered?
Is there any reason to suspect that the application would not be
functional [regardless there is a long history of support for upward
compatibility] if both application and data were restored to some future
or just newer system and IBM i OS?
Even if very expensive to contract the use of another system in the
event some future use is actually required, would that exceed the
expense of keeping the existing system which may or may not survive
entirely intact even if only for failure of a couple components which
might also be very expensive to get the system running again; no
maintenance, parts no longer being manufactured? And as compared to the
expense if the system was never actually "needed" in the future; i.e.
not keeping the system is almost zero cost, only the cost of keeping
media, if the system is never again used.?
Would a sale of the system presently, offset any of the potential
costs for rents on future load\restore and access; a windfall if the
future requirement never materialized? As compared to probably no value
of that system in the future; although maybe parts would be very
valuable to someone doing the same.?

Regards, Chuck

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