RE: What the heck is this AS/400 thing??

["Mark Villa" <markvilla@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

~~~Hi all,
~~~
~~~I'm new to the AS/400 and I'm finding myself completely lost
~~~most of the

Wow! Nice book references. I have not read any of them. (but need to) Hey, I
found a mentor in the beginning, lucky I guess.
The iseriesnetwork.com site should let you find the level and topic you want
to.
Also, I like some of the tapes, but it's a method that I used.
We used to use BookManager and other "hardcopy" materials for all the
guides. Slowly, I have trusted the web for everything. A CD comes with the
AS/400 that may have some basics, at least see what is on it, getting
started, etc. Also, for in depth "tricks of the trade", the ultimate source
for me other than human is the Redbooks maintained by IBM.
http://publib-b.boulder.ibm.com/Redbooks.nsf/Portals/AS400Redbooks

Also, I took a glance at the responses for "why the AS/400". Well, lots of
business used IBM's midrange before the PC. Lots of dollars to throw into
the trash, so after some years, you have a lot to answer for. It's hard to
change. Now, for a new installation? It is still a tough call. Ideally, you
pick the application (that you don't get fired over) then you pick
compatible hardware. So, it could be anything. They are all here to stay, in
one form or another (my opinion). The iSeries does run PC code these days?
See how I mean, in one form or another.
In basic no-frills form, the iSeries is hard to beat for a new install of a
reliable system at a new widget plant.
The PC's are for the fluff things, email clients, CAD drawings, cheap
connectivity. Would not want to surf the net on AS/400 (yet).  I would hate
to troubleshoot audited, transaction controlled, multi-tiered mission
critical invoice records from 100 users written in VB on a farm of NT
servers with 10 label printers in 5 plants.  You need a staff to do that. 1
person can do that on an as/400. It truly is easier, more strict. In my
experience, A DBA was needed on Mainframe and PC Server scenarios, but most
can manage with much broader skill set, with less depth on the AS/400. The
DB is the same on every AS/400, not rue for the others, and so, complexity.
Over the years, this gives a track record to look back on for software and
hardware.
I saw a joke recently (here) that says it all, it may even be true. The
AS/400 in a plant was so non-intrusive/reliable/in the fabric of things/
that they built a wall in the area during some construction, and someone
went hunting for it months later, and found it enclosed.


Mark Villa in Charleston SC