Re: Future of AS/400 ??????????????:(:

["Jim Franz" <jfranz@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> > I've never ever seen a help wanted ad "Wanted: Web Developer.  Must be
> > fluent in RPG."  That is sad reality.
>
I think the biggest reason for this, is that many AS400 managers (not
knowing
how or what to do in a web project) are more than willing to farm it out.
Several
years ago, IBM (and others) were begging people not to put their 400 on the
web, with security being the biggest reason. Yeah - let's put some other,
more easily
hacked system out there! And IBM and others had the unix/nt solutions to
sell...
I have had the opportunity to propose or defend the AS400 as a webserver in
several
instances. The following is a list of questions/requirements to ask the
project manager,
and the competition, when comparing the AS400 versus another platform:
The last proposal was a Customer Order Entry/Inquiry/Reporting system.
I need real-time read/write/update access to my AS400 database.
I need many complex edits satisfied before updates (more than checking
blanks/zeros).
I need different prices for diff qty levels for diff customers.
I want journalling and/or committment control.
I need it to be secured by a validation system that is not known as
"hackable".
I want 24x7x365 uptime, with backups while active. IPL once a month (maybe).
I should NEVER have to re-boot to fix a problem.
I need the server and other equipment to fit into my disaster recovery plan.
Some pages will require SSL.
The database access to the 400 needs to be secure (and then ask about the
number
of CERTs Advisories other products like ODBC and SQL Server.
When the vendor upgrades the server, I need to be able to upgrade easily,
and
not have to rewrite any code.
If I identify a problem, I expect a patch within a reasonable timeframe.
I need to understand the limits of the hardware & software. How many servers
for how many simultaneous users.
How many technicians to keep it running?
How many diff vendors (hardware & software) and who gets called when its not
working?
Can our own users maintain the data, in real-time(no nightly refresh!)
The dumbest proposal I ever saw for a heavy traffic webstore, the windoze
vendor
wanted to ftp or e-mail the order requests & stock checks! .
having fun with the a 400 webserver
Jim


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