Re: 9.6 install

It's been a few years ago... I initially downloaded it from a site where it was on a "trial" basis. The first version was 9.0 - so I can't really say when that was (2013 or 2014).

I recall having a difficult time actually purchasing the software... my BP spent days going through "Avnet" trying to get it sorted out. I eventually ended up paying IBM directly for 2 licenses because no one could figure it out. Someone (IBM or our BP) pushed me to Passport Advantage at some point. Maybe when I upgraded to 9.1? During this journey, I discovered that IBM had not rolled this into our standard SWMA or sent us any kind of software maintenance invoice... my BP eventually got that straightened out so we maintain a "permanent license". I don't know if it's part of SWMA, a separate bill or what.

At some point my licenses moved to ESS - I can't recall. I also updated to v9.5. I don't think I had the same issue - again, it could be the link/instructions I was provided to do so.

Last week, support sent me a link to upgrade to 9.6 (to fix some issues). The link was for the multi-lingual/multi-platform version:
https://www-01.ibm.com/marketing/iwm/iwm/web/reg/pick.do?source=RATLe-DEVSYSI-EVAL&S_TACT=109HG32W&S_CMP=web_dw_rt_swd&lang=en_US

And you've witnessed my frustrations from there.

I didn't want to belabor this thread... EVERYONE has been very helpful (as always). But before calling support and getting the Technote FAQ (which solved nearly all my issues), I actually was on the ESS site looking for the activation kit. Unfortunately, I was looking "IBM i Licenses" instead of "Software Downloads".
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21669384

I had to ask myself... "If technical support has to write a document (with pictures) on how to navigate a website, what does that say about the website?"

Greg



-----Original Message-----
From: WDSCI-L [mailto:wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Vernon Hamberg
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 4:27 PM
To: Rational Developer for IBM i / Websphere Development Studio Client for System i & iSeries <wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [WDSCI-L] 9.6 install

Just curious, Greg, because our experience is so different from yours - when did you try to get RDi for the first time?

We got the trade-up from ADTS seats in 2013, 4 seats traded up. We did this through our BP with the number that is used for that. We have since that got 3 more, I believe.

Our system admin got the stuff from ESS back then - it was kind of wonky but not absolutely horrible as your experience seems to be. I usually had the trial in place and he got the activation kit, at least.

Now BPs are also supposed to know how to get this through PPA, including the trade-up - we didn't do it that way.

So again, I'm just curious.

Thanks
Vern

On 2/21/2018 2:53 PM, Greg Wilburn wrote:

My BP is fantastic... but the sales channel of RDi was a challenge from the beginning. It wasn't available through ESS. Now it is.

Maybe I'm cranky (there's a stretch)... But the days of the "large customers" are going by the wayside.

-----Original Message-----
From: WDSCI-L [mailto:wdsci-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Buck
Calabro
Sent: Wednesday, February 21, 2018 3:46 PM
To: wdsci-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [WDSCI-L] 9.6 install

On 2/21/2018 11:40 AM, Greg Wilburn wrote:

IBM'ers will (in their mind) have a perfectly good reason why things are like this... because they think like IBM. Meanwhile, the rest of the world is shaking their heads. It would do them (IBM) a world of good to sit in their customer's position once in a while.

The following is mostly for the archives, as this comes up somewhat frequently. Search keywords might be Passport Advantage and ESS.

I don't speak for IBM.
Heck, most days I can hardly speak for myself!

tl;dr If you need keys, pester the BP until they set you up as an admin.


I believe that IBM actually /are/ sitting in their customer's position.

You and I are not their customer. (mostly. There are independents,
but they've always had their own labyrinth to run.)

The business owners are. The IBM support system is built around
accommodating large customers who have a designated, knowledgeable,
and interested admin. Smaller businesses can outsource that position
to their Business Partner. It all works pretty well when the BP is
engaged
- my BP designated me as the admin here and I haven't had to fuss about keys... well, ever.

It doesn't work at all when the BP is not engaged, and that is very frustrating. The system is designed to keep you out unless you are an admin, and it's also designed to allow only the BP to designate new admins. (mostly) None of this knowledge helps you get keys today.

I'm not going to tell you to kick an underperforming BP in the shin and find a better one, but I am going to tell you that I did, and I couldn't be happier with that decision.

Now it can certainly be argued that RDi is not the same as the rest of IBM i 'enterprise-y' software. Honestly, I'm in that camp. But /that/ doesn't help you get keys either. The only thing I can advise is to pester your boss who will pester the BP to get them to set you up as an IBM i admin. Then you can get keys.

--
--buck

http://wiki.midrange.com
Your updates make it better!

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