IBM i (iSeries, AS400) Migration Prescription Without Examination? Yikes!

The purpose of this blog is to highlight a possible decline in thorough vendor assessments for IBM i users wanting to make a change. Migrating is complex as it involves knowledge of IBM practices, application software, IBM i version levels, software keys, and many other factors. I believe a thorough assessment by experts is essential as part of the migration process.?

Disclaimer:?IBM i is an operating system. iSeries and AS400 are servers. I use these terms interchangeably to make it easier for folks to find this kind of information on the web.

Background

Can you imagine your doctor offering you a prescription without an examination?

Our doctor wants to examine us first before he makes any prescription.

Generally, our trusted advisors will want to conduct a thorough investigation before they make recommendations.

Even so, I seem to more frequently encounter my competitors offering configurations or hosting pricing with incomplete information.

Let me provide some recent examples.

Utility Company Disaster Recovery Assessment

Recently, a utility company reached out to us to get hosting estimates for their disaster recovery planning. Currently, they replicate from a production server to a target server in another location. They want to determine if hosting the target is more cost-effective than replacing the on premise target server.

For starts, we requested information about their production and target servers. After our initial review, we also requested to assess their MIMIX installation as well as the target performance with IBM Performance Tools.

First, we found their MIMIX was a one release level back as well as behind on software updates. We were told that they had NOT had a successful DR test – either virtual or otherwise – in the last 5 years. We could also tell that MIMIX monitoring logs were not current … despite them telling us they had a consulting group that monitored and remediated MIMIX as necessary.

We also determined that the MIMIX implementation did not conform to MIMIX best practices.

During this assessment process, the prospective client mentioned they were speaking with two other hosting companies. Those companies did NOT conduct any kind of MIMIX assessment. Yikes!

Second, we activated IBM Performance Tools on the target server to collect information to determine what the real target performance was.

After a week, we were unable to collect data because the target server was on V7.2 without current PTFs, so IBM Performance Tools would not work.

Again, we heard that the other two hosting companies had not attempted to conduct any performance assessment.

While the choice to stay with an on premise target server or host has not been made, I am astounded the other two hosting companies attempted no assessment.

Under the circumstances, as a buyer I would find any bid they gave me as unreliable.

Distributor Wants To Upgrade From 9406-520 At V7.1 To Power9 at V7.3

Over the decades we have developed a server assessment checklist so we have a sense of a prospective user’s system, much like when a doctor has you complete pages of questions prior to their examination. In both cases, the person conducting the exam wants as much background as possible to focus on the key aspects that need attention.

During the evaluation cycle, IBM encountered parts constrained. Specifically, the most common Power9 Expanded Function Storage Backplane was unavailable.

We explained that to the prospective client. We also explained that IBM’s new NVMe flash drives for Power9 were available. Better still, the NVMe flash drives offer superior performance at a lower price than the more common Power9 with traditional backplane. ?

The incumbent supplier was completely unaware of the backplane parts constraint as well as the NVMe flash drives.

Additionally, we made several recommendations to improve their security, credit card processing and migration/backup process.

As pleased as I was to earn the client’s business, I was very surprised that the incumbent supplier was unaware and nonresponsive.

Conclusion

When I need to rely on others, I always feel more confident with an experienced expert who conducts a thorough assessment.

Let me add a metaphor I recently heard.

“There is no simple way to build a house. If the lumber and building materials are delivered to the home site, there is no single tool the builds the house for you. Instead, you need experts with many tools, a plan and a contractor (project leader).”

My sense of why I see fewer thorough assessments lately is that many of the experts I have competed against are leaving (retiring) and their replacements lack the expertise and experience.

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