Re: Cheaper Servers?

["Simon Coulter" <shc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hello Rob,

You wrote:
>I agree that the command line interface is nice for some features like
>stopping or starting programmatically, or configuring.  I still have
>programs that we would restore from tape and run to configure a new 400.

Not only that but commands are also useful for providing a record of
changes to the system by putting the commands in a configuration CL
script.  Try doing that with click-type, click-type in OpsNav.

>However, there are numerous people who spend time writing programs to do
>what op's nav does.  And they do it with subfiles and/or panels which is
>definitely a presentation issue.

Since our product ONcmd attempts to alleviate some of the "OpsNav Only"
issues I'd like to understand why you would think there is a presentation
issue.  Is it simply that you object to a green-screen panel because it is
not as pretty as a GUI window?

We do provide the raw commands but we also wrap those commands in a
work-with interface for those who prefer working that way -- best of both
worlds!  It is also better from a usability point of view to be able to
list all configured resources from the command line.  Why allow ADDSMBSHR
to define a share from the command line but provide no way to view the
result other than resorting to OpsNav?  That would be inconsistent.

While I agree that OpsNav is a pleasant enough interface, especially for
the less technical, it is also slower and less effective for many reasons.
My primary objections to OpsNav are:
        1/ It requires Windoze for which I have no business need.
        2/ IBM provide no alternative to OpsNav-- it is simply stupid to
require the world's least reliable OS to configure and manage the world's
most reliable.

If OpsNav ever becomes pure Java and I can run it on OS/2 Warp I'll be
less concerned but I'll still want the ability to configure my AS/400 from
my AS/400!

Regards,
Simon Coulter.

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