Re: Getting a new IBM i - need advice

[Larry Bolhuis <midrange@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Aaron,

 Chris answered most of this and did so correctly. I, like you, have 
taken issue with descriptions on a lot of the stuff. RAID Enablemenet 
for example doesn't sound very hardwareish to me. I know that it is of 
course but to the untrained eye (meaning 'Customer') that's not what it 
sounds like.

 Clearly one of the things that occurred when 'i' met 'p' and became 
Power was that we 'see' more features on the configs. In the land of 'i' 
we ordered a system and many many things that were needed were simply 
included. Now we see all the gory detail of the stuff. Net net adding up 
the prices it's STILL cheaper this way but you see all the bits and 
pieces and therefore are conscious of the price for each item.  We 
really DO have more options and choices now but the flip side is seeing 
it all as well.

 - L

DrFranken

Chief Mad Scientist
Frankeni Technology Consulting, LLC
Middleville, MI  49333

www.frankeni.com/frankeni.html

DrFranken@xxxxxxxxxxxx



Aaron Bartell wrote:
> *This message was transferred with a trial version of CommuniGate(r) Pro*
> IBM has returned round two of the configuration based on input from
> this group (see URL at bottom of email).  I upgraded to a 4 HD RAID
> config and also asked for a rack mount vs. a deskside because I
> *eventually* wanted to put these in a formal rack (right now I have my
> current deskside sitting on an industrial shelf and was planning on
> just putting this one under or beside that one).  But then I see that
> there is about $600 worth of hardware for the rack mount vs. deskside
> (wow mamma!):
>
>     7114  IBM/OEM Rack-Mount Drawer Rail      1               300.00
>     7200  IBM Rack-mount Drawer Bezel an      1               299.00
>
> Do I really need these two line items?  Would I be better off just
> getting a deskside given that I won't be putting it into a formal rack
> anytime soon?
>
>
> Upgrading to a RAID config added this option though it doesn't
> necessarily say it is a hardware card of some sort (as I suspect) but
> instead appears to be some sort of OS enablement.  Is it an actual
> piece of hardware?
>
> 5679  SAS RAID Enablement                 1             2,500.00
>
>
> Also, anybody know what the below is?  It was on my first round config
> but I forgot to ask about it.
>
>     8310  DASD/Media Backplane for 3.5 D      1               633.00
>           with External SAS Port
>
> Round two config: http://mowyourlawn.com/temp/Krengel-8203-E4A-V6R1-R2.pdf
>
> Aaron Bartell
> http://mowyourlawn.com
>
>
>
> On Thu, Aug 6, 2009 at 10:53 AM, Aaron Bartell<aaronbartell@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
>   
> > I have started the process of purchasing my second IBM i.  Because of all
> > the changes in how the box is sold and what software is included (or not) I
> > wanted to run it by the group here to see if I have what I need.  Because
> > this is done through the PartnerWorld ISV program I get most any IBM
> > software at no additional charge so please let me know if there is any cool
> > new software that would be worth loading "just to check it out".
> >
> > What is this box going to be used for?
> > - Primarily software development for RPG related products/tooling, though we
> > do accomplish a fair amount of Java here and there.
> >
> > - Need to have user licenses for four developers (which we should be covered
> > there as 5 are included by default, though they mention 10 in other places -
> > not sure what that means).
> >
> > - Going to be digging into SQL a lot more on this box so any SQL or DB2
> > tooling that I might need please make note.
> >
> > Here is what the initial config looks like that IBM sent out:
> > http://mowyourlawn.com/files/Krengel-8203-E4A-V6R1.pdf
> >
> > I went here to grab a few other options to include for software:
> > https://www-304.ibm.com/jct01005c/isv/business/member/hw/na/us/systemi_products.html
> >
> > In particular I asked them to add the following software:
> > 5733-RDI
> > 5733-SOA
> > 5722-DR1
> > 5722-DVP
> > 5722-IP1
> > 5722-SVP
> > 5733-QUB
> > 5733-QU3
> > 5733-QU4
> > 5722-AP1
> > 5722-BR1
> > 5722-CM1
> > 5722-CR1
> > 5722-DE1
> > 5722-MG1
> > 5722-NLV
> > 5722-SM1
> > 5733-CY1
> > 5761-DG1 (Apache HTTP server)
> > 5761-JV1
> > 5722-JC1
> > 5733-OMF
> > 5761-TC1
> > 5761-XH2
> > 5761-XL1
> > 5722-WE1
> > 5722-XP1
> >
> > On a final note, does anybody know if you have multiple LPARs of IBM i on a
> > single box without having an HMC? Oh, one last question.  I have learned to
> > despise the LAN Console because it rarely works (i.e. it always tells me I
> > have password sync issues from my pc to the server and I then get the fun
> > job of resetting it from the hardware control panel) and am thinking of just
> > getting a dumb terminal.  What kind of connection would I need to get for a
> > dumb terminal?
> >
> > Thoughts?
> > Aaron Bartell
> > http://mowyourlawn.com
> >
> >