Re: OS/400 Authorization Keys

[Mark D <mdlkml@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I have an 820 acquired from ebay which I got lucky by having it not be 
initialized.  I've never gotten anywhere good talking to IBM.  
Supposedly you can transfer ownership if you have some kind of 
entitlement certificate.  I do not.  I had to crack the qsysopr password 
using published but intricate methods with the control panel.  Mine also 
requires a system password on boot which I am able to get around using 
rather low tech methods (disconnect and reconnect the LAN console and it 
just continues booting).  I'm afraid to install PTF's for fear that that 
low tech method hole got closed.  Then my system would turn into a 350 
pound paperweight.  The system I got appears to be a hodgepodge of 
leftover parts so there are P10 keys installed but P20 cpu, etc.

I had a lot of trouble just getting OS media.  A LOT.

I'd put it on the internet and create free accounts and let people do 
whatever on it if I wasn't worried about it phoning home and the power 
consumption.  There is far more I don't know about these systems than 
what I do.

It loses at least one drive a year.  Always keep some ebay spares on hand.

I don't understand why there aren't low power portable hobbyist i 
systems.  They could regain a lot of market share if people could 
experiment and self learn instead of going to expensive paid training or 
only touching critical systems at work.

I'm not sure why these companies worry so much about the licensing on 
very old systems.  I know they're just trying to push new system 
adoption but the methods just feel a little crazy to me. My system has 
bsafe, lotus domino, antivirus and a few other bits licensed on it.  But 
who wants to use 5+ year old versions of these software packages in 
production with critical business data?  I would never.  Most likely 
I'll just end up wiping all that stuff off the system eventually.  I 
don't even want to risk using these software packages personally let 
alone for my company.  I bought it specifically to learn about SST, DST, 
and the more interesting internals.  Also to have a completely isolated 
development environment.  Shortly after I bought it I had no real reason 
to work with IBM i anymore so it's just sat.

Mark


On 09/30/2014 08:08 AM, Jim Oberholtzer wrote:
> Yes, It's unreasonable to expect IBM to give you keys without purchasing the
> software.  Furthermore the 170 and any of the OS versions that would run on
> it have been removed from marketing/sales so short of a senior executive
> approving a PRPQ for it, you're going to get really good at a complete
> restore every 69 days or so.......
>
> --
> Jim Oberholtzer
> Chief Technical Architect
> Agile Technology Architects
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: MIDRANGE-L [mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Jeff
> Bull
> Sent: Tuesday, September 30, 2014 4:28 AM
> To: 'Midrange Systems Technical Discussion'
> Subject: OS/400 Authorisation Keys
>
> Is IBM a Big Blue snake eating its own tail?
>
>   
>
> I have (rather foolishly perhaps) purchased an old AS/400 Model 170 to “play
> with” at home, well the price was right!
>
>   
>
> The system used to be owned by a retail chain here in the UK, and I have
> been told by IBM that it used to have V5R4 on it, so they do know about this
> system.
>
>   
>
> As a part of the recycling process the system/disks were initialised; it was
> then reloaded with V5R2, with a 70-day temporary key. Rather naively I
> thought that it would come with a permanent code.
>
>   
>
> I have been trying to obtain a permanent key for this little, old AS/400.
> The IBM Software Key Support centre say they can’t help, that I need to
> contact my IBM Business Partner - yeah right!, or the sales team who sold me
> the system - a one-man-company, not meaning to be offensive, but
> “tin-merchant”. An IBM Business partner is going to take one look at me, see
> no potential revenue … good-bye Jeff. Mr Tin-man is not set up for this kind
> of client support.
>
>   
>
> I really don’t want to pay IBM’s normal list price for an OS/400 licence on
> a system running V5R2, long since gone out of support, and for a system that
> will likely only last a couple of years before it has to go to the Big Blue
> Computer-Heaven in the Sky.
>
>   
>
> It is me being unreasonable to expect, and naïve to try, to get something
> discounted from IBM, suck in breath … or the price even waived? I’ve worked
> on the AS/400, iSeries, System i and on System/38 before that since 1987. A
> little ‘thank you’ from IBM would be a nice gesture for my small part in the
> success of this platform.
>
>   
>
> Please, I need some inspiration on how to resolve this conundrum. Perhaps a
> nice person at IBM will read this posting and give me some advice, or even
> help me obtain the permanent code.
>
>   
>
> P.S. It gets worse though, I actually bought three 170’s, the other two for
> friends/colleagues, so we could have our own little network. :|
>
>   
>
> Regards
>
>   
>
> Jeff Bull
>
> Technical Manager
>
> NYCO Ltd    iSeries & AS/400 Automation Specialists
>
> IBM Certified iSeries Technical Solutions Expert
>
> IBM Certified iSeries System Administration Specialist
>
>   
>
> Tel: +44(0)118 327 1200
>
> Mbl: +44(0)775 692 3335
>
> VOIP: +44(0)118 328 2272
>
> Email:  <mailto:jeff.nyco@xxxxxxx> jeff.nyco@xxxxxxx
>
> Skype: jeff-bull
>
> Website: www.nyco.co.uk
>
>   
>
> Postal Address: NYCO Limited, Park House, 17 Headley Road, Woodley, Reading,
> Berkshire, RG5 4JB, United Kingdom
>
>   
>
> --
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