Originally published by TechChannel July 2, 2024 In the process, Rob McNelly revisits his impressions of the HMC GUI A client tried unsuccessfully to add a LUN to a VIO server that was using an SSD drive, something I wrote about back in 2020: “Unfortunately, there is no way to fix that issue. because AIX, at the … Continue reading “Adding a LUN to a VIO Server That Uses an SSD Drive”
Category: Article archives
Navigating a Tricky Power10 Server Build-Out
Originally published by TechChannel June 4, 2024 Rob McNelly also shares information about the new Power S1012, along with more cautionary tech tales I recently consulted on a server build-out where HMC and Power10 machines were powered on in a remote data center. Once the HMC was on the network and able to see the … Continue reading “Navigating a Tricky Power10 Server Build-Out”
Copy That: A Quick Cautionary Tale About Data Transfers
Originally published by TechChannel May 1, 2024 Rob McNelly also shares some IBM Support docs and a scary story of a cyberattack that didn’t happen We had a fun exercise recently. A customer sent a large amount of data from one data center to another. It was enough data that moving it via the network … Continue reading “Copy That: A Quick Cautionary Tale About Data Transfers”
The Value of IBM Education, the Opportunity to Interact
Originally published by TechChannel April 4, 2024 Rob McNelly looks ahead to this fall’s IBM TechXchange event I assume many—if not most—of you have attended an IBM educational conference at some point. I’ve traveled to many over the years. Recently I was looking at this old post from 2008, when the event was known as IBM … Continue reading “The Value of IBM Education, the Opportunity to Interact”
The Importance of Documentation
Originally published by TechChannel March 6, 2024 The story began when a client updated their Power10 server firmware to ML1050_052. The problems started when they didn’t read the documentation. In this case, the documentation noted that the minimum code level for this firmware is HMC V10R3M1050 (PTF MF71420). The client did not have this minimum, and as … Continue reading “The Importance of Documentation”
Recognizing the Newest IBM Champions
Originally published by TechChannel January 26, 2024 Happy new year! It is 2024 and I do not know where the time goes. But I know where I’m going to start—by congratulating the IBM Champions class of 2024. Here are comments from Libby Ingrassia, IBM Champions program director: “It is with great pleasure I can announce this … Continue reading “Recognizing the Newest IBM Champions”
Digging Into AIX 7.3 TL Updates
Originally published by TechChannel December 5, 2023 Rob McNelly also highlights information on Power10 performance, AIX administration, VIOS to NIM mapping, and shares his fondness for some old interfaces In November, IBM TechXchange conducted a deep dive on AIX 7.3 TL updates. Featuring AIX product manager Jayen Shah and Carl Burnet, DE for IBM Power, … Continue reading “Digging Into AIX 7.3 TL Updates”
A Warning About Running ezh and eezh Scripts in Updated HMC Environments
Originally published by TechChannel October 31, 2023 Rob McNelly cites recent AIX enhancements and passes along a plethora of tips In 2020 I wrote about a couple of scripts called ezh and eezh: “EZH is a script for the [HMC] to provide an alternate, easier to use, command line interface for many common commands, and the … Continue reading “A Warning About Running ezh and eezh Scripts in Updated HMC Environments”
IBM Support Insights: Infrastructure Management Simplified
Originally published by TechChannel September 7, 2023 IBM Support Insights provides a wealth of critical information to make admins’ jobs easier Like many of you, my organization manages servers, switches, storage devices, etc., in multiple data centers located throughout and even outside of the country. With collections of devices this large, naturally, there are many … Continue reading “IBM Support Insights: Infrastructure Management Simplified”
The Subtle but Significant Differences Posed by Power10 Hardware and the New HMC
Originally published by TechChannel August 24, 2023 Rob McNelly urges old dogs to learn new tricks and shares additional thoughts about the recently retired Nigel Griffiths In March, Jaqui Lynch wrote about connecting HMCs to Power10 servers. If you’re in the process of moving to Power10/updating your HMCs, this is a must-read. If you’d like me … Continue reading “The Subtle but Significant Differences Posed by Power10 Hardware and the New HMC”
When the Latest and Greatest Isn’t That Great
Originally published by TechChannel August 15, 2023 Rob McNelly on the challenges posed by some technological innovations, notes from IBM Support, and a shout-out to the newly retired Nigel Griffiths I recently went on a wild ride while with family. Thanks to a last-minute cancellation, my sister and niece needed to get from Rochester, New … Continue reading “When the Latest and Greatest Isn’t That Great”
Google’s Bard Spins Some Tales About IBM Power Systems and AIX
Originally published by TechChannel June 22, 2023 Rob McNelly experiments with the AI tool to see what it knows about IBM Power Systems and AIX I assume none of you live under a rock, so you’ve most likely heard about people’s experiences toying around with ChatGPT and other AI solutions. I decided to get in … Continue reading “Google’s Bard Spins Some Tales About IBM Power Systems and AIX”
If You’re Not Using Inventory Scout, You’re Missing Out
Originally published by TechChannel May 17, 2023 Rob McNelly with the latest on invscout, along with tips, resources and an opportunity to give feedback to IBM I’ve mentioned Inventory Scout (invscout) quite a bit over the years. That includes producing this video tutorial and citing this script. So why am I bringing it up yet again? It’s to let you … Continue reading “If You’re Not Using Inventory Scout, You’re Missing Out”
Ansible Webinar, HMC Tips and Changes to IBM’s Call Home
Originally published by TechChannel April 27, 2023 Rob McNelly offers another anecdote about the value of testing changes One advantage of being an IBM Champion is the communication we get from IBM. I’m subscribed to various newsletters that provide useful information. For instance, I was recently notified about a webinar about Ansible. This is from the email: … Continue reading “Ansible Webinar, HMC Tips and Changes to IBM’s Call Home”
Hanging Out (Virtually) with IBM Champions, Upgrading an Older HMC and More
Originally published by TechChannel March 23, 2023 Rob McNelly explains how he recently updated an older HMC with the help of IBM Support and gives a reminder about technical debt In January IBM announced its latest class of IBM Champions. As is noted in that blog entry, “This year’s 839 IBM Champions come from 60 countries; … Continue reading “Hanging Out (Virtually) with IBM Champions, Upgrading an Older HMC and More”
Networking, Hanging NIM Operations and AIX Quirks
Originally published by TechChannel February 16, 2023 Rob McNelly covers how to troubleshoot common NIM issues and AIX tips and tricks I enjoyed this perspective on the Cisco Discovery Protocol (CDP) from IBM Champion Andrey Klyachkin: “You know this eternal problem, don’t you? Datacenter guys laid the cable from an AIX server to some port … Continue reading “Networking, Hanging NIM Operations and AIX Quirks”
Problem-Solving via the Internet, the Importance of Patching and More
Originally published by TechChannel January 20, 2023 Rob McNelly shares clients’ stories and details how he solved their technical challenges Recently, I helped mount a filesystem on a Windows system that was being exported from an AIX system. The client wasn’t sure it would work—and there were challenges—but fortunately I found some guidance by googling. … Continue reading “Problem-Solving via the Internet, the Importance of Patching and More”
After Helping Clients Navigate Challenging Times, the AIX World Moves Forward
By Neil Tardy Originally published by TechChannel May 24, 2021 IBM’s Carl Burnett, Nigel Griffiths, Petra Bührer, Maria Ward and Ann Detjen on how AIX has helped clients navigate the pandemic, and what’s next in the AIX roadmap From the beginning, IBM AIX was touted for its reliability. That this characteristic has endured was never more evident than … Continue reading “After Helping Clients Navigate Challenging Times, the AIX World Moves Forward”
Mobile Applications for IBM i Enable Business Continuity
by Neil Tardy Originally published by TechChannel February 3, 2020 Mobile development expert Alan Seiden and IBMer Brad Bentley explain how the OS is well-suited for the task. Cellphones and mobile devices, long a part of our daily lives, have also become essential in the world of business. That’s certainly the case for Alan Seiden. … Continue reading “Mobile Applications for IBM i Enable Business Continuity”
How IBM i Clients Helped Shape Db2 Mirror for i
By Neil Tardy Originally published by TechChannel January 2, 2020 Kris Whitney, product architect for Db2 Mirror for i, shares how the continuous availability database solution was created in response to client feedback. For years, IBM i clients have been asking the company to develop new products or provide enhanced capabilities. There’s even a defined … Continue reading “How IBM i Clients Helped Shape Db2 Mirror for i”
Open-Source Technology is Fulfilling Business Needs of IBM i Clients
By Neil Tardy Originally published by TechChannel September 3 2019 Jesse Gorzinski, business architect for open source on IBM i, explains the rise of the open-source revolution. If you ask Jesse Gorzinski how he knows that open source on IBM i is a big deal, he simply pulls up his planner. “Even two years ago … Continue reading “Open-Source Technology is Fulfilling Business Needs of IBM i Clients”
Cloud, IBM Support, AIX History and More
Originally published by TechChannel December 6, 2022 Rob McNelly on cloud technology, expanded IBM Support options, IBM requiring encryption for fix downloads and AIX history Recently my wife and I traveled cross-country via car. We spent time with family in Virginia and then drove north through Maryland, Pennsylvania and New York state. After celebrating the … Continue reading “Cloud, IBM Support, AIX History and More”
Rob McNelly on ‘Lights-Out Data Center’ Issues, the Latest IBM Announcements and More
Originally published by TechChannel October 19, 2022 Have you heard of “lights-out data centers?” Rob McNelly explains what they are along with their pitfalls, and explores the latest IBM announcements here. Though I’ve heard about lights-out data centers for years, I truly don’t envision a future where humans will never set foot on the raised … Continue reading “Rob McNelly on ‘Lights-Out Data Center’ Issues, the Latest IBM Announcements and More”
Open Firmware Macros Tips, and a Closer Look at Power10 Servers
Originally published by TechChannel September 2, 2022 Rob McNelly highlights tips on open firmware macros, recaps Nigel Griffith’s closer look at Power10 Servers, explores AIX security bulletins and more There are several ways to boot LPARs on IBM Power Systems servers. For example, you can boot to your OS of choice—AIX, IBM i, or Linux—or … Continue reading “Open Firmware Macros Tips, and a Closer Look at Power10 Servers”
Power10 and the Impact of Upgrading
Originally published by TechChannel August 2, 2022 The availability of the full Power10 server portfolio is another reminder of the noticeable benefits of moving forward with technology Recently, after settling into a new home, I upgraded my cable modem and router. I was fine with the internet service I had, but for the same cost, … Continue reading “Power10 and the Impact of Upgrading”
IBM Virtual Event Highlights the Latest on Power10 and News on AIX Toolbox Open-Source Support
Originally published by TechChannel July 1, 2022 Rob McNelly looks at an upcoming IBM virtual event, an IBM Support update for AIX Toolbox open-source software and more IBM is hosting a Power10 virtual event on Thursday, July 14, at 11 a.m. EDT. You can register here and you’ll find the event description below: “Businesses are … Continue reading “IBM Virtual Event Highlights the Latest on Power10 and News on AIX Toolbox Open-Source Support”
Tips on the HMC, VIOS, LPAR and More
Originally published by TechChannel April 20, 2022 IBM Champion Rob McNelly on HMC, VIOS, LPAR, AIX 7.2 and 7.3 tips, and more It’s always nice to hear from readers. Even better is when I can confirm that my information is helping techies in the real world. My colleague Eric Hopkins recently put my invscout script … Continue reading “Tips on the HMC, VIOS, LPAR and More”
A New Home for the RFE Community
Originally published by TechChannel March 18, 2022 IBM Champion Rob McNelly on the IBM Power Systems Ideas portal, a FLRT change and his latest outdoor adventure I’ve written about the Request for Enhancement (RFE) process in the past, but recently, Brian Veale notified us of the new IBM Power Systems Ideas portal. This is a site where … Continue reading “A New Home for the RFE Community”
IBM Notifications, AIX Migration Tips and More
Originally published by TechChannel February 14, 2022 IBM Champion Rob McNelly on AIX migration tips and tricks, new Power10 performance information, IBM’s updated firmware release schedule and more I’m regularly reminded of the benefits of IBM’s My Notifications email service. Yes, we all have too much traffic in our inboxes, but My Notifications is a … Continue reading “IBM Notifications, AIX Migration Tips and More”
Readers Respond: Updating VIOS on POWER7, and a Simplified invscout Script
Originally published by TechChannel January 21, 2022 IBM Champion Rob McNelly reflects on what he’s learned from readers—from mixed results updating VIOS on POWER7 to a cleaned-up invscout script A customer was planning to patch their VIO servers on a POWER7 machine. You may recall my mention of another customer that had success running recent … Continue reading “Readers Respond: Updating VIOS on POWER7, and a Simplified invscout Script”
Apache Log4j Vulnerability, AIX Tips and Tools, a Look at Time Drift, and More
Originally published by TechChannel January 4, 2022 IBM Champion Rob McNelly on the Log4j security vulnerability, helpful AIX tips and tools, time drifts on POWER8 and POWER9 servers, and more System security is no laughing matter. Well, occasionally it’s a laughing matter, but I’ll get to that in a moment. On Dec. 15 IBM issued … Continue reading “Apache Log4j Vulnerability, AIX Tips and Tools, a Look at Time Drift, and More”
Dynamic LPAR on HANA, Support Docs Updated and User Group Session Replays
Edit: I am looking forward to the next half marathon at Lake Powell Originally published by TechChannel November 29, 2021 Dynamic LPAR is now available for SAP HANA databases. Get details on this, along with updated Power10 and AIX 7.3 documentation and more from IBM Champion Rob McNelly. Dynamic LPAR is now available for SAP HANA … Continue reading “Dynamic LPAR on HANA, Support Docs Updated and User Group Session Replays”
A New AIX Video Series and the Latest on AIX Open Beta and Power10
Edit: did you install the open beta or did you go straight to the GA release? Originally published by TechChannel October 14, 2021 IBM Champion Rob McNelly on his new TechChannel AIX video series, and the latest news on Power10 and AIX open beta A quick professional note: I’ve launched a video series for TechChannel. I’ve … Continue reading “A New AIX Video Series and the Latest on AIX Open Beta and Power10”
You’ve Heard the News, Now Dig Into the Details: Get up to Speed on the Power10 Announcement
Edit: A nice roundup of links Originally published by TechChannel September 14, 2021 IBM Champion Rob McNelly on Power10 E1080 server highlights, and resources you can use to learn more On Sept. 8, IBM announced the new Power10 server, the E1080 (9080-HEX). While much has already been written about the new server, I’m here to share more details. If … Continue reading “You’ve Heard the News, Now Dig Into the Details: Get up to Speed on the Power10 Announcement”
CLI Options for Configuring and Modifying LPARs
Edit: I find it so much faster to make these changes from the command line vs the GUI Originally published by TechChannel August 23, 2021 Rob McNelly highlights resources you can use to learn how to create an LPAR without using the HMC GUI, and use the CLI for dynamic LPAR operations Gareth Coates, whose … Continue reading “CLI Options for Configuring and Modifying LPARs”
Waiting on a Replacement Part, the Latest With OpenSSH, a Bold Client Choice and a VIOS Webinar
Edit: I still wonder about keeping a spare water heater on hand Originally published by TechChannel July 30, 2021 Rob McNelly on VIOS admin tips, OpenSSH for AIX, effective support and more Recently my water heater died. Fortunately it’s relatively new and still under warranty, so I didn’t have to dip into my pockets to … Continue reading “Waiting on a Replacement Part, the Latest With OpenSSH, a Bold Client Choice and a VIOS Webinar”
AIX Patch Management With Ansible, and the Broader Benefits of Automation
Edit: I still love going to the Grand Canyon Originally published by TechChannel July 15, 2021 Rob McNelly on automation benefits, AIX patch management with Red Hat Ansible and more I made one of the classic blunders during a recent trip to the Grand Canyon. This had nothing to do with a land war, or a Sicilian, … Continue reading “AIX Patch Management With Ansible, and the Broader Benefits of Automation”
Power Systems Best Practices Doc Updated, dnf, New IBM Customer Support Portals and More.
Edit: A nice grab bag of topics Originally published by TechChannel June 15, 2021 The Power Implementation Quality Standard for Commercial Workloads document has been updated. Get the details from Rob McNelly here. The Power Implementation Quality Standard for Commercial Workloads document has been updated. Download Version 2.4 (June 2021) here. This presentation details the expected … Continue reading “Power Systems Best Practices Doc Updated, dnf, New IBM Customer Support Portals and More.”
Guru: The Essential Workers Of IT, And Lessons Learned From Trying Times
Edit: I still advocate for giving blood and do so roughly every eight weeks Originally published by IT Jungle June 7, 2021 Over the past year we’ve all heard about essential workers. Essential workers are present in our industry as well. Those who manage and maintain our power grids and technology infrastructures have always played … Continue reading “Guru: The Essential Workers Of IT, And Lessons Learned From Trying Times”
Attention to Patching and Other Vital System Maintenance Will Help You Avoid the Heat
Edit: I should still be better prepared for my rides in the desert Originally published by TechChannel May 18, 2021 Rob McNelly on why adequate system maintenance can help you prepare (and avoid) system problems As I found myself walking through the desert, pushing a bicycle with a flat tire, I wondered how I got … Continue reading “Attention to Patching and Other Vital System Maintenance Will Help You Avoid the Heat”
Key AIX Security Considerations
Edit: This was published as an ebook by TechChannel Rob McNelly explains what questions you and your team should beasking to make sure data is locked down I will also archive it here in case the original link stops working in the future. You’ve seen the headlines about malware attacks and cyberhacks. Whether it’s a … Continue reading “Key AIX Security Considerations”
AIX/VIOS Versioning Recommendations, a POWER9-Based HMC and the Evolution of IBM Certifications
Edit: Are you current? Originally published by TechChannel April 22, 2021 Rob McNelly on why AIX has stood the test of time, the new POWER9-based HMC and how IBM certifications have evolved I believe AIX has stood the test of time. This opinion is based in part on the fact that legacy AIX documentation is … Continue reading “AIX/VIOS Versioning Recommendations, a POWER9-Based HMC and the Evolution of IBM Certifications”
Guru: A Simple Script That Capitalizes on IBM i’s Open Source Capabilities
Edit: Still one of my favorite trails, I returned in December and made it to Plateau Point. Originally published by IT Jungle April 26, 2021 In my last piece, we got Yum and Bash running on IBM i. Now let’s build on that foundation to find an open campsite. I’m serious. Recently I used an IBM … Continue reading “Guru: A Simple Script That Capitalizes on IBM i’s Open Source Capabilities”
AIX at 35 and the Layered Significance of AIX 7.3
Edit: Have you started your upgrades yet? Originally published by TechChannel March 10, 2021 Rob McNelly on AIX and Power hardware improvements, and where the AIX roadmap might lead beyond 2023 AIX turns 35 this year. While it’s fun to look back (here’s the IBM announcement letter from 1986), there’s also ample reason to look ahead, … Continue reading “AIX at 35 and the Layered Significance of AIX 7.3”
Guru: Getting Yum And Bash Up And Running
Edit: It might be time to start looking at dnf Originally published by IT Jungle March 15, 2021 In the March 1 edition of The Four Hundred, I noted that an emphasis on things like system/application modernization and open source solutions gives IBM i newcomers a degree of comfort with the platform. I also made the point … Continue reading “Guru: Getting Yum And Bash Up And Running”
Standing Pat Is No Longer an Option With the HMC
Edit: Have you upgraded yet? Originally published by TechChannel March 19, 2021 New POWER9 servers running new firmware won’t work with your old HMC. Rob McNelly explains why, and provides some upgrade options. Lifetime IBM Champion Jaqui Lynch recently wrote about why you need to upgrade to the latest HMC levels and how you can accomplish this … Continue reading “Standing Pat Is No Longer an Option With the HMC”
Guru: For IBM i Newcomers, An Access Client Solutions Primer
Edit: This article is an example of how pictures are worth thousands of words Originally published by IT Jungle March 1, 2021 I enjoy reading about IBM i Fresh Faces. Sure, it’s refreshing to see that it’s not just graybeards like me who are working on the platform, but what really matters is that young people … Continue reading “Guru: For IBM i Newcomers, An Access Client Solutions Primer”
Client Story, VIOS Tips, HMC News and Why You Should Move on From AIX 7.1
Edit: I really like articles that cover more than one topic Originally published by TechChannel February 17, 2021 Rob McNelly explains why older AIX versions run slower, and why it’s time to move on from AIX 7.1 Upon checking the error log, a client noticed errors that were pointing to a fiber port on their … Continue reading “Client Story, VIOS Tips, HMC News and Why You Should Move on From AIX 7.1”
Why AIX Admins Should Know vi and ksh
Edit: these are still good skills to have Originally published by TechChannel February 1, 2021 We may bash one another with our opinions, but every AIX admin needs to know vi and ksh People are pretty passionate about the tech that they use. That’s hardly a news flash. It can be argued that none of us … Continue reading “Why AIX Admins Should Know vi and ksh”
Sometimes Folks Only Learn The Hard Way About Keeping Software Current
Edit: My third post for IT Jungle Originally posted February 1, 2021 School’s been out for me for a very long time, but I still enjoy learning. I gain a sense of satisfaction whenever I learn something new. Specific to technology, exposure to new concepts helps me understand how things work together. I cannot count the … Continue reading “Sometimes Folks Only Learn The Hard Way About Keeping Software Current”
The Ultimate Set Of Tools
Edit: My second post for IT Jungle Originally posted December 14, 2020 Those of a certain age will certainly remember the moment in Fast Times At Ridgemont High when Jeff Spicoli got himself into a bind after he wrecked his friend’s car. Luckily, Spicoli’s dad was a TV repairman, and he had an ultimate set of tools. Spicoli knew … Continue reading “The Ultimate Set Of Tools”
You Can’t Just Keep Doing What You Have Always Done
Edit: My first post for IT Jungle Originally posted November 30, 2020 There are philosophical differences that exist between people regarding the best ways to configure, manage, and maintain infrastructure, and this holds as true for infrastructure built around IBM i as it is for other kinds of platforms. The easiest and fastest thing to … Continue reading “You Can’t Just Keep Doing What You Have Always Done”
Some Ideas for Expanding the Power Systems/AIX Universe
Edit: The first post for TechChannel in 2021. Originally posted January 8, 2021 Moving forward, Rob McNelly will be writing regularly on AIX, IBM Power Systems hardware and related topics for TechChannel “Hey, I heard you missed us, we’re back” – Van Halen, 1984 It’s a new year, and many changes are on the horizon. My AIXchange … Continue reading “Some Ideas for Expanding the Power Systems/AIX Universe”
AIX Security and IBM i TR Announcement Highlights
Edit: An end of an era. Originally posted December 2020 in the final issue of IBM Systems Magazine Technical Editor Rob McNelly breaks down the latest IBM i and AIX announcements In October, IBM made a series of announcements covering an array of products and offerings, including IBM Power Systems™ hardware enhancements, new AIX® features … Continue reading “AIX Security and IBM i TR Announcement Highlights”
Why You Should be Running VIOS 3.x
Edit: Hopefully you have upgraded your VIO servers by now. Originally posted November 2020 by IBM Systems Magazine Technical Editor Rob McNelly explains the advantages of upgrading your VIO server. The PowerVM® Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) provides the capability to virtualize your POWER® servers. It’s the software layer that runs between client VMs and the … Continue reading “Why You Should be Running VIOS 3.x”
Moving AIX Workloads to the Cloud
Edit: As we do more of these migrations we will all get better at it. Originally posted June 2020 by IBM Systems Magazine Q: I’m interested in moving my on-premises IBM AIX workloads to the public cloud. What are my options? Most major public cloud providers have IBM Power® hardware offerings that can run AIX®, … Continue reading “Moving AIX Workloads to the Cloud”
Graphing AIX Performance Data
Edit: This is still a relevant topic Originally posted October 2019 by IBM Systems Magazine Understand your unique environment to best collect and graph data. Q: What’s the best way to collect and graph AIX performance data? You probably won’t care for the short answer, but honestly, it depends. The best way to collect and … Continue reading “Graphing AIX Performance Data”
10 Things to Love About AIX
Edit: I miss watching the Refreshments live. Originally posted June 2019 by IBM Systems Magazine If you’ve had access to a television at any point since 1997, you’re probably familiar with the instrumental theme to the long-running animated series, “King of the Hill.” The music is performed by The Refreshments, a band from Tempe, Arizona. … Continue reading “10 Things to Love About AIX”
Data Backup Options Balance Risk and Cost
Edit: A backup without a test restore is a wish. Originally posted February 2019 by IBM Systems Magazine In some environments, disaster recovery (DR) testing and system rebuilding are ongoing. The most dedicated organizations conduct failover tests and run Live Partition Mobility (LPM) operations to evacuate frames so maintenance can be safely performed. Then LPM … Continue reading “Data Backup Options Balance Risk and Cost”
Getting Linux on POWER up and Running is Simple
Edit: It is still simple. Originally posted January 2019 by IBM Systems Magazine Many organizations operating with AIX* and IBM i environments also rely on Linux* to run their businesses. But even if you know Linux, you may not realize how easy it is to run the OS on IBM Power Systems* servers. In larger … Continue reading “Getting Linux on POWER up and Running is Simple”
NIM Server Simplifies Installing and Upgrading AIX
Edit: I still love NIM Originally posted December 2018 by IBM Systems Magazine Installing and upgrading your AIX* OS can be done in numerous ways. For starters, you can install it from base media that’s downloadable from IBM. It’s simply a matter of populating your virtual media library with the appropriate images and using virtual … Continue reading “NIM Server Simplifies Installing and Upgrading AIX”
A Closer Look at Performance and Security Updates to AIX 7.2
Edit: I am installing AIX next right now. Originally posted October 2018 by IBM Systems Magazine I still hear from people who are convinced that the AIX* OS is going away. I’ve done my best to refute these arguments by pointing out that IBM’s support of Linux* is not a threat to AIX. I’ve even … Continue reading “A Closer Look at Performance and Security Updates to AIX 7.2”
POWER9 Brings Changes to the HMC
Edit: I want my HMC. Originally posted June 2018 by IBM Systems Magazine The Hardware Management Console (HMC) is evolving, and you’ll need to adapt. IBM is moving away from the traditional x86-based hardware appliances and will only be selling POWER* processor-based 7063-CR1 HMC appliances going forward. One reason for the change is that some … Continue reading “POWER9 Brings Changes to the HMC”
An In-Depth Look at POWER9
Edit: Still love new hardware. Originally posted March 2018 by IBM Systems Magazine The POWER9 era is upon us. As you undoubtedly know, IBM announced six new POWER9 servers in February to go along with the initial POWER9 server that was unveiled in December. Following up on the introduction of the S914, L922, S922, S924, H922 and H924 boxes, IBM released rperf and CPW numbers on … Continue reading “An In-Depth Look at POWER9”
Seriously, AIX is Not Going Away
Edit: Seriously. Originally posted February 2018 by IBM Systems Magazine Lately I’ve received a number of inquiries about the future of AIX. In a sense, I understand the fears. Sometimes we hear about companies migrating from AIX. Often you’ll see Linux featured in mainstream tech media, and seldom will you find much about AIX. But AIX … Continue reading “Seriously, AIX is Not Going Away”
POWER9 Hardware and More to Look Forward to in 2018
Edit: Some links no longer work. Originally posted January 2018 by IBM Systems Magazine For most of us, the holidays are a time to unwind. Of course I say “most of us” because in IT, someone is always needed to keep tabs on those machines on the raised floor. Even though laptops, phones and VPNs … Continue reading “POWER9 Hardware and More to Look Forward to in 2018”
The Value of Performance Data
Edit: Are you tracking your system performance? Originally posted December 2017 by IBM Systems Magazine At the most recent IBM Technical University event in New Orleans, I was talking with Randy Watson of Midrange Performance Group (MPG). He mentioned that many customers don’t keep any performance data whatsoever. Randy’s words surprised me. Everyone should carefully track … Continue reading “The Value of Performance Data”
IBM Debuts Hyperconverged Servers
Edit: Have you tried this yet? Originally posted August 2017 by IBM Systems Magazine In May, IBM announced it was partnering with Nutanix to “bring new workloads to hyperconverged deployments.” In July IBM unveiled two new hyperconverged systems. So what does IBM’s move into the hyperconverged infrastructure market mean? For that matter, what is a hyperconverged infrastructure? Per Wikipedia, … Continue reading “IBM Debuts Hyperconverged Servers”
Project Monocle Will Simplify Patching
Edit: Some links no longer work. Originally posted July 2017 by IBM Systems Magazine How do you go about determining what fixes you need for your system to remain up to date? Do you use FLRT or FLRT LITE? Do you just log into IBM Fix Central and start looking at what is available? What if you had a dashboard … Continue reading “Project Monocle Will Simplify Patching”
The Great Debate: AIX Versus Linux
Edit: I talk about this all the time. Originally posted May 2017 by IBM Systems Magazine In computing circles that I’m involved with, the debate rages on: AIX versus Linux. Administrators wonder, “Why would anyone want to keep running an OS that’s supported by one single vendor? Why wouldn’t you want to move everything to … Continue reading “The Great Debate: AIX Versus Linux”
How to Download Fixes
Edit: Still a good post. Originally posted April 2017 by IBM Systems Magazine I still find customers that are unsure of how to download fixes, so I want to cover the steps that I use when I download fixes for AIX 7.2 as an example use case. When I download fixes from IBM, I go … Continue reading “How to Download Fixes”
Tools for Documentation
Edit: Some links no longer work. Originally posted August 2015 by IBM Systems Magazine Back in 2012, I wrote a blog post titled “The Case for Documentation.” Then just recently, a reader made a comment: “I see in 3 years there has not been a single comment on this article. I’ve been so deep into … Continue reading “Tools for Documentation”
To VIOS or Not to VIOS Revisited
Edit: Still worth considering. Originally posted September 2014 by IBM Systems Magazine In 2010, I wrote an article that covered the pros and cons of the virtual I/O server (VIOS). It’s still a topic that I run into today, especially as more IBM i customers consider attaching to SANs. In the article, I mentioned some of the … Continue reading “To VIOS or Not to VIOS Revisited”
IBM Delivers With POWER8
Edit: And now I wait for POWER10. Originally posted April 2014 by IBM Systems Magazine POWER8 technology created some buzz when it was first discussed at the Hot Chips conference and slides that describe the chips could be found online before today. But now we have more information about the actual systems that will be shipping when they become … Continue reading “IBM Delivers With POWER8”
Top 10 Reasons AIX Will Endure
Edit: Still good stuff. Originally posted June 2013 by IBM Systems Magazine The AIX* operating system continues to be a leader in the UNIX* marketplace. AIX celebrated 25 years in 2011, and users have every reason to expect that the operating system will continue to evolve and move forward for the next 25. Businesses of … Continue reading “Top 10 Reasons AIX Will Endure”