IBM Redbooks: A Look at the Website’s 3 Tabs
Joseph Gulla explains the different tabs on the IBM Redbooks website.
In this post, I am continuing this series on IBM Redbooks, which contain content developed and published by the IBM Systems Worldwide Client Experience Center. I began this series with an introduction writing how Redbooks develop and deliver skills, technical know-how and materials to IBM technical professionals, business partners, clients and the marketplace. I continued with the series last week, with a focus on the diverse and interesting content currently featured on the site. This week, I’ll focus on more dynamic website content in the areas of new releases, trending and residencies.
Three Tabs on the Website
Information on new releases, trending and residencies are contained in three tabs on the website just below the featured content. The appearance is shown below, including the first publication that’s part of new releases content.
New Redbooks Releases in More Detail
The new releases tab is the first tab you’ll see to the left. Here, you’ll find a discussion of the first five books that are on the page:
1. “IBM CICS Performance Series: CICS TS for z/OS V5 Performance Report”
With a focus on IBM Z software, this 260-page Redbooks report was published Aug. 8, 2019. It was written by members of the IBM Hursley CICS development community. This IBM Redbooks report gives a broad understanding of most important concepts that are used when describing IBM CICS Transaction Server for IBM z/OS performance. This publication also describes many of the significant performance improvements that can be realized by upgrading your environment to the most recent release of CICS TS, including V5.5.
2. “IBM Spectrum Scale Immutability Introduction, Configuration Guidance, and Use Cases”
This 30-page Redpaper publication introduces the IBM Spectrum Scale immutability function that can be used for many purposes. This publication also provides guidance for implementing IT security aspects in an IBM Spectrum Scale cluster by addressing regulatory requirements. It describes two typical use cases for managing immutable files. This storage solutions document was published July 30, 2018 with an update on Aug. 2, 2019.
3. “Securing Your Cloud: IBM Security for LinuxONE”
This publication was produced by a team of specialists from around the world working at the
International Technical Support Organization, Poughkeepsie Center. As some workloads are being moved to IBM LinuxONE-based cloud environments, it is important to ensure that these workloads and environments are secure. This IBM Redbooks describes the necessary steps to secure your environment from the hardware level through all of the components that are involved in a LinuxONE cloud infrastructure that use Linux and IBM z/VM. This 256 page LinuxONE Redbooks publication was published on July 30, 2019.
4. “Implementing the IBM Storwize V5000 Gen2 (including the Storwize V5010, V5020, and V5030) with IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.2.1”
This 840-page Redbooks publication looks at the IBM Storwize V5000 Gen2 system that provides a solution that’s affordable, easy to use and self-optimizing, which enables organizations to overcome their storage challenges. What challenges? Organizations of all sizes face the challenge of managing massive volumes of increasingly valuable data. But storing this data can be costly and extracting value from the data is becoming more challenging. IT organizations have limited resources but must stay responsive to dynamic environments and act quickly to consolidate, simplify and optimize their IT infrastructures. In the category of storage solutions, this piece was published on April 26, 2019 and last updated Aug. 1, 2019. This publication was produced by a team of specialists from around the world working at the International Technical Support Organization, San Jose Center.
5. “Introduction and Implementation of Data Reduction Pools and Deduplication”
This storage software publication explores data reduction pools and deduplication powered by IBM Spectrum Virtualize, which are innovative storage features that deliver essential storage efficiency technologies and exceptional ease of use and performance, all integrated into a proven design. The 122-page publication was published Nov. 26, 2018 and was last updated July 30, 2019.
There is no question that IBM Redbooks publications are going strong. Just look at the diversity of the recent releases.
Trending: What People are Downloading
There is a trending tab. Here is a list of the first five items that are on the page:
| Title | Category | Download Count | Publication Data |
| “z/OS Introduction” | IBM Z software | Downloaded 3,459 times last month | Published April 23, 2018’ last updated May 31, 2018 |
| “IBM Power Systems S922, S914, and S924 Technical Overview and Introduction” | IBM Power Systems | Downloaded 1,833 times last month | Published July 26, 2018; last updated May 8, 2019 |
| “Implementing the IBM Storwize V5000 Gen2 (including the Storwize V5010, V5020, and V5030) with IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.2.1” | Storage solutions | Downloaded 1,747 times last month | Published April 26, 2019 |
| “Implementing the IBM Storwize V7000 with IBM Spectrum Virtualize V8.2.1” | Software defined storage | Downloaded 1,511 times last month | Published June 3, 2019 |
| “Introduction to Storage Area Networks” | Storage networking | Downloaded 1,459 times last month | Published Dec. 19, 2017; last updated Oct. 9, 2018 |
The list above looks at only the first five of the most downloaded IBM Redbooks publications published over the last two years. Most of these Redbooks publications are available in Adobe PDF format and may be viewed online or downloaded for offline viewing and printing.
Residencies: What’s Next
The last of three tabs is the residencies tab. IBM Redbooks publications are developed through a unique program (the Residency) that teams IBM technical professionals with business partners, customers and IBM product development staff. Depending on the market needs of a product or solution, a team of residents is chosen through a competitive nomination process and works at one of the centers for two to eight weeks, devoted to developing IBM Redbooks publications. Currently, there are two residencies listed:
1. IBM AIX Market Place Cloud with PowerVM and PowerVC, PW-9002-R01
The planned start date is Sept. 9, ending Oct. 4 (four weeks). Not accepting nominations yet.
2. IBM i using POWER9-based Technology, PW-9003-R01
The planned start is Oct. 14, wrapping up Nov. 8 (four weeks). Not accepting nominations yet.
Next week, I’ll finish the series by exploring a few of the most compelling books and collections.