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NoSQL Databases: Frequently Asked Questions
January 25, 2021
Q: What is NoSQL? When you hear someone use the term NoSQL, they’re referring to non-relational databases. Some people will tell you that NoSQL stands for “non SQL.” However, the more fitting term is “not only SQL” as some NoSQL databases continue to support SQL. NoSQL databases utilize a flexible system of storing data, compared […]
ArticlesGetting the Most From Your Application Development Tools
January 25, 2021
This past summer I tackled the daunting project of rebuilding an outdoor deck. My collection of tools is hardly of beginner level, but surely not contractor grade either. There was one particularly onerous section that was too difficult for my carpentry pay grade and it was blatantly obvious a trained professional was in order. When […]
ArticlesUnderstanding IMS OTMA Commit Mode and Synchronization Level
January 25, 2021
The IMS OTMA client communicates information to IMS and receives information from IMS in a prefix passed in front of the message (or command). Among several information present in the prefix are COMMIT MODE and SYNCHRONIZATION (SYNC) LEVEL. OTMA SYNC Level The OTMA client specifies the sync level on each input message. The OTMA sync […]
ArticlesWhat Coding Language Should You Teach Yourself?
January 25, 2021
Coding and programming are major additions to any worker’s skillset and can make the job market a much easier place to navigate. Companies everywhere are looking for candidates who are already trained in various coding languages, and the good news is that with all the online resources available for free, it’s easy to teach yourself […]
ArticlesIBM i Performance Data Investigator: Memory Allocation Perspectives
January 22, 2021
IBM’s recent enhancements to the Performance Data Investigator (PDI) charting engine includes some new memory perspectives (charts) which provide additional usage statistics that help visualize and understand memory usage on your IBM i partition. IBM i memory tuning has traditionally been a dark art: adjust tuning parameters and see how the system behaves. It was […]
ArticlesBridging the Generational Gap
January 22, 2021
It’s no secret that mainframes are still relevant and constantly changing to keep with the new demands for increased speed and stability. The new machines are being built smaller and are processing faster than ever before. This evolution triggers the same questions at conferences, resource planning, and even with vendors: How can we plan for […]
ArticlesA Beginner’s Guide to NoSQL
January 19, 2021
Traditionally the way that SQL works is through relational databases. As such, it tends to run into certain issues, for example, complex design due to needing to avoid data duplication. Another big issue is the fact that SQL is only vertically scalable, and therefore can become quite expensive as a project expands. NoSQL was made […]
ArticlesUnderstanding How a ‘CM0 SL1’ Input Message Sent to IMS Connect Works in the Case of a Client NAK
January 15, 2021
IMS Connect (ICON) is the TCP/IP gateway for IMS. So, besides running the traditional IMS transactions on z/OS, an IMS programmer/database administrator (DBA) can now leverage applications running on the distributed side of the world (a Java web application, for example) to be able to easily talk to IMS databases. The Java web application would […]
ArticlesAutomate Your TSO Logons With Vista TN3270 Application Macros and a Windows Batch (.bat) File
January 13, 2021
In this tutorial, we look at all the steps that are involved in the process of automating TSO logons, using the Vista TN3270 application and a Windows Batch (.bat) file. Components Involved Step by Step Instructions Step 1: Create a new session file for your Vista TN3270 Terminal session Application As the very first step, […]
Articles2 Recent IBM i Enhancements
January 13, 2021
IBM recently delivered two enhancements to the operating system via PTFs and documented these enhancements on the General IBM i Operating System web page. Improvements to Restricted State This enhancement appears to be a stealth change, as I cannot find any mention of it in announcement materials. I found this enhancement by going to the […]
PodcastsMarina Schwenk on COMMON, Women in IT, and Unit Testing
January 12, 2021
Pictured above: Marina Schwenk (left) and Charlie Guarino (right) Charlie Guarino: Hi, everybody. I'm Charlie Guarino. Welcome to TechTalk SMB. Our first guest ever is an IBM software developer and admin, and somebody who is definitely not letting grass grow under her feet. I am very happy to introduce to our podcast, Marina Schwenk. Marina, […]
PodcastsEd Jaffe on SHARE, JES3, FORTRAN and More
January 11, 2021
Reg Harbeck: Hi, this is Reg Harbeck and I’m here today with my friend and colleague Ed Jaffe, who is really a mover and shaker in the world of mainframe, really active at SHARE and a major aficionado of JES3 and also of bourbon. Well before giving everything away, Ed, tell us about yourself. How […]
ArticlesThe Business Benefits of Modernizing IBM Z and IBM i
January 8, 2021
The title of a new white paper from IDC and sponsored by Rocket Software, “The Quantified Business Benefits of Modernizing IBM Z and IBM i to Spur Innovation,” authored by Peter Rutten, an IDC research director in the infrastructure group, pretty much gives away the report’s central premise. But what are the factors behind this […]
ArticlesSome Ideas for Expanding the Power Systems/AIX Universe
January 8, 2021
“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 blog will remain on the website, and all of my previous work, going back to the early 2000s, is archived on robmcnelly.com—but moving forward, I’ll be writing regularly on AIX, […]
ArticlesLooking Back at 2020: Changes, Innovations and More
January 8, 2021
2020 must have been the year that no-one expected in the early hours January 1 as they celebrated its arrival. According to the Collins Dictionary, the word “lockdown” had a 6,000% increase in usage since 2019. The other pandemic-related words on the dictionary’s list of the top 10 words for 2020 were: “coronavirus,” “social distancing,” […]
ArticlesThe Shift to Virtual Training
January 6, 2021
The COVID-19 pandemic changed the face of how we interact with one another, prompting a switch to virtual strategies regarding event planning, community connectivity, training methodologies and more. To help you understand and navigate these changes, TechChannel sat down with Jim Buck and Michelle Lyons of imPower Technologies, LLC, and Jon Paris and Susan Gantner […]
ArticlesThe Future of Virtual Events
December 22, 2020
When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Angela Brown, SVP and GM of events for The Linux Foundation, and her team had to pivot quickly to figure out what their virtual events strategy would look like. “One misconception is that virtual events are easier to put on than a physical event,” Brown says. “Most people would assume […]
ArticlesMiddleware Is a Surprising Category of Software
December 16, 2020
IT Trendz has explored several main ideas revolving around middleware in 2020. Joseph Gulla reminisces in his latest post.
ArticlesContinuous Change in Systems, Networks and Applications
December 8, 2020
Joseph Gulla looks back back on some of the main ideas explored in IT Trendz in 2020.
Articles4 Customer Journeys From Tape to Cloud
December 8, 2020
Necessity, it’s been said, is the mother of invention. Such was the case when information technology outsourcing (ITO) company Blue Hill Data Services faced a number of obstacles as it prepared for the data migration of four mainframe-based customers (including a state pension fund, a large state government, a state government department of labor and […]
ArticlesMainframe Executives From Across the Industry on Diversity, Inclusion and Equity
December 4, 2020
On November 12, 2020, Broadcom, IBM, Rocket Software, VirtualZ Computing and IBM Systems Media sponsored “Making Our Strong Community, Stronger,” a webinar on diversity, inclusion and equity that posed the question to mainframe leaders: “What are you doing about it?” Dr. Gloria Chance moderated the event, discussing current diversity efforts at the four companies, why […]
ArticlesSubhasish Sarkar on Being Active as a Mainframer
December 1, 2020
Reg Harbeck: Hi, this is Reg Harbeck and today I'm here with my fellow IBM mainframe Champion, Subhasish Sarkar. Subhasish is based in India and he is a very, very, very active mainframer. I just, my mind boggles at how much stuff this guy does, and so I'm just really delighted to be interviewing him […]
ArticlesThe Roadmap to 2032 and Beyond Helps Ensure the Future of IBM i
November 30, 2020
In early 2020, organizations focused on moving to remote work and changing their operating model. However, issues on the table before the pandemic must still be resolved. For some businesses, the pandemic has cemented the need for flexible work environments, leveraging the latest in mobile software as well as implementing cloud, and integrating IoT technology […]
ArticlesGet Involved With the IBM Community
November 17, 2020
Innovation has become a regular part of the technology industry. But the community in this industry can be just as influential as technological innovation—something that’s become increasingly clear since the IBM Community was created two years ago. In that short amount of time, the IBM Community has grown to over 76,000 active members, and ranges […]
ArticlesIBM Introduces AI Platform to Accelerate Vaccine Design and Testing
November 2, 2020
Though the impact of COVID-19 has been arduous for many industries, some companies have met the challenge head on. Specifically, IBM introduced a new AI platform, RoboRXN, designed to support scientists in their efforts to discover and test new drugs. The platform is just one of the innovative tools for fighting the virus that have emerged in […]