IBM has just declared that my 5 year old IBM iSeries has reached “End of Life” and IBM will shortly cease offering maintenance and support. Its time once again to buy the newest model, or is it? IBM recently made available the IBM iSeries environment for deployment in the cloud. The full functionality, speed, and reliability of the iSeries can now execute on your new on-site local hardware OR remotely in a secure data center. So how do we decide which way to go. Well that all depends. Let’s explore the pros and cons via the analogy of buying or renting a car.
PERFORMANCE and CAPACITY
If I’m buying a vehicle, I need to make sure I have enough seats and horsepower to accommodate my family. My server requires enough processor speed, memory, and disk capacity to satisfy my users. Typically, you would overbuy server capacity to make sure costly upgrades were not required….OR
Cloud allows you to dynamically add performance and capacity as needed. Rent precisely only what you need. Save money and maximize performance.
RELIABILITY and AVAILABILITY
My Car/Server is parked at my home in my fortified, locked garage provisioned with redundant backup power, security cameras and restricted access. In case of failure, I call my IBM mechanic who travels to my residence with the exact part that is required. In case a tornado destroys the place, not to worry; all my tape backups are in another location. I have insurance to pay for a new Server that IBM can provision in perhaps a week; and I can delay payroll until the new Server arrives…OR
My Rental Car/Server is parked in a secure, fortified data center with super redundant internet and power. If disaster strikes the data center, I can restore my environment from backups that were automatically performed via a direct non-tape disk to disk process. My backup is located in a completely separate data center. A new cloud environment could be provisioned in a matter of a few days. Business Continuity Achieved.
IBM i OPERATING SYSTEM RELEASE UPDATES
New functionality and the closure of security threats are provided via PTF’s and OS Release Level updates. Think of having to change your oil, rotate your tires, etc. Your server should be running the latest OS level which is V7R4. Just like taking your car to the dealership, applying PTF’s and migrating to the next OS release level take time, cause downtime, and cost money… OR
The cloud environment is automatically maintained at the latest and greatest IBM i Release and PTF level which provides enhanced functionality and security protection.
COST
One typically purchases a car because one thinks that it will last five years and have some resale value. Unfortunately, old servers have no value and the acquisition process must repeat again…OR
Save your capital and always ride in the newest car.
“NO WORRIES” With the CLOUD everything is included: backups, security, release updates, anywhere remote access, on-demand storage, hardware and system software maintenance.
Data Systems Management 