Good, Better, Best–a Review of an Award Winning Case Study a Decade Later

This PowerUp blog entry was written by Nigel Fortlage. An IBM Champion for Power, Fortlage is CIO and VP of IT for GHY International.

In 2002 my company, GHY, approached the end of lease of its existing IBM midrange server. This was not a new occurrence as we had started with the platform in 1989 on our original AS/400 B35. We thought our 2002 experience would be like the other times when we did an equipment roll over. Little did we know that was the start of a journey over the last decade that won awards, solved problems, enabled service improvements and powered innovation. As you will come to learn, this is not the journey at its conclusion, but rather a review of an ongoing story that focuses on business needs, user satisfaction and always chasing the vision of making IT simple.

In the blog entry, I will be reviewing the details behind the story, helping others understand not only the technological gains and rationale, but the business case created and approved that allowed this story to unfold.

The Story of GHY

In 2002 we upgraded our eServer 720 to an iSeries 270 and 820 that went into service in 2003. That brought into play the first virtualization and server consolidation activity at GHY. At this time, we left most of the Intel workloads on stand-alone boxes. It also set the bar for the gains we recognized and continue to benchmark against in order to preserve the level of simplicity that it introduced to our operations. Of most significance was the shift from spending time being reactive to being proactive, and focusing on the business and user needs.

Eighteen months later we were given the opportunity to begin planning for POWER5 technology, which went live in 2005. Of most significance with this platform, like the new PureFlex system, could run all four operating systems (OS/400–now i, AIX, Linux and Windows) in virtual machines simultaneously. The OS/400, AIX and Linux environments were IBM POWER technology-based LPARs, while the Windows server instances ran natively on cards (blades) that were installed in the I/O chassis of the machine.  One key difference between the current design of the new PureFlex systems and that design was that PureFlex uses a hypervisor that is independent of the operating system. With the POWER5 environment, on the other hand, OS/400 managed the whole solution and treated AIX and Linux as guest operating systems under OS/400 management.  This was our first exposure to hyper reliable Windows servers that didn’t require regular rebooting because of the OS/400 oversight and memory management of the Windows servers.

The key business deliverable in this initiative was maintaining the many hard and soft gains we had from the first step in our journey, but also providing environment choice for the business to select applications that suited their needs rather than applications that fit what we had. It was during this phase that we replaced all of our core business systems as we had no technology constraints holding us back.

With the economic downturn that began in 2008, like many businesses we had to maintain status quo as growth was tempered. It was at this time, as we held our own, that I added an element of business development to my corporate role along with my VP IT role. As the business became hyper focused on delivering new added value and growth-oriented strategies, we were able to start planning in 2009 for growth as the world economy started to come out of the depths of the downturn. That planning resulted in delivery of what I have been told is the world’s first commercially sold POWER7 server to our data center in January 2010.

POWER7 technology represents a fundamental shift from POWER5 technology. This has enabled steady growth using this platform without additional investment from the business. We also were able to use some of the industry “best practices” by adding our first SAN from IBM using multitiered storage to support storage virtualization, adding VMware to virtualize Intel workloads and adding fibre switching to connect everything. This added new layers to manage but virtualized our data center. 

The business outcomes with this solution were both hard and soft. We first wanted to maintain the gains we had from our 2003 and 2005 initiatives, and we added new capabilities for growth enablement such as running Intel technology-based Linux workloads on IBM Power, which extended the value proposition of the Power server. The technology was much “greener” with regard to power and cooling—our data center is running at least 4 degrees cooler with that hardware and our UPS battery power has longer run times when supporting this new platform. That green message is very powerful when taken to market. I learned this when new marketing responsibilities was added to my existing IT leadership position.

What's Next?

So now in front of us is a decision to consider our end-of-lease actions in 2014. Do we hold our own as we have no capacity reasons to help drive these discussions as the introduction of POWER7 addressed that exceptionally.  The pureFlex System offers many benefits that we see as worth talking about but here is the list of factors as we see them today:

• The economy will be a large driver
• Reducing complexity in IT will be a key driver
• Simplifying management under one pane of glass is critical
• Preserving all of our gains through this last decade is key
• Allowing for growth without constantly going back year after year to ask for more funds is critical

Each point has its own business (not IT) story. I will share that during the session at the IBM Power Technical University in Las Vegas on Oct. 29 to Nov. 2. If you’re planning to attend, come on out to one of the sessions: Tuesday, Oct 30, 11:45 a.m. and Wednesday, Oct 31 4:15 p.m.

About GHY International

Founded in Winnipeg in 1901 by George Henry Young, GHY International is one of Canada’s oldest customs brokerage companies, and is family owned and managed by the fourth-generation great grandson of Mr. Young, Richard Riess. In February 2012, GHY International was recognized as the only Gold Standard Level certified provider of exclusive customs brokerage services in North America by Canada's 50 Best Managed Companies. This is the fourth year in a row of qualification for the firm.

 Over the years, the company has grown to become national and international in scope, with more than 100 employees providing Canadian and U.S. importers and exporters with a full range of international trade services leveraged around our core competency of Customs Brokerage, International Trade Compliance and International Trade Risk Management.

About Nigel Fortlage

  I am a passionate leader who happens to oversee technology. I believe that technology is best leveraged as an enabler. I see possibilities and solutions, not roadblocks and barriers. I lead an award winning team of professionals who fuel my desire to push the boundaries in all things we do. I enjoy a wide diverse portfolio of responsibility. I oversee all aspects of social media as part of our overall business development strategy. I actively participate in business development opportunities including client visits and sales calls. I share my passion, knowledge, and insights through written articles, interviews, public speaking venues nationally and internationally, and in person. I started my working life on the vendor side. I strive to develop partnerships in all aspects of delivering customer care. I have a Certificate in Applied Management: Information Technology Specialization through the University of Manitoba. Accepted the IBM Innovation Award for the iSeries server on behalf of GHY International in Chicago in 2005.

 

 

Rebuilding the IBM i Empire

This PowerUp blog post was written by Brian Lannoye, a programmer at Masters Gallery Foods Inc., in Plymouth, Wis. He’s been working there as a programmer on the IBM i platform since June 2010.

I recently had a conversation with my former ILE instructor, Jim Buck, and somewhere between subprocedures and sailboats we got onto the subject of schools (or lack thereof) teaching for the IBM i.  Currently, 96 schools worldwide teach at least one course related to the IBM i platform, and of those only 44 are in the U.S., according to Peter Glass, program manager for Power Systems Academic Initiative.

In addition, many new ILE developers are not in their 20s. They are 35 to 45. They lose their job or change careers in their mid 30s, like me for instance, and are re-trained for the IBM platform. Some believe that our platform is on a slow decline to extinction.  Let’s assume that’s true. What can the ILE developer do about it?

Everyone on this platform has a responsibility—a duty—to keep it alive and strong. To grow, not just maintain. To maintain something is just another way of saying you are delaying its inevitable demise. We have a unique platform that performs faster, is more reliable and easier to maintain than others. But like anybody, sometimes we can be slow to embrace change.

Build on IBM i’s Strong Heritage

Trevor Perry, an independent consultant who spoke at the iBelieve NY event last month, was quoted by IT Jungle as saying, "We (the IBM i community) have a very strong heritage, and sometimes people get our heritage confused with our future." In that same article Timothy Prickett-Morgan goes on to say, “We all need to learn new things that are part of the IBM i platform and make sure they actually get used solving real business problems. It is difficult, and frustrating. But it needs to be done.” 
Is he right? 

You bet he’s right! How many of you reading this refuse to use a microwave because the stovetop is good enough? How many of you are still driving the 1988 car of the year, the Pontiac Grand Prix, because those new cars have way too much technology?  So why should we shut our minds to the latest and greatest IBM has to offer? 

RPGLE has been around for nearly a decade. Why is it when I search for a solution on the Web, all I get is punch card RPG examples? I guarantee no 20-plus year old is going to be inspired by that. When they see a service program, the i equivalent of a .dll being used by four different programs, they will be more likely to see what we’re all about. 

The same goes for the user interface. Who’s developing apps with a modern front end?  Even on the green screen, where can we as developers improve the user experience? Programs shouldn’t be rigid and difficult to figure out. They should be intuitive. They should be designed for the novice and expert alike. If I have to read a manual every time I want to perform a task on an application, chances are I’m not going to use that app. On the other hand, once I understand the basics, I want to move on and start learning the shortcuts. The Windows world has been doing this for years, and there is no reason we can’t as well.

Bottom line is, even if you are a 64-year-old ILE developer who plans to retire next year, don’t ever give up. Make it a point to experiment. Try something new every day. What’s the saying? Life begins at the edge of your comfort zone? Coding in fixed? Try converting some of it to /free. Using SEU? Try Rational Developer for Power once a week. Building a work file? Try some SQL instead. Rational offers a great free SQL editor and database explorer called Data Studio. I’ve been using it since I started at Masters Gallery. 

Still using subroutines? Try converting one to a local procedure. Add parameters to it, or have it return a value. Then convert it into a separate module, and bind it with the program. Get on the blogs and discussion boards and ask questions. Share your thoughts about what works for you and what doesn’t. By doing these things, you may help or inspire a new ILE developer.

Rome wasn’t built in a day, but Rome would have never happened if a whole lot of people didn’t take the steps necessary to grow.

My Redbooks Writing Experience

This PowerUp blog entry was written by Rick Flagler, a consultant and educator with 30-plus years' experience on IBM i and various ERP systems. He teaches IBM i classes at Keene State College and specializes in DB2/SQL and RPG.

Are you passionate about some aspect of IBM i systems? Did you ever want to write a book? If these two things intersect for you, then maybe doing a residency at IBM is for you.

I did this during the summer of 2012, spending June as part of a team working on a Redbooks publication in Rochester, Minn. In case you are unfamiliar with the term, a Redbooks publication is developed with the guidance of IBM's International Technical Support Organization (ITSO) and focuses on a technical topic of interest.

Redbooks publications are how-to books describing hardware or software products and capabilities. They also typically contain a wealth of information for the readers, enabling them to use the described product(s) more effectively. Residency participants are selected from ranks of IBM employees, customers and business partners. The subject of our residency was DB2 Web Query, an implementation guide that spans installation, setup, capabilities and tips. The team was a multicultural and multinational group with members from Germany, Italy, China, Japan, Indonesia, Nicaragua and the U.S.

My interest in this project stemmed from a long-time desire to do a Redbooks publication, my DB2 expertise over 30 years working on IBM i and its predecessors, and a deep interest in business-intelligence (BI) tools and metrics. I'd been Involved in projects to build or renovate DB2 databases originally built on DDS. Because I teach DB2/SQL at Keene State College, I need to stay abreast of advancements in SQL and query technology. I've enjoyed working  with DB2 for i and DB2 Web Query is a great addition to the IBM i arsenal. The opportunity to go to the source and work with the new release of DB2 Web Query before it hit the streets was one that I didn't want to pass up. It was sort of like attending COMMON but staying for a month! 

IBM publishes a list of open residencies on the Redbooks website, click on the Residencies link. Getting accepted isn't difficult but it helps to have complementary experience on the residency’s topic and sufficient enthusiasm to go the distance.  Many times it’s more about timing and whether you can set aside other activities for between four and six weeks. Not everybody can do that but if the justification is what's bothering you, think what benefits accrue from a chance to immerse yourself in the technology, meet the experts and play with the software or hardware for several weeks. The benefits last long after the project is complete. 

The Residency Experience

I was lucky that the timing was right for me. After some planning, I loaded up a big suitcase and headed to Rochester for the month. I had been there before about a decade earlier, but the instructions “watch for the Big Blue building on your left, you can't miss it," still gave me a sense of anticipation as I drove up Highway 52 through Rochester toward the facility. 

After checking in and meeting the rest of the team, we landed in a well-equipped conference room that would be our daily home for the next four weeks. Outside was the "lab", an area housing more racks of Power Systems than most people ever see. Officially titled as IBM Lab Systems and Storage and Technology Group, the folks manning these systems do benchmarks and testing and proof-of-concept activities. They'd carved out a couple LPARs on which we could do our work. A sign on the wall said "Welcome to Rochester where the winters are cold but the systems are Hot!" 

The first couple days were spent familiarizing ourselves with Version 2.1 of Web Query. The product has been frequently updated since it debuted but this was a bigger update. For example, In V2.1 the Web-based Info Assist development tool becomes the primary user interface for report, chart and document development, replacing Report Assistant, Graph Assistant and Power Painter, which were present in the previous version. 

To help us get up to speed, we heard presentations from experts and were able to pose questions to a number of support people and developers from the Rochester team. Next we had time to play with the software and because the product was still in beta, a few bugs required work-arounds at first, as might be expected. Part of our mission was to shake out the software by doing things that typical clients, consultants and developers might do. In most cases features worked pretty much as we expected them to and the transition from the old version to the new version was less painful than we thought it would be.

The version 2 guide, like its version 1 predecessor, contains several tutorials and examples. We revised these and added new chapters for topics such as Mobile Favorites, dealing with viewing BI presentations on tablets and phones. Our mission to rewrite this book and bring it up to speed including any screenshots or examples for the existing and new functionality of Web Query.  By the time we were done, the draft of the book was some 900 pages in length. You'll be able to download this publication sometime this fall from the Redbooks site. The prior version was one of the most frequently downloaded books and this one probably will be too.

It wasn't all work and no play. Downtown Rochester hosts an event called Thursday 1st and 3rd. This is held weekly at the junction of 1st and 3rd streets downtown, on Thursday nights of course. Varieties of live music, artists, crafts-people and food are served. Our predominately non-U.S. team enjoyed experiencing every aspect of this offering, trying new foods and buying some souvenirs. One Thursday evening we unexpectedly got trapped in a Mayo Clinic lobby waiting out a fierce storm and accompanying downpour. On a weekend day we took a road trip to local caves where we ended up some 200 feet beneath the Minnesota farm country, in caverns spanning miles underground. We visited the National Eagle Center where bald eagles live near the Mississippi River.

We also got a tour of the IBM Rochester facility and saw where Power Systems servers are born,  including the very interesting Custom Solutions Center, where IBM can basically create whatever a client wants and then support it. 

Productive and Fun

The four weeks I spent in Rochester will go down as some of the most productive AND fun times I’ve had with a group of technology colleagues. We came, we wrote, and we met new people and made new friends. I recommend Rochester for the city’s hospitality and IBM Rochester and the IBM ITSO group for providing interesting learning opportunities (and hot systems).