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Infrastructure
Along with porting the application code itself to the iSeries servers, you need to consider
on-going support of iSeries servers, called infrastructure, including:
- System resources (hardware and software)
- Acquiring skills (training)
- Tools and Procedures
- Build
- Quality assurance/test
- Support
System Resources
To develop, test, and support your solution on an iSeries server, you will need to acquire a server,
including hardware, operating system and related software. There are several sources from which you can acquire or access a server.
PartnerWorld for Developer members can acquire iSeries servers at a discount (if purchased) or
through the Developer Lease program. If you are not already a member, you want to register at the PartnerWorld Web site. This site contains a wealth of information for IBM Business Partners and developers. Registration is fast and free.
Further, PartnerWorld for Developer members may
utilize resources of the
IBM Innovation Centers for Business Partners.
If you are doing a proof of concept on Linux, consider the
the Linux on iSeries
Test Drive.
Acquiring Skills (Training)
Long-term support of the iSeries server should include investment in training and education for your staff (developers, administrators, operations and support staff).
There are several options for iSeries education, and training:
- The iSeries topics offered
as part of the IBM eServer campus,
including computer-based training and traditional classroom education.
- PartnerWorld also offers
educational materials
- Fast Track Introduction to IBM eServer iSeries, a three-day hands-on workshop including
fundamental iSeries concepts and functions.
Contact us for details on current course offering.
Tools and Procedures
Tools and procedures include adding iSeries as an ongoing platform in your application development life cycle.
Topics, as mentioned earlier, include:
- Build
- Quality assurance/test
- Support
Build
You will need to integrate an iSeries server into your existing build process. Over the past several years,
there has been significant IBM investment such that iSeries application development build
can be remarkably similar to that of (for example) UNIX and Windows.
An overview of Application Development tool environments available on iSeries servers can be found in
the iSeries Application Development Directions
white paper.
The following is information on development tools developed specifically for iSeries,
or ported to iSeries (for example from UNIX and Windows):
Quality Assurance/Testing
Quality assurance and testing, as well as benchmarking,
are recurring tasks performed as new versions of your application are released.
Quality assurance is a high priority for OS/400 releases. Correspondingly,
iSeries customers have come to expect high quality. You will want nothing less
for your solution on an iSeries server.
Quality assurance and testing is accomplished, to a large degree, through scripted programs
(shell scripts, PERL, REXX) similar to other platforms. In addition, much testing is
accomplished via native OS/400 Control Language (CL) programming.
Scripting resources include:
Scalability testing may be accomplished through
iSeries customer benchmark centers.
Support
iSeries servers have a history of outstanding customer support.
You will also want to ensure that your support team has
the iSeries skills to work with iSeries customers using terms familiar to them.
IBM also has an outstanding history of working jointly with solution developers to solve problems.
For information on worldwide
iSeries support contacts, see the
iSeries Support Guide. As
as related matter, you may want to
deliver fixes to iSeries customers
in a manner that is consistent with their expection.
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