iSeries Customers: Considering Upgrading to V5R4?

Many of our iSeries customers have a ‘window’ in December where they can take advantage of performing system upgrades. If you are one of those customers, you might consider upgrading your iSeries operating system to V5R4. Here are just a few reasons for you to upgrade:

  • Your vendor software’s latest release or enhancements requires V5R4
  • You have seen the new IBM Web Query product and want to try it out (it requires V5R4)
  • You need to shorten your backup window: How about backing up directly to disk using a virtual tape drive? Backing up directly to disk is the fastest method available, and with V5R4 virtual tape drives, you are no longer limited to one library at a time as you were when using save files.
  • You would like to be able to save and restore spool files. Not spool files which have been converted to database files, but actual spool files. You can do that with V5R4.
  • V5 R4 takes full advantage of the enhanced query optimizer engine so your large SQL requests may run significantly faster.
  • New SQL Resource governor allows you to control runaway queries.
  • Many new tools in Operations Navigator to assist in analyzing database access and large SQL jobs.
  • Many new programming functions, including
    • Free format SQL in ILE RPG
    • Subroutines in CL programs
  • Speed up your SNA over IP communications with the new High Performance Routing feature
  • You want to upgrade your Domino server to the new V8. (requires V5R4)
    • Additional hardware supported:
    • iSCSI adapters
    • IOPless adapters
    • System i models 515 & 525, and Power6 570
    •  RAID Hot-Spare support

Did you know that:

  • V5R4 has been available since February of 2006? (Almost two years ago)
  •  You will no longer be able to order V5R3 as of January 4, 2008
  • V6R1 was pre-announced in October and will be available in early 2008

It may be time for you to upgrade to V5R4. I3 Business Solutions can assist you with those upgrade efforts. We have already upgraded many of our customers to V5R4. We understand the prerequisites and planning steps required for a successful upgrade. We help to make the upgrade more efficient and less stressful for you.

Please contact i3 Business Solutions Doug Worden at 269-599-6180 or dworden@i3BusinessSolutions.com  to find out how we can help you with your iSeries/System i technical support needs.