2009 Archived COMMON Webcasts / Webinars

The Web-based educational sessions below have already taken place, and can be accessed in their archived form. Note that some are accessible only to COMMON members with a current COMMON ID and password.

What You Need to Know and Understand to do Successful i5/OS
V6R1 & V6R1M1 Upgrades

Speaker: Pete Massiello, iTech Solutions

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
When doing an upgrade to i5/OS, there is more work involved in the planning of the upgrade than in the actual upgrade itself. When you have done the planning, the actual upgrade is simple. We will cover planning tips, pre-requisites, the upgrade itself, and then post installation requirements. Your upgrade
isn't complete until this last step is done. While this presentation will focus on upgrading to V6R1 & V6R1M1, if you are upgrading to an earlier release, you will still learn a lot.

By the end of this presentation, attendees will understand:

1. What steps are required for an upgrade.
2. What to check for the upgrade.
3. What needs to be done afterwards to ensure success.

About the Speaker:
Pete Massiello has been working with the AS/400, iSeries, i5 since 1989, focusing on systems management and technical support. He has held numerous technical positions throughout his career. He is the President of iTech Solutions Group, an IBM Advanced Business Partner delivering solutions and services to System i shops throughout the US. He is a member of IBM’s certification test writing team, an IBM eServer Certified Systems Expert with certifications in iSeries Design, Administration, Implementation, LPAR, and HMC management. Pete has a BS in Computer Science from Hofstra University, and an MBA from the University of New Haven. He is President of the Fairfield CT AS/400 User Group (FASUG), a current member of the COMMON Board of Directors, and a frequent speaker at user groups.

Subsystems 101

Speaker: Chuck Stupca, IBM

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
This will be an introduction to subsystems on IBM i for those new to IBM i or for those needing a refresher course. We'll start with an overview of subsystems including the properties of a subsystem description. Then we'll compare the two default controlling subsystems, QBASE and QCTL and the different environments each starts up. The next step will be to understand workstation, autostart, job queue, and prestart entries. Finally we'll run through the creation of a subsystem to handle interactive work and talk about the advantages of distributing interactive work across multiple subsystems.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand all aspects of a subsystem description and changes in i 5.4 to subsystems.
2. Determine if default subsystems need to be changed to meet IT needs.
3. Configure multiple subsystems to distribute interactive work dynamically.

About the Speaker:
Chuck Stupca has worked for IBM in Rochester, Minnesota, since 1968. Chuck worked for 15 years in the Systems Performance organization, where he analyzed and corrected many customer performance problems that required extensive knowledge of work management. For the last several years, Chuck was involved with IBM i cluster development and is currently a member of the i Technology Center, where he develops and delivers customer education and provides consultant support. Since 1983, Chuck has been a frequent speaker at customer events, including COMMON and IBM Education Conferences. He has written several articles and written a book about IBM i Work Management.

IBM i on Power Blade Implementation

Speaker: Kyle Wurgler, IBM

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
How do you install IBM i on a blade? This technical webcast will explain the basic steps of implementing IBM i in a blade environment. The discussion will cover BladeCenter hardware installation, Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) configuration, storage considerations and IBM i installation. The webcast will also share implementation best practices and include the latest 2009 enhancements in this area.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this webcast, attendees will be able to:

1. Explain the process of installing IBM i on a blade.
2. Discuss storage considerations for IBM i on a blade.
3. Use best practices for IBM i on a blade installation
   

About the Speaker:
Kyle is a Senior level developer at the IBM Rochester laboratory. He is currently the World Wide Product Manager for the IBM i Integration with BladeCenter and System x. He is also co-leading the IBM i on POWER blade effort. Kyle joined IBM in 1986 with a BS in Computer Science. He has held various positions in iSeries compiler development, Windows development tools and Integrated xSeries Server development.

How to be a Successful Independent Computer Consultant

Speaker: Charles Guarino, Central Park Data Systems, Inc.

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
More businesses are outsourcing IT tasks and projects in order to satisfy their IT requirements. This presentation will go into the realities of the independent consulting world. It will cover how to get in, stay in, and be a successful independent computer professional. We will explore tips, techniques, strategies, and the fun and freedoms of independent consulting.

Learning Objectives:

1. Prepare to enter into the field of independent computer consulting.
2. Understand the how-to's of marketing, selling, setting up your office, accounting, getting and retaining clients, client relationships, running your consulting business, and working as a contract consultant.
3. Understand the value of networking and business partnerships, including IBM Partner World for Software
   

About the Speaker:
With an IT career spanning over 25 years, Charles Guarino has been a consultant for most of them. Since 1995 he has been President and founder of Central Park Data Systems, Inc., a Long Island based IBM midrange consulting company. He has published several technical and strategic articles, served as a member of AS/400 Management Magazine’s Editorial Review Board, and has received recognition as a COMMON Speaker of Merit. More recently, he was a featured speaker for System i Network’s webcast, "Tips and Techniques for Achieving a Successful Encryption Project." He was inducted into COMMON’s Speaker Excellence Hall of Fame at the 2008 Spring Conference. Charles is currently a COMMON Application Development Subject Matter Expert and a member and Director of LISUG, a Long Island IBM System i Users Group. Charles can be reached at cguarino@centralparkdata.com.

SOA for RPG programmers - What Does it Really Mean to ME?!

Speaker: Aaron Bartell, Krengel Technology

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
The term 'Service Oriented Architecture' has become quite popular in the recent year or two, but what does it really mean? How is it related to Web Services? How can we RPG programmers embrace it to our organization's advantage? Get answers to these questions and more from industry expert Aaron Bartell! Learn everything from the basics to best practices for SOA development and how SOA can create huge possibilities for RPG programmers! See programming examples illustrating the concepts of RPG and SOA using a variety of technologies including Java, SQL Stored Procedures, and Web Services.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand what SOA is.
2. Understand what technologies can be involved in SOA.
3. Have tangible take home examples to provide to their managers.

About the Speaker:
Aaron Bartell is a RPG and Java developer for www.krengeltech.com. He is also the lead developer of RPG-XML Suite, www.rpg-xml.com, which aids RPG programmers in getting up to speed fast with xml web services on the iSeries with zero Java involved. Aaron can be contacted at aaronbartell@mowyourlawn.com or head over to his personal website to read his blog: www.mowyourlawn.com.

Getting Maximum Performance from DB2 Web Query Reports

Speaker: Gene Cobb, IBM

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
DB2 Web Query can provide up to 5 times performance improvement over Query/400. Maybe even more - as we've seen reports that were taking HOURS to run with Query/400 reduced to SECONDS. How can YOU get to this point? You may not observe these significant performance improvements "out of the box," as there are several considerations such as appropriate sizing, database optimization, use of DB2's SQL Query Engine, and query accelerator technologies such as EVIs and MQTs. In addition, there are other hints and tips you can use with DB2 Web Query to boost your query performance.

About the Speaker:
Gene Cobb is a DB2 for i technology specialist in the IBM Systems Software DB2 for i Development team. He joined IBM in 1988 and spent over 10 years as an application consultant in the IBM STG Lab Services group, formerly the Client Technology Center (CTC) in Rochester, Minnesota. His current responsibilities include the promotion, education, enablement, and technical support of IBM DB2 Web Query, the strategic query and reporting solution for the IBM i platform. He speaks and writes regularly about DB2 for i and DB2 Web Query topics, and was a co-author of the IBM Redbook “Getting Started with DB2 Web Query for System i". He can be reached at cobbg@us.ibm.com.

HMC, System i, FSP, Firmware: I Really Need to Understand All This

Speaker: Pete Massiello, iTech Solutions

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
It's no longer just an AS/400. If you are using partitions or thinking about partitioning your System i, there are a lot of new concepts to understand. In this presentation, we will dissect what all the pieces are, how they connect to each other, and what you need to do to set them up. Come learn about components such as Hardware Management Console, the Flexible Service Processor, Advanced Systems Management Interface, the i5, firmware, and the role of SLIC in all this. You need to understand how everything fits together in order to manage them.

Learning Objectives:

1. Understand the differences between the FSP, the HMC, and i5/OS
2. An understanding of the relationships between each.
3. How to use the HMC.

About the Speaker:
Pete Massiello has been working with the AS/400, iSeries, i5 since 1989, focusing on systems management and technical support. He has held numerous technical positions throughout his career. He is the President of iTech Solutions Group, an IBM Advanced Business Partner delivering solutions and services to System i shops throughout the US. He is a member of IBM’s certification test writing team, an IBM eServer Certified Systems Expert with certifications in iSeries Design, Administration, Implementation, LPAR, and HMC management. Pete has a BS in Computer Science from Hofstra University, and an MBA from the University of New Haven. He is President of the Fairfield CT AS/400 User Group (FASUG), a member of the COMMON Board of Directors, and a frequent speaker at user groups.

SQL Stored Procedures

Speaker: Kent Milligan, IBM

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
The support for SQL Procedural Language in IBM i has recently been instrumental in application modernization and porting projects. To facilitate this work, the Rochester development lab has shipped a number of significant enhancements aimed at improving the SQL PL functionality and performance.

In this webcast, we highlight the new functions and cover non-trivial programming techniques that will increase your SQL PL programming efficiency:
1. Faster Execution with Expression Evaluator.
2. Mastering Nested Compound Statement Handlers.
3. Name and Authority Resolution in Static and Dynamic SQL Statements.
4. Performance Tips and Techniques.

About the Speaker:
Kent Milligan is a senior DB2 for i consultant in IBM ISV Solutions Enablement for the IBM i i platform. After graduating from the University of Iowa in 1989, Kent spent the first eight years of his IBM career as a member of the DB2 development team in Rochester. He speaks and writes regularly on various DB2 for i and SQL relational database topics.

30 SQL Tips in 60 Minutes

Speaker: Ted Holt, Day-Brite Lighting

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
SQL is THE data access language. It runs interactively from green screens and System i Navigator. It's in RPG and COBOL programs, in ODBC and JDBC. It's ubiquitous, and it's everywhere, too! You can't know too much about SQL. This session presents a collection of powerful, effective, and easily implemented SQL tips and techniques. These tips and techniques are based on i5/OS, but many of them apply equally to other platforms. There's something for everyone, from the SQL novice to the advanced user. Come learn some new techniques and reacquaint yourself with some you may have forgotten.

By the end of this session, attendees will be able to: 1) Select and sequence data in usual and unusual ways; 2) Apply set theory operations to database queries; 3) Apply the concept of abstraction to data retrieval.

About the Speaker:
Ted Holt has worked in the information industry since 1981, primarily with IBM midrange systems. He is IT Manager, Manufacturing Systems Development for Day-Brite Lighting, a manufacturer of lighting fixtures in Tupelo, Mississippi. He also edits and writes for Four Hundred Guru, a technical newsletter published by itjungle.com. Ted is the author or co-author of seven books, and holds a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from the University of Southern Mississippi.

What's New with Backup Recovery - Including Virtual Tape and Encryption!

Speaker: Deb Saugen, IBM

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
Find out what new things you need to know for the very latest releases to ensure you have a good backup strategy. Learn what changes need to be made to update your disaster recovery plans. New and exciting changes for Backup and Recovery in V5R4 and i 6.1 are highlighted including Virtual Tape support, Backup Encryption and the latest and greatest for Backup Recovery and Media Services (BRMS).

About the Speaker:
Debbie Saugen is the Technical Owner of System i5/OS Backup and Recovery in the Rochester, MN Development Lab. She is also a Senior Business Recovery Architect/Consultant with IBM's Business Continuity and Resiliency Services.  Debbie ensures the Backup and Recovery Solution meets the customer's requirements in capability and usability. She does actual Backup/Recovery testing using the new functions, products and publications.  As a recognized expert on Backup and Recovery worldwide, Debbie enjoys sharing her knowledge by speaking at Common, Technical Conferences, Business Continuity and Resiliency Conferences, User Group Conferences and writing for various magazines, books and websites.

XML and RPG: Working with Web Services and XML Documents

Speaker: Charles Guarino, Central Park Data Systems, Inc.

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
XML has quickly become a standard method of encoding data. The extraction of this data into useable information is called parsing. RPG provides two different methods for parsing. This two topic webcast first goes step by step through the process of consuming a web service and displaying its information in a display program. The second part discusses receiving an XML document and successfully parsing it to a database file. The XML-INTO and XML-SAX statements will be reviewed. The challenges and requirements of both statements will be discussed. At the end of this webcast you will be able to identify which parsing method works best for your particular situation. Included with this webcast are program listings that you can download and put to use immediately.

About the Speaker:
With an IT career spanning over 25 years, Charles Guarino has been a consultant for most of them. Since 1995 he has been President and founder of Central Park Data Systems, Inc., a Long Island based IBM midrange consulting company. He has published several technical and strategic articles, served as a member of AS/400 Management Magazine's Editorial Review Board, and has received recognition as a COMMON Speaker of Merit. More recently, he was a featured speaker for System i Network's webcast, "Tips and Techniques for Achieving a Successful Encryption Project." He was inducted into COMMON's Speaker Excellence Hall of Fame at the 2008 Spring Conference. Charles is currently a COMMON Application Development Subject Matter Expert and a member and Director of LISUG, a Long Island IBM System i Users Group. Charles can be reached at cguarino@centralparkdata.com.

Modern CL Programming

Speaker: Kevin Forsythe, DMC Consulting

An archived version is available free to all current members: go to www.common.org/memonly/webcasts/index.html
A detailed look at CL Programming that incorporates recent enhancements to the language.  Starting with V5R3, IBM has made numerous improvements to the CL Programming language.  CL now has subroutines, pointers, Loops, structured programming options, and more.  This webcast reviews these changes and examines how they might change the way you write your CL Programs.

About the Speaker:
With 20 years as a programmer and  consultant, Kevin has a wide range of experiences to share. He has been with DMC Consulting for over 10 years. For the last 7 years he has been the primary instructor for their AS/400 based AS/Credentials training program, and has been speaking at COMMON for several years.  Recently Kevin took on the challenge of being a Subject Matter Expert for COMMON, and has authored the book "SQL for eServer i5 and iSeries."