System iNetwork

Isnt this a case where only if you have removed observability from a program, it will not convert to v6r1? Back in the day shops did this for various reasons ( reduce object size, security concerns that no longer/probably never applied, handcrafting the MI code of the program ). Nowadays no one in their right mind removes observability from code that runs on their system.

As I understand it, it is system i software vendors that continue to use this technique. Ostensibly to protect their IP, but likely the actual reason is to wring as many upgrade dollars from the end user customer as can be gotten away with. Would be great if IBM engineers could come up with a work around. In this instance customers would pay extra to IBM rather than blackmail to an application vendor.

-Steve

Would like a time frame as when they plan to GA 6.1 instead of the will be release in early 2008.

[Note From Chris: You might be able to get a firmer date -- month -- from an IBM Business Partner/Reseller that you have a relationship with, or possibly from IBM (but IBM itself may not know for sure yet either). In terms of the media, we'll likely get a firm date from IBM a bit in advance, but it'll also come with a legal nondisclosure agreement we'll have to sign, although on occasion IBM does let the cat out of the bag early. Sorry I don't have better details for you, Bill.]

Actually the reason programs are shipped with observability stripped is in fact to protect their IP - do you think that it would be wise for a software company to give you observable programs which, for example, take user licenses for their software? They are in business to make money, of course, so don't be daft. Preventing you from getting around your end-user license agreement by hacking their software is the reason the source code is not shipped and the reason the object is stripped of debuggability and observability. Most iSeries vendors will provide recompiled versions of older non-observable programs on their old releases in order to allow customers to upgrade to V6R1, rather than 'force' you to upgrade to a new vendor software release. Will they potentially ask you to pay maintenance fees for obtaining said programs ? - Quite likely. But then, it IS maintenance. And software companies do not exist only for your benefit as a charity - they exist to make money. Having to pay maintence fees to your old software vendors once every 10 years can't be that hard, can it? If you don't like it - invent your own iSeries ERP system, archiving solution, warehousing system etc.! Just be glad this isn't Microsoft or you'd be going through this every other year or so.

Besides having the latest and greatest, what woukd be the upside to installing V6? Haven't heard anything on it besides needing to convert.

"Besides having the latest and greatest, what would be the upside to installing V6?"

Keep in mind that V6 hasn't been formally announced yet, only previewed, so publicly available information is somewhat limited. That said, check out http://www.ibm.com/systems/i/os/i5os/v6r1preview/ and you'll get a pretty good idea of the highlights. Descriptions include enhancements in virtualization, business resilience, security and performance.