Hey Now!

First blog post.  I’ll try and keep it brief and give a little introduction of who I am, what I do and what you’ll expect in future blogs.

Who I am:

I’m a 30 year old systems analyst that’s been working with the AS/400 since about the year 2000.  I use the term AS/400 because I think that IBM will eventually re-brand the system to it’s former name.  Naming the system an “IBM i” really did nothing but force AS/400 advocates like myself to ponder about the marketing suits at IBM.

What I do:

I work for a Canadian paper manufacturer.  We have 3 AS/400′s on-site running ERP, payroll, Lotus Domino, Barcode/400 and a slew of other applications (both purchased and home grown) used to augment the primary systems.

Previous to my current job, I worked with a major Canadian IBM Business Partner doing technical sales and services.

What to expect:

Most of my content will be about Lotus Domino and the AS/400 from both administration and development points of view.  I’ll be supplying tips, code, best practices, subtle and not so subtle suggestions, blurbs about current projects I’m working on and the occasional rant on office politics.

As well, I’ll be offering opinions and tips on working with hardware/software vendors and business partners.  For example, I’ve seen many rack configuration proposals that had unnecessary, and sometimes costly,  components.  I’ve also seen some that had more holes than road.  Perhaps in the near future I’ll deconstruct an anonymous system proposal I’ve seen for the purposes of suggesting that you always get a second opinion and to ensure your BP does their homework and reads their system builder handbook.

Later.