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Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

  • 1.  Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    Posted Tue December 20, 2022 10:14 AM
    Has anyone heard any update on IBM's plans to deliver the AJS and BRMS addin's they broke when pushing out the new Navigator for i?   I am pretty sure I'm not the only one who relied on these components and it went along way to cross training our Windows support team for IBM i management.  The major omission thrust us back 15+ years to green screen operations which is abysmal at best.   

    I know they had a statement that they were going to end support for Heritage Navigator in December and that was a hard stop.  There hasn't been much update on these 2 important additions to the new client.

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    Michael Garczynski
    Director - SAP Architecture
    DAP Products
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  • 2.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    IBM Champion
    Posted Tue December 20, 2022 08:06 PM
    Edited by Satid Singkorapoom Tue December 20, 2022 08:15 PM
    Dear Michael

    I hope you are aware that the development of BRMS has been under Fortra (Help Systems) for some years now.  Have you read this web page yet?  https://helpsystemswiki.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/IWT/pages/2208628737/BRMS+User+Interface+Strategy

    It was updated last month and there is this not-so-good update on the GUI delivery :

    Phase II Status - [Next]

    The BRMS plug-in available in the Heritage Navigator for IBM i is not compatible to port into the new Navigator for i. A future BRMS graphical interface requires a new design and implementation. The initial delivery timeline has not been determined.


    AJS is in the plan for the New Navigator :  https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6485241


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    Right action is better than knowledge; but in order to do what is right, we must know what is right.
    -- Charlemagne

    Satid Singkorapoom
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  • 3.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    Posted Wed December 21, 2022 08:12 AM
    Satid,

    Thanks for the update.   I was aware that BRMS support was coming through Fortra (HelpSystems), however, as BRMS is still an IBM LPP and our maintenance dollars are going to that, IBM customers should not see any difference in support and upgrades to the product than they have in years past.  Over the years, IBM listened to the IBM i groups and embraced GUI operations to make it easier for management and operations of the OS. 
    The Navigator product has continually been enhanced to provide features/functions across the platform which helps reduce the learning curve for not only IBM i administrators but also for non-IBM i administrators who have crossover responsibilities. 
    For IBM to allow this to occur is beyond reason and is just adds to the nail in the coffin of the platform.  We need to be moving the platform forward to compete, not drop its customers back to green screen command line operations. 
    Apparently IBM customers got screwed on this deal and have no options which is concerning and unfortunate.

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    Michael Garczynski
    Director - SAP Architecture
    DAP Products
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  • 4.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    Posted Wed December 21, 2022 08:28 AM
    Greetings.   

    On the BRMS Topic, yea. I dont have any better news on the GUI side, but going back to the green screen is not the only option.   With the latest updates, BRMS can also be managed leveraging SQL Services. This provides a great option for automation and custom solutions.  I know, not a GUI... but the SQL Services are a very important building block towards a possible GUI in the future.  

    Now, AJS, Great news on this front!!!   The first of the AJS support integrated into Navigator is now available!!  What ?  Yea, its true, with the PTFs approved on Dec 15th, the first part of the AJS support as been included.  No, its not everything....we have been doing agile development and rolling out part of a solution when its ready vs waiting far longer for everything.  With the Latest HTTP PTF Groups, (and its important to get these groups due to changes in both the Navigator code and the JT.400 toolbox support ) under the Work Management icon, a new Advanced Job Scheduler set of options is now available   For details, see https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6845165 


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    Tim Rowe
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  • 5.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    Posted Wed December 21, 2022 10:11 AM
    Tim,

    Thanks for the update for AJS.  That is great news.  I have been downloading PTF's monthly since this debacle began and have not noticed anything when I performed the December download, but that was before the date you mention.  I will look for the updates in my January download.  

    While the SQL Services is important, those services are geared more for developers who would be designing a new GUI in the future and are still similar to command line operations.  The majority of Administrators do not have those skills in their toolbox forcing them back to the green screen to perform their jobs.  I always thought the idea of the Navigator for i products were to bridge the gap and eliminate the stigma the IBM i was only a green screen platform.  Apparently, that is no longer the idea IBM now wants to convey given that backup/recovery is a critical part of managing the platform.

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    Michael Garczynski
    Director - SAP Architecture
    DAP Products
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  • 6.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    Posted Thu December 22, 2022 02:07 PM
    Tim, is there any progress on GUI omits in control groups using SQL services?  It probably won't help our current issue, as we have several back level systems (before BRMS lists allowed *EXC).  Even tried installing old Client Access version which meant uninstalling ACS Windows package) to no avail.  Did try Q1AADDCGEO  which seemed to work for some LPARs but not others (could be differing PTF levels). As they are backlevel (V5R4) no support. I realize of course that is not the typical issue!  

    Note that this page Adding or Removing Object Omits to a BRMS Control Group via the Green Screen - IBM IPP Wiki - Confluence (atlassian.net) references https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/community/wikis/home?lang=en#!/wiki/IBM%20Backup%2C%20Recovery%20and%20Media%20Services%20%28BRMS%29%20for%20i/page/Omitting%20data%20from%20BRMS%20backups
    which seems deprecated. 

    IBM has had support and development deals before I believe, like AJS with Pinnacle (who I think also developed BRMS to start with), but they were much more seamless.  I agree if we pay IBM for the BRMS LPP we should expect similar support.  IBM seemed caught flat footed by the Heritage Navigator vulnerabilities, but hope equivalent functionality is delivered soon. 


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    Jeffrey Carey
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  • 7.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    IBM Champion
    Posted Thu December 22, 2022 04:00 AM
    Michael 

    your comment >> just adds to the nail in the coffin of the platform

    was exactly the same comment I received from one of our training delegates when I explained Merlin & its costs to the class :-(

    Anyway, Merry Christmas!


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    Andy Youens
    IBM Champion & Member of IBM ISV Advisory Council
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  • 8.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    Posted Wed December 21, 2022 04:59 PM
    all future directions are here:

    IBM Navigator for i - Roadmap

    if there are things you want to see, your best bet is to submit an "idea"
    IBM Ideas

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    Bryan Dietz
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  • 9.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    Posted Thu December 22, 2022 02:14 PM
    Bryan,

    I am familiar with the IBM Ideas site and have used it in the past for suggestions.  Some were successful, some were not.  But given IBM has farmed out the BRMS product and wiping their hands, I wouldn't hold any hope of any ideas that reference BRMS to come to fruition.  




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    Michael Garczynski
    Director - SAP Architecture
    DAP Products
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  • 10.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    Posted Fri December 23, 2022 09:03 AM
    I am not optimistic about Fortra bringing a great GUI to BRMS and more importantly maintaining that GUI moving forward. I have another one of their software packages that is sold for both Windows and IBM i platforms. When I was sold the product I was told they were identical other than the hardware they run on. After a couple of years I started noticing features in the Windows product that never got implemented in the IBM i version. I am now several years in and they have not brought one meaningful update to the IBM i version that I purchased and pay support for. When I asked about it, they suggested I move to the Windows platform to get new features. The software works well, but I am not a fan of Fortra products on the IBM i for this reason. 


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    Jeremy Bowling
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  • 11.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    Posted Sun December 25, 2022 06:44 AM
    We use their Halcyon product for IBM i and AIX.  Although they have a GUI monitor integrated with both products, I don't ever expect to see a GUI for the IBM i.  Fortunately, we don't often need to make any changes to message monitoring.   
    The bigger issue I have is BRMS is a LPP and under my software maintenance agreement yet essentially they feel they can remove the feature without regard to customer needs.  I wonder what bonehead gets credit for this decision.  Sounds like IBM did it's IBM i customers a disservice with this move.

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    Michael Garczynski
    Director - SAP Architecture
    DAP Products
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  • 12.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    Posted 14 days ago

    Hello everyone, any update about the BRMS GUI on the new Navigator?, i have a customer that wants to send email notification for messages sent to the BRMS log but cant access to the GUI because he has the last HTTP group in 7.5 and the heritage has been removed.

    Send email notification for messages sent to the BRMS log - IBM IPP Wiki - Confluence (atlassian.net)

    Thanks



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    Juan Martin Araya Carrasco
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  • 13.  RE: Update on AJS and BRMS for the new Navigator for i

    Posted 14 days ago

    Reading the user interface strategy for Fortra, i think i just can use this SQL Services.



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    Juan Martin Araya Carrasco
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