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IBM was named 2011 CRN Channel Champion as the top vendor in the Middleware, Backup & Recovery Software, and Midrange Servers categories. In addition, IBM was also recognized for its commitment to technical satisfaction and support in all three award categories.
The CRN Channel Champions study measures overall Solution Provider perceptions of vendor products and services and polled more than 100 solution providers.
These solution providers were asked to rate vendor performance based on technical satisfaction, support and financial criteria.
IBM won three overall Channel Champion awards and 11 total awards in the following categories:
Backup & Recovery Software: Won overall and three subcategory wins, including technical satisfaction, support and financial factor. That included IBM Tivoli Backup and Recovery Solutions.
Middleware: Overall winner and three subcategories wins, including: technical satisfaction, support and financial factor. These include IBM WebSphere, Cast Iron and ILOG.

Midrange Servers: Won overall and two subcategories, including technical satisfaction and support. These include IBM Power systems and System z.
About TxMQ
Since it’s inception, TxMQ has specialized in Mainframe software and mainframe systems support offerings. As mainframe software and mainframe applications and subsystems like DB2, z/OS, CICS, MQ, and DB2 continued to grow in popularity, so too did TxMQ’s offerings.
These expanded to include technologies like virtualization solutions including Linux Virtualization, network Virtualization (Cloud Computing), and desktop Virtualization, as well as mainframe modernization.
As the web became more prevalent and a part of the enterprise, we followed IBM’s offerings and added skilled resources and SME’s in areas like WebSphere, BPM and SOA, including both Lombardi, and Metastorm (now a part of open text), as well as DataPower.
Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 29 or email [email protected] to find the solution that’s right for you.

By Wendy Sanacore
Facebook is resisting the trend that is moving toward server virtualization. Instead, they want to install microservers for inexpensive growth and quick failover, according to an article from Computerworld.
Gio Coglitore, director of Facebook Labs, said that Facebook has tested microservers in production and is interested in the architecture that it supplies.
Intel introduced the architecture of microservers in 2009. They are small, low-power, one-processor servers that can be densely packed into a data center.
Facebook gurus see this as an inexpensive way to scale more effectively and balance the computing load across many systems.
They believe this will give Facebook the capacity to deliver a consistent user experience even if it loses a server.
This is an interesting move with what seems like the rest of the world jumping on the virtualization band wagon. And many industry experts may question the move as it is widely perceived that use of the cloud is more reliable than traditional hardware servers.
Using the cloud allows you to make use of multiple pieces of hardware and bring them together. It also allows for the rapid installation of new software programs.
One of the pitfalls of server based business is the ability of the server to go down if a site sees a large increase in traffic. However, Facebook is built for extensive visitor traffic, and one would hope that the use of these microservers takes this into consideration and will not be a problem going forward.
About TxMQ
Since it’s inception, TxMQ has specialized in Mainframe software and mainframe systems support offerings. As mainframe software and mainframe applications and subsystems like DB2, z/OS, CICS, MQ, and DB2 continued to grow in popularity, so too did TxMQ’s offerings.
These expanded to include technologies like virtualization solutions including Linux Virtualization, network Virtualization (Cloud Computing), and desktop Virtualization, as well as mainframe modernization.
As the web became more prevalent and a part of the enterprise, we followed IBM’s offerings and added skilled resources and SME’s in areas like WebSphere, BPM and SOA, including both Lombardi, and Metastorm (now a part of open text), as well as DataPower.
Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 29 or email [email protected] to find the solution that’s right for you.

By Wendy Sanacore
IBM has announced an incentive to motivate customers to replace and old IBM or competitive server technology with newer IBM servers.
Here’s the offer:
If you acquire an eligible new IBM Power Systems server (Replacement Machine) and trade in your old one or more designated IBM and/or non-IBM systems (Replacement Machines), you can receive a trade in credit for each Replaced Machine that you trade in.
There is a maximum total trade-in credit amount per Replacement Machine, and it is dependent on the configuration of the Replacement Machine.
Dates:
To qualify for the offer, IBM records much show IBM Replaced Machine(s) (if applicable) as installed in a customer location within your Enterprise on or after March 1, 2011.
This program is available only in the United States and its territories.
For more information on the product, click here…http://www.ibm.com/products/us.
About TxMQ
Since it’s inception, TxMQ has specialized in Mainframe software and mainframe systems support offerings. As mainframe software and mainframe applications and subsystems like DB2, z/OS, CICS, MQ, and DB2 continued to grow in popularity, so too did TxMQ’s offerings.
These expanded to include technologies like Virtualization solutions including Linux Virtualization, network Virtualization (cloud computing), and desktop Virtualization, as well as mainframe modernization.
As the web became more prevalent and a part of the enterprise, we followed IBM’s offerings and added skilled resources and SME’s in areas like WebSphere, BPM and SOA, including both Lombardi, and Metastorm (now a part of open text), as well as DataPower.
Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 29 or email [email protected] to find the solution that’s right for you.

By Wendy Sanacore
So it’s all about Cloud these days. But what does it mean to connect to the Cloud and why should you? What business value does it hold for you?
Cloud applications are referred to as Saas and are compiled of three layers.

• Applications (SOA) – commercial applications
• Platform – the tools used to develop applications and use their infrastructure to run them
• Infrastructure – regardless of tools to develop application, these run and manage the applications

WebSphere Cast Iron focuses on Cloud Applications, either commercial or privately run.
CIO’s have tough decisions to make today when thinking about building a new application for their enterprise. They can choose from one of  two options – on premise or in cloud.
The decision has been shifting more and more to cloud, and it’s estimated that in  a matter of two years cloud will supersede the on-premise options as it has been consistently been narrowing the gap.
Now, that’s not to say that enterprises are going to be eliminating on-premise applications all together, there is just going to be a hybrid world of on premise and cloud applications, both packaged and homegrown.
This is what makes the integration process to strategic and important.
Here’s where the business value comes in…Without integration, application users will find themselves doing on of two things:

1. Calling someone else for information
2. Logging into multiple applications to get access to data

Without proper integration, productivity is low. Integration equals a maximization of productivity and investment into the cloud application.
In fact, integration is a top IT concern for executives. And it’s not limited to one facet of integration, the concern stretches across the board.
WebSphere Cast Iron makes it simple and cost-effective to bridge Cloud and on-premise applications.
WebSphere Cast Iron offers complete flexibility, total connectivity, complete re-usability and covers all types of projects.
About TxMQ
Since it’s inception, TxMQ has specialized in Mainframe software and mainframe systems support offerings. As mainframe software and mainframe applications and subsystems like DB2, z/OS, CICS, MQ, and DB2 continued to grow in popularity, so too did TxMQ’s offerings.
These expanded to include technologies like Virtualization solutions including Linux Virtualization, network Virtualization (cloud computing), and desktop Virtualization, as well as mainframe modernization.
As the web became more prevalent and a part of the enterprise, we followed IBM’s offerings and added skilled resources and SME’s in areas like WebSphere, BPM and SOA, including both Lombardi, and Metastorm (now a part of open text), as well as DataPower.
Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 29 or email [email protected] to find the solution that’s right for you.

By Wendy Sanacore
I read a really interesting article today and I thought it pertinent to share.
So many people are afraid of technology and its resilience in the face of catastrophe. Our businesses and every day lives are so dependent on technology, its scary to think about what will happen in an event like the earthquake in Japan.
However, IBM proved its resilience…
 
Take a look at the pictures shown throughout this blog. They are pictures post-earthquake from a data center in the Tokyo area. As you can see, the IBM equipment has been shaken, tilted and/or thrown to the ground in a destructive manner. However, despite the abuse they suffered, no machines went down, no work was lost and no service interruptions were experienced.
 
There are a couple morals to this story then…
First of all, IBM equipment is reliable and durable in the face of extreme adversity.
Second, leave some slack in your cables…you never know when you might need it.
About TxMQ
Since it’s inception, TxMQ has specialized in Mainframe software and mainframe systems support offerings. As mainframe software and mainframe applications and subsystems like DB2, z/OS, CICS, MQ, and DB2 continued to grow in popularity, so too did TxMQ’s offerings.
These expanded to include technologies like virtualization solutions including linux virtualization, network virtualization (cloud computing), and desktop virtualization, as well as mainframe modernization.
As the web became more prevalent and a part of the enterprise, we followed IBM’s offerings and added skilled resources and SME’s in areas like websphere, bpm and soa, including both Lombardi, and metastorm (now a part of open text), as well as Datapower.
Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 29 or email [email protected] to find the solution that’s right for you.

By Wendy Sanacore
Here are some of the latest updates from IBM WebSphere and z/OS for the week ending March 26, 2011.

• IBM Installation Manager V1.4.3 released – March 11, 2011

The newest version of the IBM Installation Manager was released this week. The updated version, V1.4.3 follows the previous release in December of 2010. IBM Installation Manager is a single installation program that can use remote or local software repositories to install, modify, or update certain IBM products. Click here for more.

• IBM Advances Cloud Computing with New Software

The demand for cloud computing is exploding as organizations seek to expand the impact of IT to deliver new and innovative services while realizing significant economies of scale.
The power of the cloud computing model is the ability to harness varying technology investments by enabling rapid and dynamic scheduling, provisioning and management of virtualized computing resources on demand. Get more information here.

• Getting Started with WebSphere MQ for z/OS security

This introduction to WebSphere MQ for z/OS security will be helpful for those who are familiar with z/OS but not with WebSphere MQ, and for those who are familiar with WebSphere MQ and would like to understand how to secure it on z/OS. See intro here.

• IBM Print Transform from AFP products deliver data conversion flexibility for IBM z/OS

Every day your z/OS-based applications generate huge amounts of information, reports, and other output that must be delivered quickly, accurately, efficiently, and in a variety of formats to customers, employees, partners, and suppliers all over the globe.
But the large number of formats and technologies can be complex to manage, and can make optimizing your output environment difficult. Don’t change your z/OS output; use these new products to transform it to gain increased flexibility and efficiency for your production operations by leveraging a wider choice of technology, protocols, and formats. Find out more.
About TxMQ
Since it’s inception, TxMQ has specialized in Mainframe software and mainframe systems support offerings. As mainframe software and mainframe applications and subsystems like DB2, z/OS, CICS, MQ, and DB2 continued to grow in popularity, so too did TxMQ’s offerings.
These expanded to include technologies like virtualization solutions including linux virtualization, network virtualization (cloud computing), and desktop virtualization, as well as mainframe modernization.
As the web became more prevalent and a part of the enterprise, we followed IBM’s offerings and added skilled resources and SME’s in areas like websphere, bpm and soa, including both Lombardi, and metastorm (now a part of open text), as well as Datapower.
Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 29 or email [email protected] to find the solution that’s right for you.

There has been a lot of buzz since Watson made his (its?) appearance on Jeopardy!. Yes, it was neat to watch a machine just annihilate two of the arguably smartest contestants that Jeopardy! has ever seen. But what is even more interesting to me is the business implications Watson holds for the future of several industries, particularly medicine.
Now I am sure most of us have watched at least one episode of “House” – the medical drama wherein Doctor House is always trying to diagnose the most obscure of diseases by a process of narrowing down symptoms and researching possible treatments, sometimes by a process of trial and error.
With Watson being utilized in the medical community, there is a strong possibility that doctors can get some assistance when it comes to diagnosing and treating illnesses quicker and more efficiently.
What we saw on Jeopardy! while watching Watson was Watson searching his 2,880 processors that compiled him to recover an answer that he could then extend with a percentage and degree of certainty in less than three seconds.
However, outside the realm of Jeopardy, there are several commercial differences when utilizing Watson or a machine just like him.
First, the machine doesn’t need to answer in 3 seconds. However, it will still be exponentially faster than a human mind. What could take a human mind hours or even days to diagnose, Watson would be able to come back with a list of options within just a few minutes,
This would allow doctors to examine the possibilities given to them and provide Watson with any additional information needed to allow him to make the diagnosis with an added degree of certainty. Especially in a narrowed domain space. Watson simply needs to be an expert in the medical field, not through the broad categories like on Jeopardy!
Second, Watson’s technology would go beyond QA. There would be an opportunity for dialogue. Watson would have a chance to make initial findings and provide initial insight and then doctors would have the opportunity to review and add additional information to the system and Watson would then be able to additionally research answers.
The technology goes beyond scripted answers and allows for natural language flow and overcoming of language barriers.
Watsons process is to ingest information, organize it, look up possible regulations and offer solutions. This can all be done in a matter of minutes, far quicker than human capability.
In fact, Ken Jennings’ biggest complaint about Watson after his Jeopardy! experience was that while he knew many of the answers, he just wasn’t quick enough to buzz in. The technology beat him more often than not.
Watson’s technology could help grow the globalization of health care by leaps and bounds. It will allow for the sharing of ideas within minutes throughout the world.
In addition, think about the number of medical journals and new findings that are updated every year. There can be tens of thousands of medical articles published and doctors just don’t have the time to stay up to date on them all. Watson will.
While Watson’s level of understanding can be perceived as somewhat superficial, it is providing food for thought and acting as an assistant.
Remember, it will always be the doctor who makes the diagnosis, but I will tell you what. If I ever come down with an obscure illness, I would want Watson or some technology just like him on my side.
About TxMQ
Since it’s inception, TxMQ has specialized in Mainframe software and mainframe systems support offerings. As mainframe software and mainframe applications and subsystems like DB2, z/OS, CICS, MQ, and DB2 continued to grow in popularity, so too did TxMQ’s offerings.
These expanded to include technologies like virtualization solutions including linux virtualization, network virtualization (cloud computing), and desktop virtualization, as well as mainframe modernization.
As the web became more prevalent and a part of the enterprise, we followed IBM’s offerings and added skilled resources and SME’s in areas like websphere, bpm and soa, including both Lombardi, and metastorm (now a part of open text), as well as Datapower.
Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 29 or email [email protected] to find the solution that’s right for you.

The newest version of the IBM Installation Manager was released today, March 21, 2011. The updated version, V1.4.3 follows the previous release in December of 2010.
IBM Installation Manager is a single installation program that can use remote or local software repositories to install, modify, or update certain IBM products.
IBM WebSphere Application Server Version 7.0 feature packs are the first WebSphere Application Server products to be installed by IBM Installation Manager. You can download the IBM Installation Manager files here.
The newest version overrides known issues from previous versions, including a flaw in the import mechanism in earlier versions. In addition, it is possible to update the version of Installation Manager that you currently utilize.
You can reference this IBM article for specific details and instructions.
About TxMQ
Since it’s inception, TxMQ has specialized in Mainframe software and mainframe systems support offerings. As mainframe software and mainframe applications and subsystems like DB2, z/OS, CICS, MQ, and DB2 continued to grow in popularity, so too did TxMQ’s offerings.
These expanded to include technologies like virtualization solutions including linux virtualization, network virtualization (cloud computing), and desktop virtualization, as well as mainframe modernization.
As the web became more prevalent and a part of the enterprise, we followed IBM’s offerings and added skilled resources and SME’s in areas like WebSphere, BPM and SOA, including both Lombardi, and Metastorm (now a part of open text), as well as Datapower.
Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 29 or email [email protected] to find the solution that’s right for you.

By Wendy Sanacore
Mainframe is best described as a style of operations, applications and operating system facilities. What used to be described as a mainframe is now updated to be called a server.
A mainframe is the central hub in a corporation’s data processing center, linked to users through less powerful devices such as workstations or terminals. Mainframe presence often implies a centralized form of computing, as opposed to a distributed form of computing.
By centralizing the data in a single mainframe repository, customers are saved from having to manage updates to more than one copy of their business data, which increases the likelihood that the data is current
Early mainframes were very large and cumbersome, sometimes taking up an entire room in size.
More recently, mainframes have begun to scale down in size and in some cases, it’s possible to run a mainframe operating system on a PC that emulates a mainframe.
The common misunderstanding is that mainframes are complex, unmanageable systems. This isn’t so. A stable mainframe system is very productive when run by a competent staff.
In fact, the proper use of mainframes can actually decrease the cost of maintenance and improve overall user satisfaction.
Mainframes have evolved over the years and those companies with the understanding that mainframes are complex are more than likely still using the same mainframe they always have in the same capacity.
Mainframe updates and evolution allows for the incorporation of new technical capabilities and are successfully being used to support innovation.
So will mainframes ever be rendered obsolete? I don’t think so. There is so much information housed on mainframes now that a shift from mainframe technology is not foreseeable anywhere within the near or even distant future.
About TxMQ
Since it’s inception, TxMQ has specialized in Mainframe software and mainframe systems support offerings. As mainframe software and mainframe applications and subsystems like DB2, z/OS, CICS, MQ, and DB2 continued to grow in popularity, so too did TxMQ’s offerings.
These expanded to include technologies like virtualization solutions including linux virtualization, network virtualization (cloud computing), and desktop virtualization, as well as mainframe modernization.
As the web became more prevalent and a part of the enterprise, we followed IBM’s offerings and added skilled resources and SME’s in areas like websphere, bpm and soa, including both Lombardi, and metastorm (now a part of open text), as well as Datapower.
Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 29 or email [email protected] to find the solution that’s right for you.

By Wendy Sanacore
2011 is going to be a big year for WebSphere. The main focus is to utilize it to help companies achieve agility, and users are seeing several trends to help them get there.
Hybrid Cloud Integration
Hybrid Cloud Integration is one of two key initiatives for 2011. The other is private cloud.  IBM’s foundation for Hybrid Cloud Computing is “Cast Iron.” This is pre-fabricated support right out of the box.
It includes integration, security, monitoring and governance and allows a company to responsibly integrate on-premise services with off-premise services.
This on-demand integration allows customers to directly focus on the essence of the integration and not get caught up on the logistics. The cloud integration supports hundreds of applications.
Platform as a Service (PaaS)
IBM PaaS is an integrated system designed to provide customers with a virtualized, optimized stack for middleware applications.
It aims to allow companies the ability to pack more services into a smaller space.
The workload-based, middleware patterns will simplify administration and deployment. Its integrated and optimized hardware infrastructure and middleware dramatically lowers costs.
Workload Optimized Systems
This system focuses on bringing hardware and software together in a way that it never really has before. The goal as Jerry Cuomo from IBM stated, is to make 1+1=3.
Ultimately, the goal is to make the hardware and software equal something greater than what it is individually.
The optimization engineers all components to behave as one and not as a separate entity.
Scale and Accelerators
The main focus for 2011 is performance, response time, scalability, and resilience.
WebSphere extreme Scale (XS) Technology allows for extreme performance and scalability for data-intensive applications and web applications.
This will allow you to intelligently offload weak links in your applications and can be optimized without doubling your IT spend.
Extending to Mobile

Jerry Cuomo referred to this initiative as a “really exciting progression.” He said he felt it was one of the most exciting in WebSphere.
The WebSphere platform is emerging as a world class Mobile Application Platform. IBM is currently investigating the mobile capabilities within its suite of products.
This mobile initiative will allow applications to be written once and then used on many platforms.
There are a lot of neat changes and upgrades on the horizon for WebSphere in 2011. So I guess if you’re anything like me, you will just keep your eyes peeled and ears open for the latest developments and of course, I will always share them here when I hear about them.
You can always keep me up to date as well! Let me know what you hear out there about WebSphere.
(Information in this blog from IBM webinar BWC Lab Chat: “WebSphere 2011 Trends” presented by Jerry Cuomo.)
About TxMQ
Since it’s inception, TxMQ has specialized in Mainframe software and mainframe systems support offerings. As mainframe software and mainframe applications and subsystems like DB2, z/OS, CICS, MQ, and DB2 continued to grow in popularity, so too did TxMQ’s offerings.
These expanded to include technologies like virtualization solutions including linux virtualization, network virtualization (cloud computing), and desktop virtualization, as well as mainframe modernization.
As the web became more prevalent and a part of the enterprise, we followed IBM’s offerings and added skilled resources and SME’s in areas like websphere, bpm and soa, including both Lombardi, and metastorm (now a part of open text), as well as Datapower.
Contact us today at 716-636-0070 ext 29 or email [email protected] to find the solution that’s right for you.