COMMON POWERUp 2021

IBM i applications have been successfully serving business operations for decades. Modern technologies are enabling new levels of automation, scalability, resiliency and flexibility. In this session, Chris Koppe discusses what application modernization and transformation is and the various options available to help them realize the full potential of the future while building on the value of their IBM i applications._x000D_ _x000D_ In this session, Chris will discuss:_x000D_ • Several client roadmaps that include incremental modernization strategies and the outcomes achieved at various stages_x000D_ • Modernization approaches and automated solutions available_x000D_ o Quick wins with UI modernization_x000D_ o APIs & integration capabilities_x000D_ o Code & DB conversion_x000D_ o Architectural & infrastructure options_x000D_ o Deployment options including various cloud models

Learning Objectives:

Today’s IT marketplace is dominated by the discussion of “The Cloud.” Yet most businesses run their critical workloads on servers, such as those used by IBM i clients. How do these two facts intersect? What are the current, and future, capabilities when both IBM i and Cloud are considered? That’s the topic for this session from Steve Will, the IBM i Chief Architect.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand how IBM i fits into today's discussions of "the Cloud"_x000D_ 2. Understand your options as an IBM i users if you want to use IBM i and Cloud technology.

So you've probably heard the buzz around two terms in DevOps: Continuous Integration (CI) and Continuous Deployment (CD). You probably also have heard about things like Ansible and Docker and Kubernetes and how they relate to CI/CD and DevOps and are completely confused about how they apply to the real work that you are doing on your IBM i today._x000D_ _x000D_ The answer is that CI/CD concepts are completely relevant to what you do, but some of the tooling that you've probably heard about (Docker/Kubernetes) really don't apply; however, since IBM acquired RedHat a little more than a year ago, some of that has changed (specifically in relation to Ansible)._x000D_ _x000D_ Learn about DevOps tooling in general (with a special nod to Ansible) but most importantly, this presentation should help to convince you that DevOps is not a passing fad that is going to take resources away from your "real" projects; rather, it is a fundamental shift that will make development faster, more efficient, more responsive, and (most importantly, to many) less costly with minimal investment.

Learning Objectives:
Learn about DevOps tooling_x000D_ _x000D_ Get background on the RedHat acquisition and its impact on IBM i (especially as it relates to Ansible)_x000D_ _x000D_ Understand why DevOps is important (hint - $$$)

As we all progress into development environments with multiple languages deployed to multi platforms, managing inter-dependencies and deployment gets ever more difficult. Here we will show you some simple tools and techniques to make life a little easier, using tools to perform Impact Analysis, compilation, unit testing, compilation and distribution.

Learning Objectives:
1. How to start your DevOps journey on IBMi._x000D_ 2. What toolsets are out there to enable the journey._x000D_ 3. How to link in your IBMi to the wider DevOps process in your company.

Attend a lively, interactive panel discussion including IBM i community members from AMPORTS, REI, Hatco Corporation, and Liberty Mutual Insurance.

We will chat about the opportunities and challenges they encounter as they gear up for current and future IT directions. Plus, we’ll learn how they continue to advance their IT initiatives and overcome obstacles. You will hear their advice for, and the benefits of, upgrading skills and software tools to support:
· Their teams’ advanced development and modernization directions,
· Application integrations - including integrating IBM i business assets with the wider world
· Smooth hardware and OS upgrades, and more.

Featuring Gordon Leary from AMPORTS, Mike Loyd from REI, Ted Macksam from Hatco Corporation, David Jones from Liberty Mutual Insurance, and other special guests. Moderator is Donna Westmoreland, Midrange Dynamics North America.

Join the LUG COO, Lynne Benedict, to learn more about the LUG and how your company might become a part of this organization that complements COMMON membership. The Board of Directors of both COMMON and LUG have been working together to support the efforts of both organizations and form a symbiotic relationship by dispelling the competitive myth that surrounds the two distinct groups.

Learning Objectives:
1. LUG and COMMON are complementary, not competitive, organizations._x000D_ 2. If you want to learn how to do something, go to COMMON. If you want to know why to do something, go to LUG. _x000D_ 3. Guidelines for joining the LUG._x000D_

Data protection – security, backup, and archival – for IBMi software and hardware remains a difficult task, especially as the requirements and locations – on-premises data centers, offsite tape repositories, and clouds – have multiplied. In this session, veteran technologists from FalconStor, a longtime IBM i - centric backup software specialist, will DEMO how to embrace backup to disk on-premises, achieve 6x the speed of tape and up to 20:1 deduplication and automate replication to a second site, a public cloud or tape for long-term preservation, encrypted at every step._x000D_ _x000D_

Learning Objectives:
Learn how to achieve 6x the speed of tape and up to 20:1 deduplication_x000D_ _x000D_

IBM i is used by businesses everywhere in the world, who want to conduct that business anywhere at any time. In this presentation, Steve Will, the IBM i Chief Architect, and Alison Butterill, Product Manager for IBM i, will discuss the current state of the IBM i operating system, the underlying business, and the growing community of IBM i users. They will show the IBM i strategy that delivers value to IBM i clients and to IBM, they'll highlight key enhancements which strengthen IBM i’s place in your IT plans, and they'll discuss the future roadmaps for the platform.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the current IBM i strategy and the IBM i market_x000D_ 2. Understand the future direction of IBM i, and how that is helping clients today_x000D_ 3. Learn several client examples of innovative technology solving business problems using IBM i today.

As IBM i professionals are asked to take on more responsibilities project management is increasingly becoming part of their duties. This session will explore the fundamentals of project management and how to integrate the practices into the work flow of traditional IT personal.

Learning Objectives:
Learn methods of projects management and what environments are best for each_x000D_ Determine how to track moving parts_x000D_ Identify distinct stages of the project management cycle and how to communicate at each point_x000D_ Suggestions for scheduling, forecasting, and documentation

See how machine learning can enable your business to harness the deeper value of your data. This session will use the latest machine learning software to demonstrate the building of an AI model that can then be deployed to draw new insights. The majority of the talk will focus on native IBM i machine learning software with training and inferencing both being done on the system. IBM Watson Machine Learning in IBM Cloud will also be briefly discussed.

Learning Objectives:
1. How machine learning works_x000D_ 2. How to build a model directly on IBM i_x000D_ 3. How a model can be deployed and used on new data as it enters your system

We've all seen the national debt clock, fictitious to some, but a real threat to our country. Closer to home is a another threat just as serious and yet just as fictitious to some. We're talking about your organization's technical debt. Not the lease payments on your Power system, but rather the sum total of hidden exposures and future expenses that are brought about by less than optimal practices. Every company has it. They key is minimizing if not eliminating it through better practice, technology and collaboration. Join me as we explore some of the worst examples of technical debt and how to stop the bleeding, All while putting it into terms that your boss will understand.

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the concept of technical debt and its adverse effects on an organization._x000D_ 2. Be able to convey this message to non-technical C-level managers._x000D_ 3. Take steps to eliminate (pay down) technical debt and prevent it from accruing in the future.

Whether you're new to Ansible or a Playbooks pro, learn how to take advantage of the radically simple IT automation platform for IBM i. This session covers the latest Ansible Content for IBM i and how you can start using it in your organization today with real use cases and examples.

Learning Objectives:

Most companies are using open source tools for automation on other platforms, now we have the opportunity to leverage these tools even more on the IBM i due to recent advances by IBM. What can these tools do for me right now and which one should I use? Let’s talk about what these tools do and common use cases. Most importantly WHY I would choose one tool or another for a use case and HOW I would use it?

Learning Objectives:
same as above