“While We Have Been Fortunate To Have Had Very Limited Down Time Over The Years, We Understood Our IBM i System At V5R1 Was Back-Level And Our Options For Continued Hardware Support Were Limited.”
Background
La Paz Products, Inc. is a family business that makes and distributes cocktail mixes, including margarita mix. Founded by Larry Casey in 1968, La Paz has continually improved with streamlined and advanced manufacturing practices and high quality ingredients.
IBM 9406-170 At V5R1 Supports La Paz For 22+ Years
In the late 1990’s, La Paz migrated its custom software to an IBM 9406-170. With hands-on, dedicated support the 9406-170 supported La Paz’s business for over 22 years.
Back Level iOS, Limited Hardware Support = Upgrade Time
Vice President Laura Collins explains, “In 2021, management felt it was time to upgrade to newer IBM technology. While we have been fortunate to have had very limited down time over the years, they understand our IBM i system at V5R1 was back-level and our options for continued hardware support were limited.”
Custom Software Tailored To Operation
“Our software was tailored for our operation, from order processing, bills of lading, invoicing, and accounts receivable. We understand it and it is easy to use. While we use QuickBooks for accounting, we clearly understood that QuickBooks did not have a fit for our operation. We did not want to search for new software because we understood the new software licensing could be very expensive. We also knew implementing new software was both expensive and disruptive.”
Cybersecurity Concerns Rule Out SaaS
“Our owner is concerned about cybersecurity. Hosting Software as a Service was ruled out as a possible exposure to data breaches or other potential disruptions.”
Simple Decision – Upgrade To POWER9 With IBM Support
“Our custom software had been tailored to our operation over the decades. It gives us the reports we need to continue to run smoothly. We plan to use our custom system for decades to come. So, it was a simple decision to upgrade to a new IBM POWER9 with IBM support.”
Source Data Products – Reliable IBM Business Partner For Many Years
Laura continues, “Source Data Products has been our IBM Business Partner over the years. We have always been able to rely on prompt service and easy to understand technical advice.”
Source Data Recommends IBM POWER9 With Migration Plan To V7.3
“Source Data recommended a new IBM POWER9 server with IBM i V7.3. Source Data also prepared a migration plan to move us from V5R1 to V7.3.”
In Good Hands With SDP’s Senior IBM i Engineer, Mark Walsh
“We had also worked on many occasions with Source Data’s senior IBM i engineer, Mark Walsh. So we knew we were in good hands to make the change to the new IBM POWER9. We approved this project in June 2021.”
Early Migration Issues Need Another Path
Laura recalls, “Early on, Mark Walsh encountered issues he had not seen before in migrating a back-level server to V7.3. When Mark’s first approach to jump from V5R1 to V7.3 failed, he mapped out another path to move us from V5R1 to V5R3, then to V6.1, and ultimately to V7.3.
“Source Data shipped in an interim IBM 9406-520 server at V5R3.”
Faulty QIC Tapes, Back Level OS Delays Migration
“First, Mark struggled to complete the migration because we had faulty Quarter-Inch Cartridge tapes. After 3 failed attempts, Mark was finally able to convert our custom system to the 9406-520 at V5R3.
“Next, when he loaded the 9406-520 with a copy of V5R3 from his library, he discovered that that specific version was back-level. Thank goodness, Mark has friends in the industry and at IBM to get the latest software patches to V5R3 so he could complete the upgrade path to the POWER9 at V7.3.”
Unexpected Delays Explained At Every Step
“The process to migrate from our 9406-170 to the IBM POWER9 took 2 months because of the unexpected delays. Mark was very thorough and explained at every step what he encountered and what the next step would be. And issues would get worked through just as Mark said they would.
“We had worked with Mark over the years, so we were never fearful that we might not complete the upgrade. We clearly understand why it took longer. And, we are grateful for Mark’s experience and determination to complete our upgrade successfully.”
New IBM POWER9 With Full HWMA, SWMA – Also Super-Fast!
“Now that we are live on the new IBM POWER9, we notice our new server is super-fast. We are also more comfortable to know we have full IBM hardware and software support.”
Laura Collins Recommends Source Data Products
Laura concludes, “I would definitely recommend Source Data for an IBM server. Source Data speaks in easy-to-understand, plain English…not gobbledygook or computer geek speak.
“I just want my technology to work. I trust Source Data to do that for us.”