Essential Guides

Essential Guides are a series of supplements to System iNEWS. An Essential Guide is a quick-reference tool that offers high-level, independent coverage from industry experts — the essential information that a System i IT professional needs to know about a technology topic or issue. The Essential Guides posted online contain bonus features not included in the printed version. Be sure to check back frequently for the latest Essential Guide, because new Guides will be posted regularly.

The Essential Guide to PHP
by Mike Pavlak
PHP is celebrating two years on the System i. Dive into this scripting language, which offers a powerful way to perform database-to-web functions at little or no cost. Learn the ins and outs in this Essential Guide.
February 2008

The Essential Guide to Backdoors, Bugs, Trojans, Tunnels, and Tricksters
by Mel Beckman
Hackers are attacking your network on multiple new fronts: via backdoors, software defects, malware, new pathways, and novel approaches to social engineering. Learn about these new attacks and how to protect against them.
January 2008

The Essential Guide to Security and the Data Warehouse
by Doug Mack and Mike Cain
The most important asset to any company is its data, and how well you control access to the data determines how safe your company is from fraud, theft, and ultimately, destruction. This Essential Guide explains how you can protect your company's crown jewel — its data warehouse.
September 2007

The Essential Guide to Supporting a High Availability Environment
by Chris Hird
The world of high availability (HA) is changing, and several major announcements show the importance people now attach to the HA marketplace. If you are considering an HA solution, you should do your homework before plunging into a project and buying a product.
June 2007

The Essential Guide to EDI Security
by Nahid Jilovec
Information security used to mean a locked file cabinet. In the Internet age, however, it takes a baffling array of electronic barriers and locks to keep wandering eyes from viewing sensitive documents. This Essential Guide shows the protocols, techniques, and software to become familiar with on your journey to safe, secure EDI.
April 2007

The Essential Guide to an Effective Application Test Environment
by Paul Conte
You know the importance of testing your code at every stage of development. But do you know how to make the most of your testing endeavors? Use these tips to ensure that you test the right things at the right times, and discover the path to flawless code.
December 2006

The Essential Guide to SQL
by Paul Conte
SQL is IBM's (and the industry's) standard for relational database definition and access. This Essential Guide covers some SQL basics and provides tips and techniques to help you get the most out of your SQL experience.
September 2006

The Essential Guide to Business Intelligence
by Mike Cain and Doug Mack
Database query optimization is one of the most vital components of any successful business intelligence project. In this Essential Guide, learn how your knowledge of query optimization will ensure that any BI application runs smoothly and that you fully leverage the technology you’ve invested in.
August 2006

The Essential Guide to Remote Journaling
by Larry Youngren
Remote journaling is becoming an increasingly popular choice for shops that want to ensure that a secondary copy of the most recent database changes are resident in a distant location. This essential guide takes you through the ins and outs of this approach to high availability.
June 2006

The Essential Guide to IFS Security
by Mel Beckman
Many iSeries shops are unaware of the unique security aspects of the IFS, which if neglected can leave your i5 machine open to outside attack. Learn how to audit and protect the IFS to keep your iSeries secure.
May 2006

The Essential Guide to Encryption
by Carol Woodbury
Keeping sensitive data secure is more important than ever. In this Essential Guide, learn how encryption can add an additional layer of protection for your data and the steps you must take to ensure that your encryption project succeeds.
April 2006

The Essential Guide to Implementing RFID
by Marc Doyon
By now you've heard of RFID, and your company might already be participating. But how much do you really know about the technology behind the initiative? This Essential Guide gives the skinny on those wide tag numbers.
March 2006

The Essential Guide to Global Data Synchronization
by Nahid Jilovec
Global Data Synchronization (GDS) isn't just another compliance project to suffer through. GDS can streamline your supply chain, save time, reduce mistakes, and ultimately, save your company a bundle.
February 2006

The Essential Guide to WDSc for PDM/SEU Users
by Jef Sutherland
WebSphere Development Studio Client (WDSc) is one of the iSeries developer’s best friends in programming, particularly for RPG development. This guide helps you navigate the WDSc development environment and provides keys to success when using WDSc.
January 2006

The Essential Guide to Backup and Recovery
by Richard Dolewski
Most disaster recovery plans (DRPs) focus on technology recovery, but is that enough? This Essential Guide outlines the steps to include in your DRP to ensure that your business's critical data is available when you need it most.
December 2005

The Essential Guide to Connecting Excel and the iSeries
by Michael Otey
Have nightmares about getting iSeries data to Excel worksheets for reporting or other uses? Rest easy — this Essential Guide leads you step by step through a number of surprisingly simple solutions that make short work of iSeries/Excel data transfer.
November 2005

The Essential Guide to Stored Procedures
by Paul Conte
Stored procedures provide improved performance and security for client applications and enable you to invoke server functions that aren't directly available as part of the database interface.
November 2005

The Essential Guide to Thwarting Hackers
by Mel Beckman
Many network admins don't realize that hackers seek low-hanging fruit: networks that have inadvertently designed known weaknesses into their security. Learn how to systematically lock down your network by following the recommendations in this guide.
October 2005

The Essential Guide to SCM
by Paul Conte
SCM tools and processes not only provide an audit trail but are the foundation of any successful software development effort and are indispensable in your shop. This guide covers SCM basics and tells you how to get your own SCM solution into service.
September 2005

The Essential Guide to XML
by Sharon Hoffman
XML is more than just a language; it’s quickly becoming the go-to standard for data transfer across different systems and for document storage and processing. Here’s a look at XML's origins, its uses, and different ways you might use it in your applications.
August 2005

Is Your HA Solution True High Availability?
by Richard Dolewski
Downtime is money down the drain. Is your high availability solution prepared for all scenarios? Richard Dolewski examines six myths that too many companies fall prey to when safeguarding their systems.
June 2005

The Essential Guide to Free-Format RPG
by Bryan Meyers
Say goodbye to unforgiving C-specs. This guide introduces you to the leaner, cleaner world of free-format RPG and helps you through the transition from RPG IV.
May 2005