COMMON POWERUp 2024

Attending this event?

COMMON POWERUp 2024

THE BEST IBM i & POWER SYSTEMS EDUCATION.When you come to POWERUp, you’ll be able to customize your experience. Choose from 300 sessions, covering over 20 areas of IT, when you plan your schedule. Visit the largest Expo of its kind and meet the experts behind the solutions. Attend social events to meet renowned speakers and peers alike. This conference is structured to give you the pure education and professional connections needed to best enhance your career. Are you ready to POWERUp?

Exhibitor Hall: https://www.expocad.com/host/fx/common/s24/exfx.html

Exhibitor Hall Map Here

10:15am CDT

399: Introduction to the Changing World of Licensing Subscriptions and Conversions

The IBM i platform is going through a multi-year transition that has seen simplification and consolidation of products within the License Program Product portfolio. Most recently we have also introduced the Subscription Conversion offerings on the P05 and P10 license tiers. Join me as I take you through the beginnings of this journey and where we are today with potentially a few hints at what may come in the future.

Speakers

Douglas Gibbs

IBM i Product Manager, Program Director, IBM

Douglas Gibbs is the offering manager for IBM Power Systems I/O and works closely with the overall Offering Management, Sales and Development teams regarding all manners of I/O. Douglas has worked in the IT Industry for more than 25 years and has been in a variety of positions at... Read More →

Monday May 20, 2024 10:15am - 11:15am CDT
Meeting Room 103A 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level Intermediate

2:45pm CDT

363: Choosing the Right Cloud Strategy: Private, Public, or Hybrid?

Are you grappling with the decision of which cloud strategy suits your needs best? Join us in this session as we navigate the complexities of private, public, and hybrid cloud options. Learn how to tailor your cloud strategy based on workloads, organizational considerations, and application dependencies.

Key Points:

- Workload-Centric Considerations
- Organizational Perspectives
- Application Dependency Insights?

Learning Objectives:
Session Highlights:

Comparative Analysis: Gain insights into the advantages and drawbacks of private, public, and hybrid cloud strategies through a comparative analysis.

Decision-Making Framework: Discover a decision-making framework to help you choose the most suitable cloud strategy for your specific needs.

Real-world Examples: Explore case studies showcasing successful implementations of different cloud strategies.

Speakers

Lief Morin

GM, Cloud Services, Fresche Solutions

Monday May 20, 2024 2:45pm - 3:45pm CDT
Meeting Room 203C 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level Advanced

4:00pm CDT

157: IBM i Strategy, Roadmap and Innovation

IBM i is an amazing platform for running a business today, and its future is bright – innovative, integrated and incredible! Hear Steve Will, IBM i CTO, talk about the strategy, roadmap and future of IBM i.

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn what the direction of IBM i is.
2. See how IBM i is being used in the industry

Speakers

Steve Will

IBM i CTO & Chief Architect, IBM

Steve is the CTO and Chief Architect for the IBM i Operating System. Spending the past fourteen years of his IBM career in this position, he has become an award-winning speaker, author of the influential blog "You and i," (https://bit.ly/You-and-i-blog) and is one of the most sought-after voices at customer briefings and events. Steve has worked on IBM i and its predecessors since before the creation of the AS/400, and is currently responsible for setting the strategy of the IBM i operating system, as well as deciding which enhancements will be implemented. In his role, he talks to clients and pa... Read More →

IBM i Strategy, Roadmap & Innovation PowerUp 2024 pdf

Monday May 20, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 102 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level All
Digital Badge IT Strategy
Audience Anyone using IBM i

8:00am CDT

229: IBM i 7.5 Plus Favorite Features

The Development lab is continues to roll out new functions and features with every release and technology refresh. In this session we will review some of the key features that have been delivered over the past couple of releases. These are things that you should be aware of either for you to incorporate today, or to help you tomorrow.

Learning Objectives:

Speakers

Tim Rowe

Business Architect Application Development & Systems Management for IBM i, IBM

Tim Rowe is the Business Architect responsible for Application Development and Systems Management for the IBM i operating system. His responsibilities include helping to make sure that the IBM i has what is needed to be successful both today and into the future. He sends much of his... Read More →

Scott Forstie

Db2 for i Architect, IBM

Scott Forstie is a Senior Technical Staff Member within IBM i development and spends most of his time working as the Db2 for i Architect. He has worked on IBM operating system development since joining IBM in 1989.Scott is a frequently published author, speaker at industry events... Read More →

1 IBM i 7.5 Plus our Faves pdf

Tuesday May 21, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Meeting Room 102 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level All
Award GOLD

8:00am CDT

341: Open Source: How to not mess it up

Free open source software (FOSS) is "free as a puppy." We should know that the "free" indicates freedom, not zero cost!

Adoption of open source software also brings its share of responsibilities. Failure to properly care for your open source stack can be costly. Incorrect use can also be costly.

In this session, we will look at best practices surrounding the use of open source software, which involves proper management of user authorities, support, CVE mitigation, and more.

Learning Objectives:
Understand how to successfully deploy open source projects and avoid some of the "foot guns" that come with "free" software.

Speakers

Jesse Gorzinski

Business Architect, IBM

Jesse Gorzinski works for the IBM i development lab in Rochester, MN. He is a Senior Business Architect and Senior Technical Staff Member (STSM) responsible for open source technologies on the platform. Jesse, who was doing RPG programming at the age of 18, is an expert on application... Read More →

OSS How to not mess it up v3 pdf

Tuesday May 21, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Meeting Room 203A 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level All
Audience IT managers, project managers, or developers

9:15am CDT

377: The IBM i Box of Chocolates - with Q&A

You know what Forrest Gump's mother said about a box of chocolates. Well, in this presentation by Steve Will, IBM i CTO and Chief Architect, you never know what you're going to get - but we're pretty sure you're going to like every piece!
Steve will spend a few minutes talking about a few morsels from the IBM i box of chocolates – including the state of the IBM i operating system, its plans, its technology and its community – and of course, AI!
And then he'll open the floor for questions.

Learning Objectives:
1. Current hot topics

Speakers

Steve Will

IBM i CTO & Chief Architect, IBM

Steve is the CTO and Chief Architect for the IBM i Operating System. Spending the past fourteen years of his IBM career in this position, he has become an award-winning speaker, author of the influential blog "You and i," (https://bit.ly/You-and-i-blog) and is one of the most sought-after voices at customer briefings and events. Steve has worked on IBM i and its predecessors since before the creation of the AS/400, and is currently responsible for setting the strategy of the IBM i operating system, as well as deciding which enhancements will be implemented. In his role, he talks to clients and pa... Read More →

IBM i Box of Chocolates 2024 POWERUp Preview pdf

Tuesday May 21, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Meeting Room 102 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level Beginner

1:30pm CDT

416: What Does Your Job Look Like in 2030? A Vision of IBM i Work in the Future

Within 60 days of its release, ChatGPT hit 100 million users in 2022, a feat it took TikTok 9 months to achieve. According to Deloitte, “64% of CEOs say they’re facing significant pressure from investors, creditors, and lenders to speed the adoption of generative AI”. This sudden ramp up of genAI, coupled with macro trends such as hybrid work are drastically changing the model of work we all are accustomed to.

What does this mean for IBM® i and for you? In this session, Puneet Kohli – COMMON board member and President of the Application Modernization business unit at Rocket Software, will discuss:

The roles of IBM i admin and IBM i developer and how they change over the next 5 years
What opportunities this will present for you
How you can set yourself up for success in 2030 and beyond

Speakers

Puneet Kohli

President of Application Modernization Business Unit, Rocket Software

Puneet Kohli is the President of Application Modernization BU at Rocket Software. Puneet has two decades of experience managing all facets of engineering for enterprise software. Puneet has deep knowledge of Identity and access management, governance risk & compliance, Devops, hybrid... Read More →

Tuesday May 21, 2024 1:30pm - 2:30pm CDT
Ballroom B, 2nd Floor 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level All

4:00pm CDT

312: Developing With Developers In Mind

In the world of software development, effective developing strategies are a crucial part to any project. Join us in this insightful session to explore the art of developing with developers in mind. Discover strategies, tools, and best practices to improve productivity and streamline updates for a better user experience. If you're not sure if this is the session for you, just ask yourself, "Do I want to receive work emails and calls while I'm on vacation?"

Learning Objectives:
1. Learn about organizing code using procedural programming
2. Learn to Automate tasks and processes (with a hint of open source)
3. Learn about what to include in project documentation

Speakers

Mike Zaringhalam

Developer, PC Richard & Son

Have you ever wanted to meet someone who started Hawaiian Shirt Fridays at their work place? If the answer is 'Yes!', then feel free to reach out with any questions you have regarding Hawaiian shirts... Or IBM i related topics. My main focuses are RDi, DB2, Modernization, and D... Read More →

Tuesday May 21, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 101 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level All
Audience Anyone looking to improve their collaboration skills

4:00pm CDT

360: Mastering Technical Debt Challenges in the IBM i Ecosystem

A comprehensive session on strategies for addressing the challenges associated with tackling technical debt in the IBM i ecosystem. This session explores the impact of technical debt on your system's performance and longevity and provides actionable insights to effectively manage and reduce it.

Key Highlights:

- Understanding Technical Debt
- Identifying Hotspots and Common Areas
- Impact on Performance and Scalability
- Strategies for Debt Reduction
- Building a Future-Ready IBM i

Learning Objectives:
Join this session to
- Gain practical insights into proactively addressing technical debt in your IBM i environment.
- Learn how strategically managing technical debt not only mitigates risks and reduces long-term maintenance costs but also optimizes system performance and ensures the long-term scalability of your IBM i infrastructure.
- Walk away with actionable strategies and implementation tips tailored to your specific IBM i context, contributing to the future-proofing of your system and its adaptability to evolving technological landscapes.

Speakers

Chris Koppe

SVP Strategy Services, Fresche Solutions

Chris Koppe is responsible for developing client transformation strategies at Fresche Solutions. He has led the development of legacy management strategies for hundreds of companies, across a variety of platforms, languages, databases, and technologies. This insight has allowed Chris... Read More →

Tuesday May 21, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 103A 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level All
Digital Badge IT Strategy

5:15pm CDT

203: My Vision For the Future

The world is changing. You can see it if you look around you... computers understand your voice, cars drive themselves, and so much more! What will things look like in 10 or 20 years? How will the world change? And, most importantly, how can we be ready for it?

Learning Objectives:
1. Understand how automation is already changing the world.
2. Think about how it will change things over time.
3. Be inspired to become a part of it!

Speakers

Scott Klement

Development & Solutions Architect, Midrange Dynamics

Scott volunteers as a member of COMMON's Board of Directors, Strategic Education Team, Certification Committee and Innovation Awards. He is the author of around 1000 articles and a dozen open source projects. Scott's efforts to help out the IBM i Community have resulted in dozens... Read More →

Tuesday May 21, 2024 5:15pm - 5:35pm CDT
Meeting Room 201C 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level All

8:00am CDT

344: Open Source Always Wins. Let's Talk about it

Open source wins. It always wins. There's no fighting it. There's no denying it. But, it's important to understand "why" open source is such a disruptor and how you can tailor your IT strategy around its predictable wins.

Learning Objectives:
Understand and Leverage the momentum of open source technologies

Speakers

Jesse Gorzinski

Business Architect, IBM

Jesse Gorzinski works for the IBM i development lab in Rochester, MN. He is a Senior Business Architect and Senior Technical Staff Member (STSM) responsible for open source technologies on the platform. Jesse, who was doing RPG programming at the age of 18, is an expert on application... Read More →

OSS How to not mess it up v3 pdf

Wednesday May 22, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Meeting Room 204A 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level All
Audience IT planners, executives, IT managers, or even developers

8:00am CDT

365: How to Set Up Your IBM i Environment to Weather the Evolution of Work in 2024

The evolution of work is on every IT leader’s mind, whether it’s in the context of hybrid work, generative AI, or automation. For IBM i teams, though, there’s also the challenge of a shrinking workforce that has deep expertise in IBM i administration and development. The good news is IBM I teams can take advantage of this evolution in a way that not only mitigates the skills shortage business impact but also sets up the organization for success.

Learning Objectives:
In this session, we will discuss what you need to do to take advantage of the trends in the evolution of work, including how to:
• Leverage pipelines to visualize and document your DevOps processes
• Enable 3rd party tried and true tools
• Weave hyper-automation into your every day
• Enable teams to experiment with new tech and IT trends like AI
• Simplify a move to the cloud

Speakers

Jeroen van Dun

Product Manager, Rocket Software

Herman Rensink

Distinguished Engineer, Rocket Software

Wednesday May 22, 2024 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Meeting Room 203B 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level All
Digital Badge IT Strategy

9:15am CDT

401: Enterprise Design Thinking at Scale

Speakers

Felix Portnoy

Design Principal, IBM

Felix Portnoy is a Design Principal at IBM, where he serves as a key driver in the transformation of IBM Power, with a focus on delivering exceptional customer experiences and elevating design culture and practices across the organization. Felix is a published researcher and the recipient... Read More →

Wednesday May 22, 2024 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Meeting Room 201C 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level Advanced

2:45pm CDT

364: I've Moved Over to Cloud. Now What?

You've successfully migrated to the cloud, but what's next? Join this session as we explore essential strategies to extract maximum value from your cloud presence. Discover next-step initiatives that go beyond migration, ensuring your organization leverages the full potential of the cloud.

Key Points:

Optimizing Cloud Performance: Learn strategies to enhance the performance and efficiency of your applications and resources in the cloud.

Cost Optimization Tactics: Explore initiatives to manage and optimize costs, ensuring your cloud investment remains efficient and cost-effective.

Security and Compliance in the Cloud: Delve into best practices for maintaining robust security and compliance standards in your cloud environment.

Learning Objectives:
Session Highlights:

- Post-Migration Excellence
- Innovative Cloud Initiatives
- Real-world Case Studies

Speakers

Lief Morin

GM, Cloud Services, Fresche Solutions

Wednesday May 22, 2024 2:45pm - 3:45pm CDT
Meeting Room 204A 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level All

4:00pm CDT

414: We’re Going to the Cloud, but How Do We Get There?

Your leadership has decided your IBM i system is going to the cloud or you know that day is coming. Then reality sets in and the first question is, how do I move business critical apps on IBM i to the cloud and still keep the business running while I migrate? What choices should I make to reduce the risk? Are some clouds better for me than others?

This session will help you answer all these questions and give you the tools to plan a successful migration. We will also share some ideas on how to get the most from your cloud experience once you get there.

Speakers

Keith Zblewski

Product Manager - IBM Hybrid Cloud, First National Technology Solutions

As a Product Manager at FNTS, Keith develops and grows cloud services to help clients modernize their IBM environment by leveraging hybrid cloud technologies. Keith uses 25+ years of experience on IBM Power Systems to help clients on their journey to cloud for applications running... Read More →

PowerUp 2024 Going to the Cloud pdf

Wednesday May 22, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 204A 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level All

4:00pm CDT

400: Exploring Licensing on the IBM i Platform

Can I transfer this license? Is this license part of group SWMA? Can I move this license?
We receive a variety of licensing questions on a regular basis and we’d like to share some of the most recent questions and our responses in addition to an overview of some to licensing terms and definitions we have as part of the platform.

Speakers

Douglas Gibbs

IBM i Product Manager, Program Director, IBM

Douglas Gibbs is the offering manager for IBM Power Systems I/O and works closely with the overall Offering Management, Sales and Development teams regarding all manners of I/O. Douglas has worked in the IT Industry for more than 25 years and has been in a variety of positions at... Read More →

Thursday May 23, 2024 4:00pm - 5:00pm CDT
Meeting Room 203C 1508 Houston St, Fort Worth, TX 76102

Session Level Intermediate