IBM On Demand Technology Made Simple, Third Edition

Understanding the On Demand Business Strategy and Underlying Products

Building an On Demand Business

Since October 2002, IBM has been laser focused on a sweeping strategy known as “On Demand Business.” Since then, every IBM product line and service offering has been steadily infused with the technology and function necessary to support the On Demand Business model.

In IBM On Demand Technology Made Simple, popular technology author Jim Hoskins starts by describing the IBM vision known as On Demand Business so you can see the big picture and understand how your business can benefit. We then move in for a closer look at the computing infrastructure necessary to support an On Demand Business. You will come away with a new understanding of how you can evolve your current computing infrastructure to achieve the flexibility so vital in the on demand era.

This MaxFacts™ Guidebook presents an easy-to-read overview of key building block products such as IBM servers, storage, printers, and software including WebSphere, DB2, Tivoli, Lotus, Rational, and Linux from an On Demand Business perspective. You will learn about the IBM Systems Agenda which guides the development of all IBM server and storage product lines. You will see how virtualization can be leveraged to improve utilization and reduce costs. You will see how to evolve your infrastructure toward the goal of end-to-end integration by leveraging hardware and software that adhere to open standards.

To help you stay current, this book provides you with a personal password for accessing the companion Web site, which offers up-to-the-minute On Demand Business news, “More on the Web” links highlighted throughout the book, and additional resources.

This book will help you:

• Get inside IBM’s companywide On Demand Business strategy
• See how best to evolve your infrastructure for the future
• Update your knowledge on key IBM server, storage, printers, and software product lines
• Understand where IBM is headed with Linux
• Stay current through the “members only” companion Web site

About the Author

Jim Hoskins has been involved with computer technology design, implementation, and education for over 24 years. He is the author of many articles, books, and ebooks covering a wide range of technology and Internet business topics. Jim spent over a decade with IBM designing computer systems and directly helping businesses of all sizes design and implement real-world solutions. He is the author/editor of the popular Exploring IBM series of books, which has sold over 350,000 copies in 12 languages. Jim has a degree in electrical engineering from the University of Florida and resides in Gulf Breeze, Florida, with his wife and five children.