You, Me, and IBM i

Josh Majsterski has been helping IBM i customers since 1998, and is currently one of the best Performance analysts IBM i has to offer. On this episode of the podcast. Josh joins us to talk about how customers can help themselves by opening more specific cases, collecting the right data, and even analyze their own issues more effectively using iDoctor. As an added bonus, we get the inside scoop about how Josh saved Christmas in Minnesota, and why visiting customer websites is not always allowed.

Matt Stockwell is a multi-talented IBMer who recently retired this February. Matt's work at IBM in Rochester touched on multiple areas, from development, to support, and eventually to System Test, where he excelled in finding problems before customers did. When Matt was deep into his tests, he liked to joke that he was "Channeling Bonalumi," a highly skilled and respected system tester of yore, gone too soon. In this episode, recorded before his retirement in February of 2026, Matt discusses his work in System Test, fondly reflects on his home state of Ohio, and offers insight into systems administration, storage, FSPs, and even racing philosophy and his gentle brand of parenting. Matt Stockwell is one of the many people who made IBM Rochester a better place to work, and the IBM i a reliable system to support.

At the bottom of this Episode page you will find a list of some of the books we discussed. And as an added bonus, any listener that submits a question or comment about this podcast will be entered into a drawing to win a signed copy of John Barnes book, "The Duke of Uranium."

Polish technical support expert and Technical Account Manager Dariusz Maliszewski kicks off our first episode of season two. He joins us to discuss his career path, which ebbed and flowed from taking basic support calls, to supporting customers on site, to taking on a unique dual role as both as a support engineer and as a member of the Premium Support and Expert Care team. Along the way, Dariusz shares insights into how IBM TAMs engage with the accounts they oversee to deliver a great support experience, drops some knowledge about NetServer, and still has time to talk about company cars and coffee machines.

Helpful NetServer links:

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/mapping-drive-i5os-netserver

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/netserver-best-practices

More information about Expert Care and IBM's Hardware and Software Maintenance Services

https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/entitled-systems-support?topic=management-expert-care-overview

https://www.ibm.com/downloads/documents/us-en/10a99803f32fd7d6

In this episode, we sit down with Nina Ng, an IBM support veteran whose cosmopolitan career has taught her to speak fluently in the language all customers expect: the clear and timely communication of correct answers. From her roots in the Philippines to her life today in Singapore, Nina Ng has built a reputation for technical excellence, empathy, and infectious good humor. Join us for a thoughtful look at what it really means to connect across cultures, one call at a time.

In this episode, we are joined by none other than IBM's own Scott Forstie, who sits down to talk about all things SQL. From how he got started at IBM, and how he goes about writing SQL that others can learn from, to the business of challenging users to transition to database technologies that will ensure that their newest employees can hit the ground running. Alex and Scott also discuss system security and the future of SQL in the AI age. After you listen, make sure to seek out Scott and Tim Rowe's iSee video blog at COMMON.org, and the other links below to learn even more SQL.

http://ibm.biz/Db2foriSQLTutor

https://learn.common.org/products/ibm-isee-video-blog

https://gist.github.com/forstie

https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/1119129/

Loralie Fritel has been helping customers install, upgrade, and manage their IBM i Systems since 1998, and on today's episode she does a joins us to talk about her particular area of expertise, PTFs. So..what is a PTF? What's the best way to put them on? And how do you pronouce Loralie Fritel? Just hit play and find out.

Some helpful PTF links:

IBM i Technology Refresh https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-technology-refresh

PTFs: FAQs / Question and Answers https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ptfs-faqs-question-and-answers

Best Practices: PTF or Fixes Installation https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/645469

Installing cumulative PTF packages https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.5.0?topic=scenario-installing-cumulative-ptf-packages

Automatic ordering of PTF groups https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.5.0?topic=fixes-automatic-ordering-ptf-groups

IBM i Group PTFs with Level https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-group-ptfs-level

IBM i APARs/PTFs have migrated to Known Issues/Fix Information https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/ibm-i-aparsptfs-have-migrated-known-issuesfix-information

We also want to put in a plug for Michael Mayers IBM i Reference blog is a user-created site that provides helpful links for PTFs, Upgrades, TR Enhancements, and more. The IBM iGSC celebrates and thanks users like Mike who work independently to promote and support the IBM i community.

In this episode, we meet Jerry McKee and do a deep dive into SSL, TLS, Self-Signed Certificates, and get some great tips on securing your networks from bad actors. And as an added bonus we get some fun stories about AS/400 reliability straight from the guy who soldered the chips that made them so in the first place. It’s a no-nonsense breakdown of how customers can keep their data and devices safe in a world wired for risk.

Configuring SSL for ADMIN wizard - IBM

Setting up IBM i to use SSL

Configuring Your IBM i System Secure Sockets Layer (SSL)/Transport Layer Security (TLS) Protocols and Cipher Suites

In this episode we finally meet one of the many talented people located in Sofia, Bulgaria. For 10 years, Stanislav Kolev has been relied on for his skill on our EBIZ team, and is well-versed in how customers can help make single sign-on work for them.

Troubleshooting Single Sign-on

IBM i Single Sign-on Configuration Planning Worksheets

When the normal day shift at the IBM i GSC is done, the OFFSHIFT team takes over. OFFSHIFT is a smaller global team of highly technical reps who are able to solve most issues on their own. In this episode, we meet Jim Shupe, a long-time OFFSHIFT team lead, and learn how customers can better open their cases so that they are resolved quickly and expertly.

Jim highly recommends that all customers install QMGTOOLS and keep it current.

The IBM i GSC has long had the benefit of the experience of Hugo Del Castillo, having worked in various places in both the US and South America as a Systems Engineer, in Technical Support, and even in Sales. In this episode, Hugo talks in depth about the ENDJOBABN IBM i command, and we get to hear the truth behind one of the most amazing IBM i support stories ever -- the history of how a customer ended his OWN job, in a very abnormal way....

Customers that have a job that will not end are encouraged to open a support ticket to IBM to get an expert involved who knows that area of the system best, and at a minimum, collect SERVICEDOCS before running the ENDJOBABN command so that the right diagnostic materials are collected. An IPL should be performed to clean up the system when possible.