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Test Drive IBM i For Free

Virtual Loaner Program gives you the keys to the newest OS

 

I’m a big fan of IBM i and evangelize its existence wherever I go—yes, my friends and relatives tire of hearing about how I wish I could run IBM i on my laptop. Having been in the IBM i world for around 12 years now, I’ve noticed that you can't really experience a new operating system unless it’s easy to take for a test drive. The opportunity to be exposed to IBM i is what, in my opinion, plagues the platform in today's marketplace. This fact isn’t lost on the folks who put together and maintain the IBM Virtual Loaner Program (VLP).

In IBM's words, the VLP offers no-charge remote access to IBM hardware, including IBM POWER7, POWER6 and POWER5 processor-based servers on IBM AIX, IBM i and Linux operating systems.

In my words, IBM has made it incredibly easy to create a virtualized IBM i LPAR in the cloud, that can be used for a variety of purposes, by using only a Web browser. I can literally configure a new IBM i LPAR in roughly five minutes. Let me state that again: I can go to an ibm.com website, select options for the IBM i machine I want created for me, and complete the entire task in five minutes. Then my input flies off into the walls of IBM where it has automated process that creates a new LPAR for me. I receive an e-mail about two hours later with full sign-in information that include QSECOFR authorities, meaning I have full authority to the entire LPAR to do any and all admin-related things as I need.

I have been using the VLP for about four years, and until recently I thought it was only for ISVs. IBMer Kent Milligan corrected me on that point, and instead all you need is a PartnerWorld profile. That means most anyone can participate in the VLP! I won't be covering the creation of a PartnerWorld profile in this article, but just know that it takes about two business days for IBM to process your request and get back to you. As a test for this article, I signed up for a new PartnerWorld profile using my personal e-mail address to make sure my ability to obtain access wasn't based on my existing employment status.

Is It True?

I’ve told this story several times this past year and am surprised when people don't believe me when I tell them how easy it is and that this service does in fact exist. So to make a believer out of you, I’ve recorded the entire process with video so it can have a place in history. This short video shows how to configure a new instance of an IBM i LPAR via the Web browser.

It’s important to know that this is a short-term service where you’re given access to the IBM i LPAR for two weeks at a time and isn't meant for you to run your business. Even with that restriction, I’ve found many uses for this service. IBM has, in my opinion, allowed fairly broad usage for the VLP. In their license agreement, you can find the following statement of intended usage:

“The Service is intended solely to assist you in enabling your Software for operation on certain IBM systems and their associated Code and other software, and to verify and demonstrate the operation of your Software on IBM systems. Normal enablement activities include uploading/downloading your Software and test data, porting, migration, debugging, testing, certification, performance testing, sizing, limited benchmarking, and product demonstrations.”

 

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