Updated LinkedIn summary

I updated my summary on LinkedIn tonight. Here's the updated version:

Specialization: IBM Power Systems (IBM i, iSeries®, System i®, AS/400®) servers.

I prefer working with real-time (batch is obsolete) systems designed to run continuously 24/7. I also specialize in integrating the IBM i to everything on the plant floor but I’m flexible enough for other tasks as well.

Currently, I’m looking for an opportunity involving an equity investment in a business, in contrast to being an employee or a consultant. Although my experience is in writing real-time programs, my forte is gathering complex information and determining the underlying principles and trends.

Please don’t send me unsolicited ideas as I already have a list of 50+ ideas and I wouldn’t want you to think I stole yours. But if you think I could help you with your business, contact me through LinkedIn, at bruce.hobbs@gmail.com or at bruce@netburg.com.

To be honest, I am growing disillusioned with the IBM Power Systems platform. It’s like a Swiss Army knife, which is both an asset and a liability. The one thing IBM needs to add is the ability to run Windows Server 2012 R2 either natively or through emulation in its own partition. IBM sold its x86 server line to Lenovo and now manufactures nothing that can run Windows Server.

IBM, Power Systems, iSeries, System i and AS/400 are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Netburg is a service mark of Stevens Communications Inc. Netburg is not affiliated with IBM.

Previously, it read:

Specialization: IBM Power Systems (IBM i, iSeries®, System i®, AS/400®) servers.

I prefer working with real-time (batch is obsolete) systems designed to run continuously 24/7. I also specialize in integrating the IBM i to everything on the plant floor. But I do other tasks as needed; I work on everything from hardware to Java. I'm one of the few people who has repaired an IBM disk drive to avoid a full system restore.

If you're looking for someone to improve an accounts receivable report, I can do it but I won't get excited about it. But if you want to be the first plant engineer to install a new type of machine in a group of over 200 manufacturing plants and you need help getting the IBM i to dance, then I could be your person. I don't do 40 hours a week well, but I will be there when the job needs to get done.

Availability for new clients: April 2015.

I recently worked on interfacing the IBM i to two systems, one of which uses SQL Server for its database and one that has an OData connector (here's a shout out to Scott Klement whose information was helpful with both of these interfaces). Both interfaces are running smoothly.

Many years ago, I designed a system to interface an SAP ERP system to bar code readers and process control equipment. This system allows real-time updating of SAP data from these sources outside SAP so that the ERP view is always up to date with the actions on the plant floor. Soon, I will be adding caching so that this system can run independently of SAP for several days with full editing.

I have modified packaged software to allow commission statements to be e-mailed directly to sales agencies with a PDF check image attachment. The payment is made by an ACH transfer.

IBM, Power Systems, iSeries, System i and AS/400 are trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in the United States, other countries, or both. Netburg is a service mark of Stevens Communications Inc. Netburg is not affiliated with IBM. zl43x3q