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IBM Systems Connect eXpert is your worldwide portal for easily locating System x, BladeCenter and entry-Storage certification and education. This program provides Business Partners with easy-to-follow, flexible road maps to advanced certification while helping you remain current on those urgent skills needed in the business world today.

They have tools to help you track your certification achievements as you progress through our technical and sales training programs leading to advanced certifications. Enroll now to view the roadmaps, education pools and other resources that can help you grow your skills and fully realize the Power of Knowledge by using this program to:

• Gain deeper skills faster
• Track your certification progress
• Take education on current IBM initiatives
• Actively maintain current skill levels
• Join a community of Business Partner experts

This technical paper identifies actions for IBM Director 5.20 users to take to manually migrate their systems to IBM Systems Director 6.1. It provides steps to execute in order to migrate the servers and managed endpoints in the network and provides suggested actions and links to assist the user.

Source:  IBM Support

Several updates on IBM Systems Director 6.1 have been released to FIXCentral as SD 6.1.0.1 patch fixes. Please read the instructions carefully to update your SD installation. SD 6.1 uses a different update mechanism than previous versions. Detailed information about updating can be found @ the IBM InfoCenter.

What is FIXCentral ?
Fix Central provides fixes and updates for your system's software. You can find the fix or fixes you are looking for by searching by product, by fix ID, or by APAR. Fix Central also helps you identify any prerequisite or co-requisite fixes associated with the fixes you want to download.

Source:  InfoCenter, FIXCentral

The new Tivoli Provisioning Manager for OS Deployment (TPMforOSD) version 7.1 (stand-alone) has been released and can be ordered through IBM software channels.

This TPMforOSD will replace Remote Deployment Manager (RDM) version 4.4. The released version 7.1 is still stand-alone, but next version will be fully integrated with IBM Systems Director 6.1.  A document describing a migration scenarion from RDM 4.4 to TPMforOSD 7.1 will be made available.

Source: TPMforOSD Product page, Developerworks Forum TPMforOSD (Rembo Auto-Deploy)

More information will be added within a couple of days. Additional information sources can be found here:

Check out the new VMware web-based compatibility guide at http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/

Please note that this online tool replaces following guides:

• VMware ESX 3.0.x and above version system compatibility guide
• VMware ESX 3.0.x and above version SAN (storage) compatibility guide
• VMware ESX 3.0.x and above version I/O compatibility guide
• VMware View Client Compatibility Guide

VMware has discontinued updating the above legacy PDF-format guides !!

 A toolbar has been created specially for System x / BladeCenter related items available for firefox and/or Internet Explorer.

So what does this toolbar do for you:
1. The Best of IBM's web
2. Hand-picked Links -  WE ARE ON THAT LIST !!!!
3. Google-Powered Search Box
4. Alerts to Your Desktop

Source:  System x Toolbar

IBM Lotus Foundations is a family of small business servers that provide the essential software required to run any business with up to 500 users.

Enabling companies to focus on their business instead of IT, the Lotus Foundations Server provides the essential software required to run your business with reliability, security, and simplicity; an ideal server for businesses with limited budgets and IT resources.

IBM announced a bundle which consists of a IBM System x3200 M2 server combined with Lotus Foundations.