This week, a woebegone IT Pro is in a tech spiral trying to move IBM System 36/36 data and applications to IBM System I / iSeries.  We also discuss low cost internet failover in your pocket – using 3G to keep the company going.  When you’re looking to replace a switch this year, will you go chalk with Cisco or consider HP/Dell/Juniper switches?  Was there really a billion dollar mistake within Target when they went for Canada or is this corporate finger pointing?  Lastly, we look into a customer service case at Spicworks, where a  DOA return nearly resolved.  Good job, good effort.

Moving IBM System 36/38 to System I:
http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1446937-need-help-moving-ibm-system-36-38-setup-on-new-hardware

Low Cost Internet Failover
http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/308395-my-low-cost-internet-failover

If you were given a choice for buying new network switches…..
http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1451507-if-you-were-given-a-choice-for-buying-new-network-switches

Billion-dollar mistake: How inferior IT killed Target Canada (via Reddit)
https://www.reddit.com/r/sysadmin/comments/45o821/article_makes_it_shine_as_the_glue_of_enterprise/
http://www.zdnet.com/article/billion-dollar-failures-how-bad-decisions-and-poor-it-killed-target-canada/

DOA Return Issue and (almost) finding help in online communities:
http://community.spiceworks.com/topic/1402353-doa-return-issue
– Quick discussion on how valuable communities & social are for getting IT support today.