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From Client Access to ACS: A Migration Playbook

Presented By: Nathan Williams

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On Wednesday, October 14th join Relion Solutions' Nathan Williams as he presents From Client Access to ACS: A Migration Playbook.

IBM i Access for Windows, Mac, and Linux has been unsupported for years, and every day running it is a day further from IBM's last fix for it. Meanwhile, IBM i Access Client Solutions (ACS) keeps shipping new features and, just as importantly, new security patches. This session is a practical playbook for making the move: what actually changes under the hood, a real walkthrough of getting the software and running a single-PC install so you've done it once yourself, which of three realistic deployment paths fits your environment, and exactly how session files, keyboard maps, macros, and data-transfer definitions migrate (and how they sometimes don’t). We'll walk through staging a real, repeatable deployment image per user group with AutoImport and silent installs, then cover what can safely coexist with legacy Client Access during the transition and what can't, so you can plan a cutover with no surprises.

Learning Objectives:

  • Explain why continuing to run IBM i Access for Windows/Mac/Linux is a security and support risk, not just an inconvenience, citing its end-of-service date and ACS's own recent security history.

  • Download and perform a single-PC ACS installation and explain what the install script's deliberately limited question set actually configures.

  • Choose the deployment model that fits their environment's size and support capacity and explain the standard-vs-shared install distinction.

  • Migrate 5250 sessions, keyboard/poppad/menu maps, macros, and data-transfer definitions from legacy Client Access to ACS and identify the one common item (VBScript macros) that requires manual rework.

  • Build and roll out a standardized ACS deployment image per user group using AdminConfig, AutoImport, and a silent/scripted install.

  • Identify what can and cannot coexist during a phased migration and plan the cutover accordingly.

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About the Speaker

Nathan-Williams-Headshot

Nathan Williams

Senior IBM i System Administrator

With deep expertise across IBM Power Systems and IBM i, Nathan helps organizations tackle complex infrastructure projects and keep mission-critical environments running at their best.

With a career in information technology spanning the mid-1990s and more than 20 years working with IBM systems, Nathan brings deep technical experience and a practical, hands-on approach to every engagement. He is known for solving complex infrastructure challenges, supporting mission-critical environments, and helping clients execute projects with confidence.

After beginning his career in the telecommunications industry, Nathan joined the IBM Business Partner community in 2015, where he has focused exclusively on IBM Power Systems and IBM i technologies. He has supported organizations through infrastructure modernization projects, platform migrations, operating system upgrades, and day-to-day systems administration. Nathan is an IBM Certified Administrator for IBM i and an IBM Certified IBM Storage Technical Specialist.

Nathan believes great technical support starts with listening, communicating clearly, and doing the job right. At Relion Solutions, he is committed to helping clients build secure, stable, and resilient IBM Power environments that support their business today and into the future.

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Still running legacy IBM i Access?

Join Nathan for a practical, step-by-step look at moving to ACS, from installation and deployment options to migrating sessions, configurations, macros, and data-transfer definitions. You’ll leave with a clearer understanding of what the transition involves and how to plan your move without unnecessary disruption.

Register now to save your spot.