Lesson Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:
- Understand the role of the administrator and how to plan, set up, and configure TURNOVER® Lifecycle Manager for IBM i environments.
- Implement security, auditing, and change management processes, including application definitions, workflows, and promotions.
- Manage various object types, schemes, and advanced features like IFS objects, multiple versions, mail integration, and SQL/ILE handling.
- Handle ownership, profiles, jobs, emergency changes, and disk space optimization.
- Use appendices for reference on job descriptions, commands, files, and configuration checklists.
This summary condenses the 445-page Administrator’s Guide (Release 2.100, November 2022 edition) into key sections for system administrators. TURNOVER® Lifecycle Manager (formerly TURNOVER® for iSeries) is an application lifecycle management tool for IBM i, focusing on controlled changes, auditing, and distribution. Based on web searches as of October 2025, no newer public Administrator’s Guide was found; check UNICOM/SoftLanding support for updates.
Key Concepts
- Application Definitions and Diagrams: Core to modeling change environments, levels (e.g., dev, test, prod), and relationships for controlled promotions.
- Change Management Schemes (CM Schemes): Customizable methods for handling object types, including create/compile/promote/distribute.
- Security and Auditing: Emphasizes object ownership, user profiles, authorities, and audit trails for compliance (e.g., SOX).
- Promotion and Distribution: Forms automate object movement with rules, pre/post commands, approvals, and error checks.
- Advanced Integrations: Supports IFS, iASPs, mirroring, mail daemons (OAuth, Google, Microsoft Entra ID), SQL objects, ILE programs, and more.
- Environments: Multi-environment setups for testing, production, and multilingual support.
- Prerequisites: IBM i 7.1+, proper licensing, and integration with tools like cross-reference systems (e.g., Hawkeye).
Module 1: Introduction and Application Planning
For new admins: Overview, setup, and planning.
Choosing the Administrator
- Select someone with IBM i expertise, authority (e.g., *SECOFR), and knowledge of applications/security.
- Responsibilities: Define processes, manage users/profiles, configure schemes, monitor jobs.
Overview and Productivity
- Tool improves change control, reduces errors, ensures audits, and supports distributed systems.
- Key benefits: Automated promotions, version control, emergency handling, integration with helpdesk/projects.
Setting Up
- Security: Use object owners (e.g., TURNOVER profile), restrict production libs, set authorities.
- Library Structure: SOFTTURN (product), SOFTTURND (data), SOFTTURNE (language), ARCHIVESRC (archives).
- Archive Policies: Decide on source archiving for history/audits.
Projects and Environments
- Projects integrate with helpdesk; tasks link to worklists/forms.
- Design Environments: Model levels, libraries, ASPs; use wizards for new defs.
Application Definitions
- Models: Copy/pre-built for quick setup.
- Designer: Visual tool for diagrams, workflows.
- Workflow: Define promotion paths, approvals.
Module 2: Configuring Auditing and Change Processes
Focus on compliance and flow.
Auditing Needs
- Define Development Process: Standards for changes, audits.
- Audit Changes: Track via forms, reports, history.
Change Process
- Promotion Flow: Source-only, compiled, non-source objects.
- Rules/Conditions: Logical files, pre/post commands (scenarios), deleting objects.
- Form Copy/Delete Rules: Handle test/prod objects.
Module 3: Managing Object Types and Schemes
Customize for specific needs.
Source Stream Files
- Intro: Manage IFS stream files in apps.
- App Definitions: Integrate with levels.
Object Types, Schemes, Data
- Create Schemes: For custom CM methods.
- Override/Change Methods: Tailor create/promote.
- Create Programs: For type codes.
- Using Schemes: Examples for common objects.
Module 4: Ownership, Security, and Emergency Changes
Secure and handle exceptions.
Ownership, Profiles, Jobs
- Ownership: Set for objects.
- Profiles: TURNOVER, autostart (TOMSGRCV, etc.).
- Jobs: Monitor subsystems (TSERVER).
Security Recommendations
- Owners/Libs: Restrict access.
- Specific Authority: Check/expose vulnerabilities.
Emergency Changes
- Emergency App: For urgent fixes.
- Multiple Checkout: Resolve conflicts.
Module 5: Advanced Features
For complex environments.
Multiple Versions
- Scenarios/Relationships: Related apps, advanced.
- Versioning: Object/distribution.
Cross-Reference System
- Layout/Commands: Build references.
- User-Defined: Custom.
iASPs and IFS Objects
- Promote into iASPs.
- IFS: Setup, manage (checkout/in/promote/distribute), troubleshoot, Java/Windows/UNIX.
Mirroring Systems
- Setup for replication.
Mail Daemon
- Considerations/Install: OAuth, start/end.
- Multiple Envs: Logs, HTML support.
Mail Integration Spec
- Purpose/OAuth: Entra ID, Google auth.
- Handling/Monitor: Flow diagram.
Module 6: Specific Object Handling and Optimization
Detailed for files, messages, programs.
Physical/Logical Files
- New/Replace/Delete: PF/LF, explode libs, CHGPF setup.
Message IDs
- Type Codes/Assign: Distribute, manage.
ILE Programs
- Modules/Programs/Service Progs: Workflow, convert.
Menus, DFUs, Queries
- IBM i specifics.
SQL Objects
- Tables/Indexes/Views/Triggers/Constraints/Security.
- Functions/Procs: External, MQTs, packages.
- Ad Hoc/Distribute: Sequence, DDL examples.
Disk Space
- Delete install lib.
Assessment and Next Steps
- Quiz Ideas: Steps to create a CM scheme? Security best practices? Workflow for ILE objects?
- Practice: Set up a test environment, define an application, configure security, manage IFS objects.
- Further Learning: User Guide, Developer’s Guide; supplements on unicomsi.com or softlanding.com; contact support (tech.support@unicomsi.com or +1-603-924-8818). Explore integrations with modern tools like Git or RDi for 2025 updates.