COMMON POWERUp 2026: Full Schedule

Unlock the Power of IBM i at POWERUp 2026!

Join us in New Orleans, Louisiana for POWERUp 2026, the premier conference for IBM i professionals. Whether you’re an experienced expert or just starting your IBM i journey, this event offers unparalleled education, hands-on workshops, and valuable networking opportunities. Stay ahead of the curve with insights from industry leaders, explore the latest innovations, and connect with a thriving community that shares your passion for IBM i. Don’t miss this opportunity to expand your knowledge, grow your skills, and power up your career!

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8:00am CDT

Using Performance Data Investigator in IBM Navigator for i

Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT

Galerie 4

Evaluation Survey

In this session, you will hear about visualizing performance data using Performance Data Investigator (PDI) in IBM Navigator for i. While I demonstrate some of the key features, you will be learning the basics of how to use Performance Data Investigator (PDI) to perform performance analysis and view performance trends over time.

Topic teasers: collection services, graph history, export, stacking, tabs, breadcrumbs, multiples, custom

Learning Objectives:
1. How to use Performance Data Investigator to perform performance analysis
2. How to use the Graph History feature of Performance Data Investigator to view performance trends over time.

Speakers

Shauna Rollings

Senior Software Engineer - IBM i Performance Tools & High Availability Development, IBM

Shauna joined the IBM i development team in 2008. She has developed and supported IBM i performance data collector tools throughout her entire IBM career. From the very beginning of the Db2 Mirror for i project, she has also been the technical team lead for the Db2 Mirror Configuration... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 8:00am - 9:00am CDT
Galerie 4

Systems Management

9:15am CDT

Work Faster on IBM i: Using AI to Analyze, Modernize, and Deliver More

Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT

Galerie 4

Evaluation Survey

AI is quickly becoming a practical tool for improving how IBM i teams analyze, modernize and deliver applications. But knowing where it fits and how to apply it effectively is key. In this session, we will examine how AI can be used to interpret complex IBM i code, generate meaningful documentation, and assist in modernization initiatives. We will also cover how these capabilities can be integrated into existing development workflows to improve speed and consistency without introducing unnecessary risk. With real examples and practical guidance, you will learn how to move from experimentation to execution with AI in your IBM I environment.

Learning Objectives:

Understand AI-driven techniques for analyzing and documenting IBM I applications.
Learn how AI can assist with code transformation and modernization strategies.
Explore integration of AI into existing IBM I development workflows.
Get practical guidance on moving from AI exploration to implementation.

Speakers

Chris Koppe

SVP Strategy Services, Fresche Solutions

Chris Koppe is responsible for developing client transformation strategies at Fresche Solutions. He has led the development of legacy management strategies for hundreds of companies, across a variety of platforms, languages, databases, and technologies. This insight has allowed Chris... Read More →

Steve Cast

Practice Director/Treasurer Common Europe, Fresche Solutions

I lead the European team at Fresche Solutions, one of the world's largest IBM i dedicated teams outside of IBM.

In my role as Practice Director of Fresche Europe, I continue to build on the success of my 40+ years of working in this sector, by combining the comprehensive IBM i too

... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 9:15am - 10:15am CDT
Galerie 4

Artificial Intelligence (AI)

10:45am CDT

Modern Offsite Data Protection for IBM i: Reducing Risk Without Adding Complexity

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT

Galerie 4

Evaluation Survey

Many IBM i environments still rely on tape vaulting or backup-only second sites for offsite protection, approaches that struggle to meet today’s recovery, security, and audit requirements. These models introduce operational overhead, slow restores, and increased exposure to ransomware and data integrity issues. This session examines what effective offsite data protection for IBM i should look like today, with a focus on recoverability, immutability, and operational efficiency. We’ll review where traditional offsite strategies commonly fail and clarify the practical differences between replication, backup copies, and offsite recovery data. Attendees will be introduced to a modern, fully managed offsite copy approach designed specifically for IBM Power environments. The solution integrates with existing IBM i backup tools, supports immutable retention, and delivers predictable restore performance, without adding infrastructure or changing day-to-day operations.

Session takeaway:
Attendees will leave with a clear framework for evaluating offsite data protection options for IBM i and identifying approaches that improve recovery confidence while reducing operational burden.

Speakers

Dale Hoffman

VP of Product, FalconStor

Wednesday April 29, 2026 10:45am - 11:45am CDT
Galerie 4

Systems Management

3:45pm CDT

SQL Coding Tips & Techniques

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT

Galerie 4

Evaluation Survey

SQL is a very powerful language for processing data. There are many ways to write SQL statements to get the desired results. However, not all queries are created equal. This session will compare different ways to approach a problem from an SQL perspective in terms of code maintenance and performance. Taking the right approach for writing SQL helps Db2 for i help you.

Learning Objectives:

Understanding of SQL Set-based processing Learn SQL coding techniques to avoid for poor performances Tools to help capture SQL errors

Speakers

Mike Zaringhalam

Developer, PC Richard & Son

Have you ever wanted to meet someone who started Hawaiian Shirt Fridays at their work place?
If the answer is 'Yes!', then feel free to reach out with any questions you have regarding Hawaiian shirts... Or IBM i related topics.
My main focuses are RDi, DB2, Modernization, and D... Read More →

Kent Milligan

Senior Db2 for i Consultant, IBM

Kent Milligan is a Senior Db2 for i Consultant in IBM Technology Expert Labs. Kent has over 25 years of experience as a Db2 for IBM i consultant and developer working out of the IBM Rochester lab. Prior to re-joining the Db2 for i Expert Labs practice in 2020, Kent spent 5 years... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 3:45pm - 4:45pm CDT
Galerie 4

Database

Track Student

5:00pm CDT

Understanding Your Integration Options: A Practical Guide for IBM i Shops

Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT

Galerie 4

Evaluation Survey

When you need to connect IBM i to other systems, you face overwhelming choices. APIs, web services, message queues, file transfers, EDI, database replication... the list goes on. How do you choose? This session cuts through the confusion with practical guidance. You'll learn the fundamental patterns behind all integration approaches, understand the tradeoffs between different options, and see when each approach makes sense. We'll cover what questions to ask vendors, what red flags to watch for, and what matters versus what's just marketing hype. You'll see real examples of successful integrations using different approaches and learn from failures too. We'll discuss security basics everyone should understand, performance considerations that actually matter, and how to plan for growth. Whether you're evaluating vendor solutions, building integrations yourself, or just trying to understand what your options are, you'll leave with practical knowledge to make better decisions.

Speakers

Dan Magid

Eradani

Eradani extends modernization by transforming the people, tooling, and development languages used in IBM i businesses. Eradani "Connect" serves as a Enterprise Integration Hub for IBM i organizations, providing developers and operators exception volume, performance, and security when... Read More →

Aaron Magid

Chief Architect, Eradani

Aaron Magid, Chief Architect at Eradani, has over a decade of experience in software development and technology. He specializes in modernizing legacy systems like IBM i/AS400 using Python, Node.js, and Java. Aaron excels in bridging old and new technologies together for clients, helping... Read More →

Wednesday April 29, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm CDT
Galerie 4

General Programming

Level Suitable for All

8:00am CDT

9:15am CDT

10:45am CDT

3:45pm CDT

5:00pm CDT

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