Alan Seiden

MCP + AI for IBM i Teams (with a MongoDB example)

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The Model Context Protocol (MCP) standard defines how AI tools connect to systems such as databases, services, and internal utilities. Instead of every AI product inventing its own custom connector, MCP provides a standard interface.

A good example comes from Seiden Group’s Jack Woehr in his article A Simple MongoDB MCP Server Agent. Jack was also just named MongoDB Creator of the Month. (MongoDb is a flexible NoSQL database that can manage large amounts of unstructured or semi-structured data.)

If you’re attending conferences this year, Jack will be talking about AI at NEUGC (April 7–9, 2026) and at COMMON POWERUp 2026 (April 27–30), where his sessions include “Using Large Language Models” and “AI on Power.”

Why IBM i teams should care

Most IBM i shops already live in a hybrid world: RPG + Db2 + CL alongside open source, APIs, web apps, and, increasingly, AI. MCP matters because it points toward a future where:

  • you don’t need a one-off integration for every AI experiment
  • you can put governance and guardrails around what AI can touch
  • you can modernize incrementally, bridging systems instead of rewriting them

MCP fits for IBM i because it helps make AI integration projects more standardized and repeatable.

How Seiden Group can help

At Seiden Group, we’re focused on practical modernization and development. If you’re exploring any mix of:

  • AI enablement (use cases, architecture, guardrails)
  • MongoDB in a hybrid IBM i environment
  • IBM i development and modernization (RPG, COBOL, SQL, APIs, open source)

We can help you evaluate options, build proof-of-concept projects, and implement production-ready solutions.

Get in touch to chat with us about your options.

Alan Seiden

Seiden PHP+ Delivers PHP 8.5 to IBM i

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PHP on IBM iEach year brings a new PHP release. We’ve prepared Seiden PHP+ so that IBM i users can adopt PHP 8.5 shortly after it becomes generally available (GA) around November 20, 2025. As I mentioned in Keep Your PHP Secure: Why Regular Updates Matter, PHP users should adopt a regular upgrade schedule to make upgrades easier.

November 20, 2025 UPDATE
PHP 8.5 and Seiden PHP+ 8.5 are both available as of today.

Notable Enhancements in PHP 8.5

Two updates stand out to me:

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Alan Seiden

Keep Your PHP Secure: Why Regular Updates Matter

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Seiden PHP+Cybersecurity best practices require regular security assessments, including for PHP.

We recommend installing PHP patch releases at least quarterly. You can review all regular PHP updates, including CVE security fixes, on the php.net changelog page. Our Seiden PHP+ changelog provides additional updates that we include in our supported Seiden PHP+ package.

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Alan Seiden

Ransomware Lessons from Brussels Airport and IBM i

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API & web security on IBM iAt Brussels Airport recently, I noticed airline staff working from paper passenger lists because their digital systems were unavailable. The EU Cybersecurity Agency (ENISA) later confirmed the disruption was caused by a ransomware attack on a third-party airline system (Reuters report).

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Alan Seiden

A New Generation Shapes the Future of IBM i

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In recent months, I have seen an unmistakable, growing wave of younger professionals choosing to invest their energy and creativity in the IBM i platform. This trend was particularly evident at the 2025 PowerUp conference.

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Alan Seiden

When Your IBM i Email Delivery Fails with Office 365 or Gmail

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Google_MailWe’ve been receiving about one request per week to help clients troubleshoot or fix SMTP email issues on IBM i systems—especially when sending to Microsoft (Office 365) and Gmail accounts.

These problems can affect a wide range of systems, including:

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Alan Seiden

Mapepire Q&A

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A friend in the IBM i vendor community asked me about Mapepire from a popularity and security perspective. He had read about Seiden Group’s support for the Mapepire Db2 for i driver. I have provided his questions and edited versions of my answers below.

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Alan Seiden

Seiden Group Now Supports Mapepire for Node.js and Db2 for IBM i Connectivity

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Mapapire database driver for IBM iSeiden Group is pleased to announce that we now provide production support for the open source Mapepire database connector for IBM i. This includes support for Node.js applications and cloud-based or containerized workloads that connect to Db2 for i—whether from IBM i itself or from external systems.

Many developers already rely on Mapepire every day—sometimes without realizing it—because it’s the back-end to the Db2 for i extension for VS Code. We’re excited to help clients adopt this lightweight, high-performance connector.

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Alan Seiden

Easy Job Scheduling and Queuing with Seiden PHP+ on IBM i

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Seiden PHP+Using a job queue or scheduler to run PHP scripts helps ensure that PHP-based processes are run successfully and on time.

To make it easy for Seiden PHP+ users to schedule jobs, we provide job scheduler or queue functionality and support with our Seiden PHP+ SmartSupport.

Benefits include the ability to:

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Alan Seiden

Seiden PHP+: Built for IBM i. Backed by Experts.

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Seiden PHP+I’m pleased to share that over the past year, we’ve rebranded our PHP distribution as Seiden PHP+.

When we first created CommunityPlus+ PHP, it was meant to fill a gap—providing a stable, supported PHP environment for IBM i after Zend Server Basic was discontinued. The new name, Seiden PHP+, better reflects our team’s role in offering and supporting this full-featured, enterprise-grade PHP stack that businesses rely on for speed, stability, and security.

For those who want hands-on help, our Install & Learn service is a great way to get started, and our SmartSupport program keeps your system secure and running smoothly. Whether you’re using PHP for new APIs or modernizing legacy web apps, Seiden PHP+ is designed to support you.

Thanks to all our clients and partners who’ve helped us improve this platform. We’re proud to continue developing tools and services that move IBM i forward.

Contact us to schedule a complimentary PHP upgrade assessment. I’d love to hear what you’re building.