IBM Redbooks content is developed and published by IBM Systems. We develop and deliver skills, technical know-how, and materials to IBM technical professionals, Business Partners, clients, and the marketplace in general. We work with IBM Divisions and Business Partners to develop a broad range of IBM Redbooks content. Our value-add information products address product, platform, and solution perspectives. They explore integration, implementation, and operation of realistic client scenarios that include IBM products as well as technologies from Red Hat, SAP, Oracle, Linux and others.
Typically, IBM Redbooks content is created through a residency process and is generally published after that process is complete.
IBM Redbooks content is available in various formats for download at no cost on this site. Much of the content is also available on Google Play books and Apple iBooks.
IBM Redbooks core content typically provides positioning and value guidance, installation and implementation experiences, typical solution scenarios, and step-by-step “how-to” guidelines. It sometimes reflects working experiences about a specific topic and often includes sample code and other support materials that are also available as downloads from this site. Shorter Redbooks content (such as papers and guides) often focuses on a business view of technology that solves business issues, provides business value, or enables competitive advantage by applying existing technologies or exploring a roadmap for emerging technologies.
IBM Redbooks content goes beyond the core content of books and papers. We also provide videos and blog posts that range from solution overviews to detailed workshop experiences.
Web docs are brief technical tips and hints that address a specific feature or problem with an IBM product. They might be excerpts from existing Redbooks content, or they can be contributed from other sources.
Drafts include published Redbooks content that is still under development. Making the draft content available allows access to content that has not yet completed the review process (and, thus, that might still contain some errors).
Most IBM Redbooks content is developed through a unique residency program that teams IBM technical professionals with IBM Business Partners, clients, and product development staff. Faculty and students of accredited educational institutions are also welcome as residents, with equivalent institutional support. The team of residents is chosen through a competitive nomination process. After the selection process, the team comes together to learn and collaborate with colleagues, typically at an IBM Center of Excellence.
In some cases, Redbooks content might be developed remotely, where the Redbooks project leader and residents might be geographically dispersed worldwide or might be gathered together but running the residency at a location other than an IBM Center of Excellence.
You can view announcements about upcoming residencies on the Redbooks intranet and Internet sites or in the IBM Redbooks Weekly Newsletter e-mails. You can submit an online nomination for a residency through the IBM Redbooks website. Be sure to carefully read the residency description, objectives, and benefits before you apply. You personally, and your sponsoring organization, are making a serious commitment and investment by this nomination. For this reason, you must have the full support and approval of your manager prior to submitting the nomination.
In the Redbooks organization, a Redbooks project leader works with the residents to coordinate the process. The team focuses on a particular topic in order to acquire hands on experience in an internal, simulated learning environment, which includes running processes, engaging in discussions, and sharing ideas. They take detailed notes throughout the course of the residency process, so that they can synthesize and enhance the topic, thereby further expanding upon what they’ve learned. The bulk of the work is completed during the run of the residency. However, after the residency is complete, the team might continue to correspond with their Redbooks project leader to analyze and further discuss outcomes and observations.
The Redbooks project leader is responsible for compiling the final Redbooks publication, using the input, feedback, and results from all those involved in the project. Although IBM has copyright over all content that is generated as part of the residency process, residents typically are formally acknowledged as authors of the content published. No fee or compensation is offered for participation in a residency. Usually, a rough draft is available for technical review. A professional production team (including content specialists and graphics designers) is available to help with creating the final, polished version of the content.
Note: IBM Redbooks pays authorized travel and living expenses for all residents, but does not compensate for the time or services of its residents. For IBMers, residency travel is pre-approved.