29
Fri, Nov
0 New Articles
  1. You are here:  
  2. Home
  3. IT Infrastructure
  4. IT Infrastructure - Other
  5. General
  6. Can You Afford Free Web-based Access to Your iSeries?

Can You Afford Free Web-based Access to Your iSeries?

Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

V5R1 brings many cool new tools to iSeries systems administration and operations. Last

month, I introduced you to some of the new security features available in V5R1, such as long pass phrases, digital signatures, and program data creation templates. This month, I’m going to venture away from the area of security and focus instead on one of the other exciting new products being announced with V5R1. Although it won’t be generally available until the third quarter of 2001, you can download an alpha copy today and begin learning how to exploit it.

Web-based Access to iSeries Is Easy!

There are many vendors out there who will sell you products that allow you to gain access to your iSeries via the Web. And while most of those products are full of bells and whistles, you may not be willing, or able, to justify the expense of purchasing one of them—especially not if your only goal is to provide limited access to your iSeries from the Internet. If you’re a person who needs casual access to your iSeries from the Web or if you have folks at your shop (such as operators or salesmen) who need limited access, and you don’t want to provide a lot of user support or spend a lot of money, then IBM has a great solution for you! In the April V5R1 news, IBM announced a new product that will ship with the iSeries and AS/400 Client Access Family for Windows product (5722-XW1). Known as iSeries Access for Web, this free (with a full Client Access license) product will allow you to perform most of your operational needs via the Web. In fact, many of the tasks you perform everyday, such as checking operator messages, working with spooled files, and querying databases via SQL, can be done through iSeries Access for Web.

Requirements and Installation

iSeries Access for Web will be generally available with the V5R1 iSeries and AS/400 Client Access Family for Windows licensed product beginning September 1, 2001. Until then, you can download the fully functional alpha version of the product from IBM’s Client Access Web site at www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/iseries/clientaccess. Since iSeries Access for Web is a 100% Pure Java servlet, you’ll need to ensure that you have WebSphere Application Server (WAS) 3.02 or higher installed and configured on your iSeries, as well as the iSeries HTTP Server. There are a few other hardware/software



requirements, but not many. Check out the IBM Client Access Web site for the complete list.

Using iSeries Access for Web

So that’s how you get it, and that’s what you need to make it work. Now, how and why would you use it? Actually, using iSeries Access for Web is the simplest step of all. When remote users need to get onto your iSeries, they enter the Web address of the iSeries Access for Web product into their browser and press the Enter key. Their browser will be connected to your iSeries, and a logon prompt will be displayed, requiring the user to log on to your system. The first thing they’ll see after entering their login information is the default iSeries Access for Web main page, which is also fully customizable by you. That’s it. And in case you missed that, let me rephrase it: You do not need to install anything on the user’s PC. Everything they need is served to their browser via the iSeries HTTP Server. No more software administration nightmares!

So what can you use this product for? How about using it as a way to provide your salesmen with a tool they can use to look up item availability information? To achieve that functionality, you can customize the iSeries Access for Web main page to provide a link that your salesmen can click on to jump over to your item inventory screens. You can tie the HTML forms presented there to your DB2/400 data via a variety of methods, including calling legacy RPG IV apps, calling ILE CGI programs, using the included WebSphere Host Publisher (which currently costs $10K, but will be included with a Client Access license beginning in the third quarter of 2001), and using many other methods I don’t have room to mention here.

Or, perhaps, you have an operator who needs to monitor output queues or check messages on your iSeries. By customizing the default page the user sees, you can provide links to specific output and message queues. You could even customize the default page so that it displays dynamic company news and information your sales force and other employees can look at. And, if the user really needs 5250 emulation, the included 5250- mapper emulation tool can be used. Be warned, however, that this emulation tool is pretty raw. In fact, it looks a lot like the old AS/400 Workstation Gateway product that’s been around for years. It’ll get the job done, but it won’t be fun using it. Still, if you need that type of connectivity for one-time or special use, it’s a great alternative. One caveat I should mention here is that the 5250 emulation tool is not available with the alpha version of Access for Web that you can download today. However, it will be included with the GA version of the product.

Give It a Shot

The iSeries Access for Web tool is bound to make your life as an administrator or operator easier. If your users can access the iSeries from anywhere in the world via their browsers, without having to install additional software, you can’t help but have a winner on your hands. And, since this product will ship as part of the iSeries and AS/400 Client Access Family for Windows product, you really can’t lose. Download the alpha version today and try it out. When the GA version comes along in a couple of months, you’ll be ahead of the game! And by the way, if you’re still at V4R5, you can also use the iSeries Access for Web product on that release.



SHANNON ODONNELL
Shannon O'Donnell has held a variety of positions, most of them as a consultant, in dozens of industries. This breadth of experience gives him insight into multiple aspects of how the AS/400 is used in the real world. Shannon continues to work as a consultant. He is an IBM Certified Professional--AS/400 RPG Programmer and the author of an industry-leading certification test for RPG IV programmers available from ReviewNet.net.
 
BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: