29
Fri, Nov
0 New Articles

V5R1: Networking Enhancements

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

The subject of computer networking has become extremely familiar to the average person. For that, we can thank the proliferation of PCs and the Internet. What used to be an arcane art has quickly become a common topic of conversation in mainstream society. Now, anyone with a PC and an Internet connection thinks he knows all there is to know about the subject.

That perception isn’t necessarily a bad thing, because the networking knowledge that Joe Average gains tends to filter back into the OS/400 community. This is important, because it keeps iSeries professionals apprised of the shortcomings, as well as the benefits, of the iSeries and tells us how the iSeries fits in with other platforms. As iSeries professionals become more knowledgeable about the networking features and services available on other computing platforms such as Sun Solaris, we can use that knowledge to petition IBM to provide the same tools on our beloved iSeries.

IBM is also very much aware of how the iSeries fits into our networked society, and it knows long before the rest of us what the iSeries must have—and in what order it must be delivered—to compete with similar tools and services on other platforms. In V5R1 of OS/400, IBM has added to the iSeries many exciting, new networking features that will position the iSeries as a major player in our networked world. I’m going to tell you about just a few of those nifty, new networking nuggets, and over the next few months, MC will cover the rest.

SMTP “Virus Scanner”

By now, everyone—and I mean everyone—has heard about computer viruses and knows the damage they can do. In the OS/400 world, viruses have not been much of a problem so far. This is attributable to a variety of factors, such as the impenetrable built-in security of the operating system. However, just because the iSeries has never been hit with a virus doesn’t mean that it won’t ever happen. If you use your iSeries as an Internet email server, client, or gateway, a computer virus could enter your system and act upon objects in the OS/400 IFS or be passed on to other computers in your local network and beyond.

With V5R1, you now have the ability to filter out computer viruses to prevent them from being passed along in email. Using Operations Navigator, you can configure SMTP, POP, and the SNADS Gateway to search for a known virus name in the email titles or file extensions of attachments. This is done by configuring the virus filter to find, for example, the string “I LOVE YOU” in an email title or the file type “.exe” in an email attachment. If



the virus filter finds a match, it can automatically isolate or delete the suspect email. Note, however, that this tool is not a full-fledged virus scanner. That is, it will not search the contents of attachments or emails, just titles and file extensions. I should also mention that V4R5 users can also install this tool on their system via a PTF.

For more information on the availability of this feature, check out IBM’s TCP/IP for OS/400 Web site: www.iseries.ibm.com/tcpip
.

TCP/IP Servers Enhancements

In addition to the SMTP virus scanner, V5R1 brings several new enhancements to the following TCP/IP servers: Domain Name System, Telnet, FTP, SMTP, and SNTP. Here are the details.

The Domain Name System (DNS) server has been upgraded to BIND Version 8.2.3. This is good news for anyone using DNS on an iSeries box, as the previous version of DNS was several years out of date. BIND 8.2.3 is the industry’s most current, stable BIND version. Also available now, as an enhancement to OpsNav, is a DNS configuration wizard, which helps you configure your iSeries to use DNS. One caveat is that this version of DNS runs only in the Portable Application Solutions Environment, so you must have PASE installed.

For more on DNS, see “Charting Your Network with Domain Naming Service: A Primer,” in the March 2001 issue of MC (Web Edition), available at www.midrangecomputing.com/mc. For more on PASE, see “Can Your UNIX Apps Keep Up the PASE?” in the May 2000 issue of MC.

The Telnet server has been enhanced to provide client authentication. This means that a mechanism is now in place to authenticate a Telnet client before an AS/400 sign-on screen is displayed. This will help to make it harder for hackers to know they’re seeing OS/400, and adds some additional protection against them trying to log on to your system by guessing user IDs and passwords. Support is also built into the Telnet client with V5R1 to support the new 128-character password, which can make passwords much harder to guess. Check out “Security Patrol” (page 98) for more on the new password formats.

The FTP server has been enhanced to support Secure Sockets Layer and has performance improvements for transferring long files over high-speed links. Another cool enhancement is the ability, using OpsNav, to limit and control the functionality of FTP clients. For example, you can now use a wizard to control whether or not a specific user profile can perform such actions as putting and getting files, displaying a directory, or performing any other common FTP function. Previously, the only way to gain this level of control was through user-written exit programs.

SNTP Client

Simple Network Time Protocol (SNTP) is a means of providing system time synchronization with other servers. That is, you can use this protocol to sync the system time of the iSeries with another server. This support was added because the Kerberos client-authentication software, also available with V5R1, requires it.


DNS

Telnet

FTP


More to Come...

There are many more V5R1 network enhancements than I’ve listed here. Over the next several months, MC will cover most of them, including some I’ve mentioned here, in much greater detail, so keep your eyes peeled.



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: