29
Fri, Nov
0 New Articles

Microsoft Computing: The iSeries in Your Windows Network

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

The good folks at IBM want the iSeries to be a friendly and capable part of your Windows network. Toward that end, capabilities allowing integrated two-way data communication are built in to i5/OS (OS/400 V5R3). This is the first of a two-part series that addresses the features and configurations of iSeries NetServer and QNTC, the enabling support within i5/OS.

iSeries NetServer

NetServer is how the iSeries integrates with Windows networking. NetServer allows you to access the iSeries' disk and printers much the way you access a local resource on your PC. It is very similar to the "shared folders" functionality of the past.

Starting with V4R2, IBM simplified life for us somewhat by including Server Message Block (SMB) technology natively on the iSeries through NetServer (which is part of the iSeries operating system). Therefore, the special drivers included with iSeries Access that enabled iSeries network drive functionality no longer must be present for the iSeries to participate in the Windows network.

Windows Network Integration Advantages

If you're familiar with the shared folders support in previous versions, you'll find that the network drive support for Windows is a big improvement. The main difference is that you can access your iSeries' filing system through Windows networking without having to assign a drive letter.

If you have the proper security authority, you have access to the entire iSeries file system through the IFS. (With shared folders, you were restricted to the QDLS file system.) With network drive and Windows integration, you can access files in iSeries libraries, documents in the shared folder area, other iSeries that are sharing their filing systems, any UNIX systems sharing their files with the iSeries through NFS, and more.

Copying files back and forth between the PC and the iSeries becomes as simple as copying any other file within Windows. You can cut files and paste them onto the iSeries, you can drag files from your desktop and drop them into a folder on the iSeries (and vice versa), etc. When you copy files between the systems, they can automatically be translated from ASCII to EBCDIC or the reverse as needed.

iSeries support for Windows networking even gives you the "convenience" of being able to delete any files that you have authority to by simply highlighting the files and pressing the Delete key--like any other Windows file. (See the section on security below.)

Windows Networking Integration Disadvantages

OK, iSeries support for Windows networking is pretty cool. But let's take a look at the three main disadvantages of iSeries Windows networking integration:
Performance--Depending on your setup, speed can be an issue. However, each new release of the iSeries operating system has improved the speed.

Security--As with other client-integration tools for the iSeries, Windows integration introduces no new security holes. It merely gives point-and-click access to existing ones (which can have significant implications). The security issues introduced are the same ones present in any distributed environment.

PC overhead--Windows networking integration is part of base support of i5/OS. This means it will be installed when client support is loaded on your PCs. There is no option to not install it.

Starting NetServer

Before you can use network drives to access your iSeries, you must configure an iSeries connection. Network drives work over all iSeries connection types.

Give your NetServer server a name to run under. Start iSeries Navigator and locate the NetServer entry under Network>Servers>TCPIP. Select NetServer and right-click; then go into Properties and click the Next Start button. Specify a server name and a domain name. Note that the name specified, Qs101901r, is not the iSeries' system name. Windows networking support and standard iSeries networking support cannot coexist under the same name, so the Windows networking name is customarily appended with a "Q."

All that remains is to start the NetServer job. Select the NetServer entry again and click the Start button. (If your iSeries is not set to start support for Windows networking automatically, you will have to start the server job manually using the Navigator after each IPL.) Now, you may let your PC "discover" the iSeries server.

When you create connections within iSeries Access, each iSeries connection that you configure shows up when you select the My Network Places icon on your desktop. If you don't have an active connection to the iSeries, one will be made when you select an iSeries from within the Windows networking.

Using the Network Drive Function

To begin using the network drives function, click the Windows networking icon on the desktop. Next, click the computer icon for the iSeries you want to access. If you haven't already established a connection to that iSeries, one will be started for you automatically.

Depending on your setup, you may have to make your PC "discover" the NetServer program that's running on the iSeries. You can start any PC function that includes a browse function--like Windows Explorer--to perform the discovery. Open Network Places>Entire Network to list the connections in the network (Figure 1). The value specified here will match that specified for the iSeries' NetServer utility program as configured with the Navigator.

http://www.mcpressonline.com/articles/images/2002/Microsoft-WindowsNetworkV3--08090400.jpg

Figure 1: Specify the path to the iSeries. (Click images to enlarge.)

Once the PC-iSeries connection is established, you'll see a path to iSeries folders similar to the one shown in Figure 1. This is the highest level (the "root") of the iSeries IFS. This level represents the entire iSeries system, and it allows you to navigate to each filing system by going to the appropriate folder.

Generally, you use your connection to the iSeries to store PC files within the IFS structure, but you can also access standard iSeries objects like source physical files. The standard iSeries library filing system is located under the root as qsys.lib, and it's likely to be where most of your objects are located. Because of the large number of objects in this filing system, accessing qsys.lib can be rather slow. If you open qsys.lib, you'll see a folder for each library on your iSeries (including all of the system libraries).

Mapping a PC Drive to the iSeries

If you use network drives to access a certain area of the iSeries often, you might want to consider mapping a drive. When you do that, the drive shows up under the My Computer icon on your desktop. When you select the drive, it takes you directly to the area on the iSeries that you want.

You can map a drive by right-clicking the My Network Places icon on the desktop and selecting Map Network Drive from the menu. Specify a letter name and the path to the iSeries folder to be mapped (Figure 2).

http://www.mcpressonline.com/articles/images/2002/Microsoft-WindowsNetworkV3--08090401.jpg

Figure 2: Map a letter drive to an iSeries folder.

From then on, you can bring up the contents of the mapped drive by selecting the drive under the My Computer icon on the desktop or the equivalent (Figure 3).

http://www.mcpressonline.com/articles/images/2002/Microsoft-WindowsNetworkV3--08090402.jpg

Figure 3: Your mapped iSeries drive shows up under My Computer.

NetServer Security

If network drive capability--combined with the fact that it's currently automatically installed with iSeries Access--alarms those of you responsible for your iSeries' security, it should. Gone are the days when you could secure your iSeries fairly well by simply making sure users didn't have access to a command line.

To ensure that your iSeries is safe in a networked environment, you must use iSeries resource security. While a complete discussion of iSeries security is beyond the scope of this article, there are a couple of things to keep in mind:

  • The authority to objects through all client integration functions (network drives, ODBC, file transfer, etc.) is set by the profile used to make the connection. If that profile has the authority to delete a file, it can easily be done through the Windows Explorer. If the profile doesn't have that authority and the user attempts to perform the operation, the user will be denied.
  • There is an authorization list with a specific name (qpwfserver) that can be used to secure access to the qsys.lib objects via the network drive function. If you create this authorization list on the iSeries, only the user profiles contained in the list will be able to access the objects in the qsys.lib filing system. However, this authorization list does not secure the other directories in the IFS. It also is an all-or-nothing proposition. It can't be used to secure portions of qsys.lib.

NetServer is a good example of the integration possible between Windows and the iSeries. In the next article, we'll go the other way: making Windows NT data available to iSeries applications, with IBM's QNTC support.

Chris Peters has 26 years of experience in the IBM midrange and PC platforms. Chris is president of Evergreen Interactive Systems, a software development firm and creators of the iSeries Report Downloader. Chris is the author of The OS/400 and Microsoft Office 2000 Integration Handbook, The AS/400 TCP/IP Handbook, AS/400 Client/Server Programming with Visual Basic, and Peer Networking on the iSeries (MC Press). He is also a nationally recognized seminar instructor. Chris can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

Chris Peters has 32 years of experience with IBM midrange and PC platforms. Chris is president of Evergreen Interactive Systems, a software development firm and creators of the iSeries Report Downloader. Chris is the author of i5/OS and Microsoft Office Integration Handbook, AS/400 TCP/IP Handbook, AS/400 Client/Server Programming with Visual Basic, and Peer Networking on the AS/400. He is also a nationally recognized seminar instructor and a lecturer in the Computer Science department at Eastern Washington University. Chris can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


MC Press books written by Chris Peters available now on the MC Press Bookstore.

i5/OS and Microsoft Office Integration Handbook i5/OS and Microsoft Office Integration Handbook
Harness the power of Office while exploiting the i5/iSeries database.
List Price $79.95

Now On Sale

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: