In this information age, getting your data from point A to point B can be quite confusing at times. This is a problem that's not made any easier by all the choices available for shuttling data from one place to another. In fact, quite the opposite is true, since today you have the choice of storing data on multiple hardware platforms, in multiple database engines, running under multiple operating systems. When it comes time to present the data, you are again faced with numerous, confusing alternatives. Trying to sort all your choices out can drive you up a wall. In this month's issue of Midrange Computing, we're going to try to help you sort out some of the issues relating to communications and data access. We've brought together a variety of topics to assist you with this confusing problem of communications; everything from understanding the basics of file transfer over TCP/IP to migrating your data from outdated operating systems is covered in this issue.

Barry Kline takes the mystery out of a very complex subject in "NAT-Not an Insect but a Powerful TCP/IP Tool." In this piece, Barry tells you all about Network Address Translation (NAT), why you would want to use it, and how to implement it. Use this information to help keep your TCP/IP-connected AS/400 secure, while presenting an anonymous face to the outside world.

The AS/400 has one of the best database engines in the world. Some might even say it's the very best. However, if you can't get that data to the devices capable of displaying it, then it doesn't matter how good your database is. With the wireless networked world looming on the horizon, which has made several inroads into our lives already, getting AS/400 data to wireless devices has become critical. If your chief financial officer can't access his DB2/400 general ledger data from his cell phone during a crucial meeting, whose job will be on the line? Yours!

To help you understand and use the new wireless devices, Jyh-Ching Yaur brings you "Using Mobile Devices to Access Your AS/400." In this article, Jyh-Ching provides you with the backgrounds of various wireless devices available for displaying AS/400 data. He also provides a couple tools you can use to develop wireless data presentation applications, and the code samples for accessing AS/400 data to get you started. This is one-stop shopping for all the information you need to put your DB2/400 data on wireless devices.

In "The ABCs of FTP," Bradley V. Stone gives you the lowdown on how to transfer data and objects from the AS/400 to all of your TCP/IP-connected systems. In a very concise, easy-to-read article, Brad takes you through all of the basics of using FTP.

From starting an FTP session to performing multiple PUTs and GETs to transferring AS/400 save files, Brad covers it all. Regardless of whether you are an experienced FTP user or someone who has never used it before, this article is for you. In fact, you may even want to tack this one up on your bulletin board for future reference!

In "Migrating from Novell to AS/400 NetServer," which can be found at www.midrangecomputing.com/mc, Jim Scott of IBM gives you the information you need to replace NetWare file and printer serving with the new AS/400 NetServer.

This free software feature of OS/400 lets you replace those old NetWare servers with a single AS/400.

Communications issues and concerns are nothing like they used to be. Today you need to have knowledge and information at your fingertips on a wide variety of technologies. This issue of MC will help get you started on the road to understanding.

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.