Christopher Burns, Sr. cburns@gemko.com ibmisolutions therefore iAccess.pdf · format of a 5250...

iThink, therefore iAccess

Christopher Burns, Sr.cburns@gemko.com

ibmisolutions.com

Why are we here ?....

• Beats watching pre-game fluff about Tom Brady.

• UB at Miami ain’t on TV. • Mets/Royals won’t end until at

least 1 AM.• Come on, it’s Scotch & Sirloin.

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On tap for tonight….

• History lesson.– A.K.A. a trip through time that doesn’t

involve Inuendo.

• The state of the 7.1 union.• The invasion of 7.2 whether you like

it or not. • Features & screen shots

– Not rolling the dice with WiFi.

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iThink, therefore iAccess

History lesson

In the beginning.RUNDOWN

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And of course.RUNDOWN

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Not so dumb terminals…...

• The first truly plug & play environment.• 122 key keyboard.• Function keys 01-24 & numeric pad.• Parallel printer port.• Up to two display sessions or

combination display/printer.• Tough as nails. And no BSOD.

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Practicality wise, however..

• Personal computers gained popularity.– Word processing, filing, worksheets.

• Inconvenient to have a dedicated terminal and a PC on same desktop.– Marriage was inevitable.

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1985: They said “I do”.RUNDOWN

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1985: AST 5250/11 adapter…..

• Mimicked logic board of dumb terminal.• Compatible with IBM PC-XT, AT.• Included a port and associated dongle

with twinax series adapter.• Address set with DIP switches.

– Later controlled by driver software.• Auto configured as a 5250 device.

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1985: PC Support/36…..• DOS based.• Mimicked the 24x80 character based

format of a 5250 dumb terminal.• Not as friendly due to discrepancies

between 122 position keyboard versus 102 position standard PC keyboard.

• Address set with DIP switches.– Later controlled by driver software.

• Auto configured as a 5250 device.

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1988: You know who.RUNDOWN

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1988: PC Support/400….

• Supported new 27x132 format.• Slightly customizable, but still DOS

based.• Address set with driver software.• Auto configured as various device

types (3179, 3197, 3476, 3477).

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1992: AS/400 Client Access for Windows…

• Character based display in a graphical window.

• Customizable keyboard, colors, font.• Supported Token Ring and Ethernet

connections via SNA.– Who remembers NetSoft Router ?– Who’d rather they didn’t ?

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1994: AS/400 Client Access for Win 3.1….

• Supported new RISC based systems.• Added TCP/IP support using NetSoft.• Support for new IFS access via

Windows Network Neighborhood.

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1996: AS/400 Client Access for Win 95…

• TCP connections using Windows stack.• Printer sessions via TCP (V3R7).• Named or anonymous devices.

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1999: AS/400 Client Access Express…

• Concurrent release with OS/400 V4R4.– Introduction of NetServer host service.

• TCP/IP connections only.– Twinax, IPX support discontinued.

• No file/print serving client.– Windows Network Neighborhood only.– At mercy of Windows authentication.

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2001: iSeries Access for Windows.

• IBM just likes to change namesRUNDOWN

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2007: System i Navigator….

• Browser based alternative to Navigator PC client.– Not all features, but majority.– Painfully show first daily access.

• Introduced at i5/OS 6.1.• Bundled with HTTP *ADMIN instance.

– Listens on port 2001.• New strategic management platform.

– PC client starts to stabilize.

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2008: IBM i Access for Windows.

• IBM just likes to change namesRUNDOWN

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2010: IBM i Access for Windows 7.1.…

• Concurrent release with IBM i 7.1.• Final release of full PC client.• Partition management support.

– Plus a few other Service Tools functions.• Manage, interface with entire system

using only a single product.

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iThink, therefore iAccess

Reality show

The old realityIBM i Access for Windows 7.1

5250 display & printer emulation (w/optional SSL)

File transfer to/from IBM i

ODBC driver administration

SCS & AFP printer drivers, overlays from MS-Office

Operations Console

Service pack updates via PTF or web download

System i Navigator (see next slide)

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The old reality, cont.IBM System i Navigator 7.1

Simple user tasks Access to 5250 emulator

Hardware configuration Database, SQL tasks

Work management tasks Performance management

IFS access & manipulation User/group management

Network & TCP/IP settings Integrated server control

Security settings Backup policies/schedule

LPAR management Management Central

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2014: IBM i Access Client Solutions…

• Concurrent release with IBM i 7.2.• Complete restructuring of traditional

IBM i Access functions.• Good for some, bad for others.

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The new stark reality at i7.2IBM i Access

Client Solutions

Portable Non-installed

Also Linux, MAC

IBM i Access Client Solutions

for Windows

Installed

IBM i Navigator (web)

IBM i Access for Windows 7.1

replaces

kumbaya

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IBM i Access Client Solutions…….

• Not installed, simply extracted from zip.– Therefore, can go on a USB stick.

• Java and JDBC based.• Provides most frequently used functions.• 5250 emulator.• Console session.

– Locator to sniff out non-configured nearby consoles.

• Data transfer from/to IBM i.• Settings saved with portable code.

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THE BOMB

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IBM i ACS for Windows.….

• Installs like any other Windows based program.• ODBC drivers (managed via Windows)• AFP printer drivers• SSL encryption key management.• Basically things that are used by Windows.

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IBM i Navigator…..

• Still considered the strategic interface.– Navigator client is “stable”.

• Most functional gaps closed by now.– Improved steadily at each release.

• Crude but serviceable 5250 emulation.– Just not for data entry.

• Limited LPAR management.• FINALLY !!! Run SQL Statements wizard.

– Added at TR11/TR3 (GA 11/20/15).

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Time Bomb..

• IBM will NOT be supporting IBM i Access for Windows 7.1 beyond Windows 8.

• Since Windows 7 has reached its limits, Windows 8 was unpopular, and Windows 10 is both available and getting positive reviews, the handwriting is on the wall.

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Peaceful coexistence….

• IBM i Access Client Solutions can be used on the same PC as IBM i Access for Windows 7.1.

• However, IBM i Access Client Solutions for Windows CANNOT.– No way to evaluate this piece gracefully.

• Consider running the full 7.1 suite in Windows XP mode (separate VM).– Emergency fallback if iACSW disappoints.

• Use both iACS and iACSW in main Windows environment (7, 8, 10).

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Five stages of acceptance…..

• Denial• Anger• Bargaining• Depression• http://www-

304.ibm.com/servers/eserver/ess/OpenServlet.wss– IBM entitled software support

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Click

If you don’t have one already, sign up using your IBM Customer Number and machine type/serial number.

Click

Click

Click

Click

Click

Select

Click

Click

Will also prompt you for a download location

IBM i Access Client Solutions for Windows

IBM i Access Client Solutions

Dates of interest…• 09/18/2015 – GA for Rational Developer for i 9.5.• 11/20/2015 – GA for Technology Refresh 3 (i7.2)

and 11 (i7.1).• 12/05/2015 – GA for refresh of IBM i Access Client

Solutions.

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iThink, therefore iAccess

The 3 Amigos:iACS

Non installed piece (iACS)…

• Launched from extracted directory in one of three ways (via double click):– Acsbundle.jar file in main directory.– Acslaunch.js file in /Start_Scripts/Windows.– Acslaunch_Win-64.exe in

/Start_Programs/Windows_x86-64.exe.

• No discernable advantage either way.• Create desktop shortcut to one of them.

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Launcher

HandySimilar to connections management in Navigator.

The snapshot you are seeing is true. The names have been changed to protect the innocent.

New connection

Same wizards available when editing existing connection.

Find in SST

Address of HMC

From & To consolidated.Separate tabs.

Similar options for customizing in toolbar.

Opens browser to port 2001.

View as PDF or download.

The innocent thing again.Similar to session management in 7.1

If you have an HMC

Unfortunately, we got this !!! Jury’s still out.

Select either

Note: Unresolved HMC authentication issue prevented launch of VCP. Works splendidly if connecting to console port on non-HMC system.

134 = U.S. English

HMC only

HMC only

HMC only

HMC only

Innocent bystanders

“5250 Console” watermark

Either HMC or LAN port

Virtual control panel

Up side to iACS…..

• Portable– Run from network with no desktop installs.

• Update, too.

– Run from USB device.• Console detection better.

– Background watermark on session window.• Quicker access to Navigator & HMC.• Ability to export connections to file.• Less “Start, Programs…”

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Down side to iACS..

• Requires Java to be installed on PC.– Just means Oracle has its claws in you.

• Still works on Windows XP if Java 7 installed (although not supported).– Java 8 not supported on XP.– Excuse to keep living in 2002.

• Gregg Williams was the coach.

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iThink, therefore iAccess

The 3 Amigos:iACSW

Windows installed piece (iACSW)

ODBC configs

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Windows installed piece (cont.)iACSProperties

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Stays the same

Windows installed piece (cont.)

SSL key management

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Used to be done on Properties tab.

Up side to iACSW...

• Familiar ODBC management.– New diagnostics tab.

• Familiar Properties tab.• Generic AFP driver more reliable.

– Previously suffered from bugs that hindered development of overlays.

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Down side to iACSW.

• Still a windows install.• Despite not that much being installed.• Most casual users won’t need it.• Case of wine for the policy Nazis.

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iThink, therefore iAccess

The 3 Amigos:Navigator for i

Still accessed through port 2001.

Same old nag.

Same old nag, part deux.

Apache (HTTP) and WebsphereLiberty server management.

Nearly all of the legacy client operations, plus many others.

The Actions menu providesthe “Work with” operations

Up side to Navigator….

• Server side code.– New features through HTTP group PTF.– Less sensitive to desktop HW/SW.

• All future functionality added here.• Easier to tailor presentation options.

– Includes list filtering, column selection.– Font size controlled by browser.

• Ability to export lists as HTML.

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Down side to Navigator….

• Browsers support what they feel like.– Each browser has its own feelings.

• Port 2001 must be open on firewall.– Case of wine for the network Nazis.

• Some options require SST login.– Case of wine for the security Nazis.

• Right click does not mimic “Work with”.– You must use the Actions button.

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iThink, therefore iAccess

Parting shots

Where to start..• If on Windows 7 or 8:

– Download iACS and set up 5250 sessions.– Get familiar with Navigator for I (via browser).– Keep IBM i Access for Windows 7.1 installed as a

fallback if you have it already.• Also for ODBC & printer drivers.• Replace 7.1 with iACSW at a future date.

• If on Windows 10:– Don’t roll the dice. De-install 7.1 client if loaded.– Load iACS and install iACSW.– Elope with Navigator for i.– You must be OK with change if you’re on Win10.

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Summary…..

• Desktop access to IBM i is changing significantly, whether you like it or not.

• Legacy client 7.1 has been stable since 2013.• IBM is thinking about the future:

– More device types.– Easier management.– Easier addition of new functions.

• Better to adapt and be prepared than to be stubborn and blindsided.

• Get out there and Access !!!

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THE BOMB

KHRUSHCHEV

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THANKS

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Cheap plug – July, 2015 refreshRUNDOWN

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http://inuendo.us

Thank you for attending !

Christopher Burns, Sr.cburns@gemko.com

ibmisolutions.com