How to connect multiple iSeries systems with DDM?

Are you using multiple iSeries systems? It is sure that you need distributed data management (DDM) to connect multiple iSeries systems to work as a group. 

How to set up DDM?

Ensure that logical partitions are configured and you can set up a very high-speed Ethernet called a virtual Ethernet. Next make sure that the transmission control protocol (TCP) is configured.

When the virtual Ethernet is assigned an IP address, ensure that the DDM server is running. Configure the TCP/IP DDM server to start and set the settings for this via the iSeries Navigator after configuring your TCP environment and making sure your data has routes to follow. 

Next, look under "Network/Servers/TCPIP/DDM" for the following screen: 

There are several questions. If the password is not required, it doesn't mean the connection is unsecured. On both systems, the user ID is required. After that, accessing to files will be restricted and those files are properly secured.

Do these steps to access the green screen version

1. Type CFGTCP

2. Select option 20 for "Configure TCP/IP applications"

3. Select option 5 for "Change DDM TCP attributes"

And below are these settings. 

How to create and configure the DDM file

You need to configure the DDM file itself via the CRTDDMF, or Create DDM file, command. But this has some limitations. Firstly, when you create a DDM file over the physical file, this doesn't mean you have access to the logical files. You need to create DDM files over the logical if you want access to the logical files. Secondly, you cannot use DDM files via SQL but you can if you use a remote connection to your databases.

In order to connect to remote iSeries systems for SQL access, the system needs to know where to go to fetch this information. For this reason, the ADDRDBDIRE, or ADD Remote Database Directory Entry, command can be used. 

Your remote system would be named REMOTESYS while you could use JAMESBONDSYS as an alias to access your systems without serial numbers. 

You would use the SQL command CONNECT TO to initiate a communication on a SQL level to that system. With DDM files, for program access you would not change your programs to access the remote systems. The program opens the file, initiates the communication to the remote system and allows for access.

Creating the DDM files is simple.

Firstly, type the command CRTDDMF and press F4:

Your remote file will reside in its normal library.

If you want to test this out, on all systems there's an IP address called "Home." If you ever see a t-shirt that says, "There's no place like 127.0.0.1," it's a goof on both The Wizard of Oz and on "Home," which is located at IP address 127.0.0.1. Configure your IP address to "Home," and you'll see this in action.

Finally, SQL has been configured, and you've setup a remote database entry so that the system knows where to find the information. How do we do this for our SQL RPG programs? Hit F4 to prompt the compile in PDM (option 14) or use the CRTSQLRPGI command and look for the "Relational Database" portion.

Remember what you put into the prompt for the ADDRDBDIRE command? Use that remote system name. This will create a package on that remote system that insures connectivity.

Source: search400

Tags: iseries reports - AS/400 reports - AS400 reports

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How to personalize your iSeries?

In fact, a ton of users have more of iSeries systems under one roof when they are now being more cost effective. More importantly, users want to personalize how iSeries systems look and run to match their needs. However, what do we do to personalize our systems? 

Read the following advice given by Andrew Borts. He is webmaster at United Auto Insurance Group in North Miami, Fla, often a frequent speaker at COMMON and is former president of The Southern National Users Group, an iSeries-AS/400 user group based in Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Firstly, look at the Sign-on Screen. 

Do we need to override the Program/Procedure or the initial Menu? Do we need to change our Current Library? In fact, all of these items aren't necessary on all of our screens. Remember that we always keep it the same on the console. The source for your sign-on screen has been located in QGPL under QDDSSRC for years. 

Always copy the original. See the following edits Andrew Borts has already made:

A. He changed "Sign On" to "Put Something Here". 

B. He commented out the "Program/Procedure" with (4) asterisks (*). In fact, only 1% of users have changed this. What is more, DSPATR(ND) and DSPATR(PR) are added to protect and Andrew Borts did not display the input field. However, the field must be on the display. We do not need to see it or enter anything within them.

C. Same treatment as in the example he gave for B.

Before we signed into the system, communicating is a great idea. When these edits are in place, we can compile the display as we normally would compile a DSPF source type, and perform the following command to take advantage of that sign-on display instead of the one shipped from IBM. What is more, we can use a message file to display different messages for the users that sign in. It's just a display file. Therefore, look at the following.

D. See B 

E. Under no circumstance change the above.

F. He added some elements that are dynamic that could change from a message file called "SIGNONMF" from a message number of SON 1000 (Signon 1000?) 

They come from the two CL commands!

CRTMSGF MSGF(library of your choice/SIGNONMF) TEXT('Sign-on Message File') And to add the message to the file…

ADDMSGD MSGID(SON1000) MSGF(SIGNONMF) MSG('To Contact Help Desk;')

ADDMSGD MSGID(SON1001) MSGF(SIGNONMF) MSG('Tel: 123-456-7890')

ADDMSGD MSGID(SON1002) MSGF(SIGNONMF) MSG('Internal: Extension 1234')

Finally, modify which display we see.

CHGSBSD SBSD(QINTER) SGNDSPF(library of your choice /QDSIGNONNW)

Where QDSIGNONNW is the name of the file edited within his examples.

Now do not edit the QCTL subsystem's Sign-on – nor do you replace the existing QDSIGNON located in QSYS).

Source: search400

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10 powerful iSeries products of inFORM Decisions

It is no doubt that iSeries, an IBM's midrange server line designed for small businesses and departments in large enterprises, brings a lot of benefits. However, there is a problem that there are a lot of options when many IBM iSeries products are offered out there. 

If you are looking to these products, you will realize that many companies providing iSeries products boast their powerful integration capabilities. However, you do not know whether these benefits are real and make sure that these iSeries products are really good for your business. And in fact, you cannot compare iSeries products to find best ones because they have their own advantages. 

However, you may love using a suite of iSeries products. If so, I would like recommend a powerful suite of iSeries products of inFORM Decisions including 10 powerful iSeries products. 

1. iDocs: The Nerve Center for inFORM’s Powerful Document Automation

2. iDocs Designer: A powerful user-friendly forms designer for multi-platform environments

3. iForms: iSeries laser form generation for the IBM i

4. Smart Router: Rules-Based Processing and Distribution for iSeries – System i Spool Files

5. iMail: iMail Spool File Report and Form Management

6. iFax: iFax Spool File Report and Form Management

7. iPDF : The Native PCL to PDF Converter

8. iCapture: Feature-rich, affordable document capture and scanning solution

9. iView: Web-based Content Management Solution for the iSeries, System i and Power Systems

10. iSign: IBM i native Mobile Signature Capture

These powerful iSeries products have their own features and advantages. In fact, to list all things, it takes much time because you cannot image that they have a ton of benefits. However, all iSeries products of inFORM Decisions are designed to help improve your business process and make your iSeries environment more efficient. They have an easy-to-use interface and powerful integration capabilities. 

To get further details about all benefits of these products, you can visit this site: http://www.informdecisions.com/ibm-iseries-products/

After reading information on the site, you can find that those products are better than others in the same sector. Share your comments about them to help people understand more.

Author: Sharah - inFORM Decisions

Keywords: AP Automation, as400 scan

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