Technical notes Hardware
The IBM Power Systems Integrated File System (IFS) provides a coherent, coordinated set of file systems which can be used for both physical storage of multiple files on System i, and to communicate with file systems of other platforms.
In order to save i-effect®data stream files on the local IBM System i, or remotely controlled on other platforms (PC, UNIX-Server, etc.), the IFS set of file systems includes the following file systems.
| „root" | The file system „root" (/) has the advantage of data stream file support and of a hierarchical directory structure of the integrated file system (IFS). The file system „root" (/) carries the characteristics of the file systems Disk Operating System (DOS) and OS/2. The file system „root" (/) should be used if i-effect® generated data stream files are stored on the same local IBM Power Systems from where the i-effect® command originates. |
| QNTC | QNTC is the Windows NT server file system. This file system allows to access files and objects that are saved on a PC with the opertaing system Windows NT 4.0 (or above). Power Systems server applications are enabled to use the same data as Windows NT clients. QNTC can be used to enable i-effect® to store data stream files on a PC with the operating system Windows NT, Windows 2000 or Windows XP etc., if this is preferred to the local IBM Power Systems. This provides an efficient method to share i-effect® generated files with other users in the network, or with costumers. |
| NFS | NFS stands for Network File System. This file system allows to acces files and objects that are stored on a remote NFS server. A NFS server is able to export a network file system which can be set up dynamically by NFS clients. For example, this file system can be used to send data stream files to a UNIX server. |
| QNetWare | The QNetWare file system allows to access local and remote files and objects stored on a Novell NetWare 4.10 or 4.11 server or individual Novell Netware 3.12, 4.10 4.11 or 5.0 servers. NeTWare file systems can be set up dynamically via existent local file systems. |
| QOpenSys | The Open Systems file system is compatible with UNIX based Open System standards such as POSIX and XPG. Like the file system „root" (/), it has the advantage of data stream file support and of a hierarchical directory structure of the integrated file system (IFS). Additionally, it supports upper and lower case in object names. |
| QDLS | QDLS stands for the Document Library Service file system (formerly known as "shared folders"). This files systems allows to access files and folders. It should only be used if applications needing it are in use. QDLS is considerably slower und is subject to significant restrictions compared to the file system „root" (/), e.g. concerning naming. |
| QFileSvr.400 | This file systems allows to access other file systems on remote IBM Power Systems servers. QFileSvr.400 can be used to save i-effect® output files directly on other Power Systems. |
All details concerning IFS can be found here:http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/iseries/v5r1/ic2924/info/rzaia/rzaiacon.htm
In the following, the QNTC file system will be treated in more detail because its range of functions is still not much known, but of a certain importance to Power Systems users.
QNTC
The QNTC file system is subordinated to the Integrated File System and allows Power Systems to access files and network releases (e.g. printer or CD-ROM drive) being located on a distant Windows NT system. Please note: In opposition to the widespread opinion, the access is not restricted to integrated IBM NetFinity servers (also known as IPCS or FSIOP).
Using the QNTC file system, IBM Power Systems can read and write files which are physi-cally located on a PC with the operating system Windows NT (or above), i.e. i-effect®can output data directly to an NT server, if this is preferred to storing data in the file system „root" (/).
In order to use QNTC, both a simple operating system and the TCP/IP Connectivity Utilities for the IBM iSeries 400 (5722-TCP) are required. Please note: The setup of QNTC might be difficult! For more detailed information concerning QNTC, please refer to the following domain of the IBM Power Systems information center:
http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/infocenter/iseries/v5r4/topic/ifs/rzaaxqntcfs.htm
Below, a short overview on the setup of QNTC can be found. It refers to the operating system OS/400, version V5R1:
- Domain nameFirst of all, please make sure that the domain name defined by the Power Systems NetServer configuration is identical to the PC's Windows network workgroup name. NetServer is the Power Systems function providing support for the Windows Network Neighborhood. The Power Systems Navigator may be used in order to setup and manage NetServer.Please note:Changing the domain name in NetServer may have consequences concerning the recognition of network neighborhoods.In order to setup and manage NetServer, click the name of your machine and open "File Systems" in the Power Systems Navigator main window. Then, right-click on Files Shares. Select "Open System i NetServer" from the menu to display the NetServer window.
- Richt-click on AS/400-NetServer and select Properties to display the Properties dialog window where you can change the domain.
- Select the General tab and click on "Next Start".
- A dialog window appears where the properties can be modified. They will take effect from the next restart of NetServer on. Enter the workgroup name matching the NT PC you wish access into the field Domain Name.
- Please make sure that NetServer is not used by any other user before ending and restarting it. To end the NetServer, click on "Stop" and, once NetServer has fully ended, click on the green triangle icon to restart it.Changing the network identity from the PC side is possible on the Windows interface.- For Windows 2000 choose Start/Settings/Control Panel/System. Select the Identification tab, click on Properties, select Workgroup and enter the workgroup name matching the Power Systems NetServer domain name.- In Windows XP this option is located on the Computer Name tab.- In Windows NT this option is located in Start/Settings/Control Panel/Network.Please note: You may have to reboot the PC for these changes to take effect.
- User ID and PasswordFurthermore, between IBM Power Systems and NT PC an accordance of user ID and password is obligatory. It is necessary that the IBM Power Systems user ID is recognized as a valid network user ID by the NT PC and that the passwords for IBM Power Systems users and PC network users match. It is therefore advisable to create a special user ID to communicate between the platforms using QNTC. This guarantees that the password can be changed manually on both systems, if changing the password is needed.
- Testing the ConnectionTo test the connection, it is required to be logged on with exactly the same user ID/password on Power Systems and in the PC network (as per description above). Then, run the command WRKLNK '/QNTC/*' on IBM Power Systems. The execution of this command may take some minutes to complete at the first time it is run! The NT system will appear on the list. If not, a connection to the NT system could be established manually by using the command CRTDIR /QNTC/ '. Replace by the name of the NT system.As soon as the NT system appears on the list, use option 5 (Display) in the WRKLNK dialog (Work with Object Links) in order to display the shared data network devices on NT.To access the QNTC file system, insert QNTC, the name of the target PC and the name of the shared NT network into the OUTPATH parameter's path name of the CVTSPL command.Concerning the following example, we assume that output data, which was generated by i-effect®, will be saved on the company's network server on Windows NT 4.0 (or above). It carries the name NTServer to ensure that every user in the company has shared access to these files. On NTServer there is a share called NTFiles. Inside of it, a directory called CustData is to be found. The command to convert a spooled file into a PDF file and save it under JOBLOG.PDF may look as follows:
CVTSPL FILE(QPJOBLOG)
JOBNAM(041013/MENTEN/QPADEV000K)
SPLNBR(1)
OUTPATH('/QNTC/NTServer/NTFiles/CustData')
OUTPFILE('JOBLOG.PDF')Please note: The path name starts with /QNTC in order to tell Power Systems that it is the QNTC file system that is referred to. /QNTC is followed by the name of the PC to which the data is transmitted: NTServer. Hereafter follows the name of the share (NTFiles) and the selected target directory inside the share (CustData). Finally, the name of the file itself is to be indicated(joblog.pdf).