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Document Information
| Document Number: | 410992943 |
| Functional Area: | Basic System Environment Functions (BSEF) |
| Subfunctional Area: | Operating System |
| Sub-Subfunctional Area: | ECS |
| OS/400 Release: | 6.1; V5R3M0; V5R4M0; V6R1M0 |
| Product: | I5/OS (5761SS100) OS/400 BASE (5722SS100) |
| Product Release: | N/A |
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Document Title
General Information on Electronic Customer Support and Electronic Service Agent for V5R3 and Above
Document Description
There are several new enhancements to Electronic Service Agent in V5R3. For additional information, refer to Rochester Support Center knowledgebase document 406786038, Electronic Fix Distribution Enhancements in V5R3. To link to document 406786038 immediately, click here
.Enhancements to V5R3 and above
The following enhancements were added using PTFs in V5R3 and in the base code for V5R4 and above to Electronic Customer Support (ECS) and the Universal Connection:
| o | Support for larger electronic PTF downloads. |
| o | Support for electronic delivery of PTFs, PTF groups, and cumulative PTF packages as optical image files. |
| o | The default maximum size for a PTF order to be delivered electronically has been increased: o Dial connections have a default size limit of 100 MB. o LAN connections have a default size limit of *NOMAX. |
| o | Support for downloading using HTTP and HTTPS to allow broadband connectivity. ECS, Service Agent, and InfoCenter Update applications use HTTP or HTTPS protocols as a transport over the following Universal Connection connectivity options: o Direct dial-up connection through AT&T Global Network Services (AGNS) o Existing Internet Service Provider (ISP) connection o Direct LAN connection to the Internet o Remote dial-up connection using AT&T Global Network Services (AGNS) |
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The V5R4 and above also included the following enhancements for a character-based interface and GUI. These enhancements include:
| o | Support for the Primary and (optional) backup configuration. |
| o | Prompting for the application is eliminated. All applications are configured together. |
| o | PING the IBM Gateway to pre-select Direct Internet, if successful (GUI only). |
| o | HTTP Proxy selections added with relative priority. |
There are other options to consider when setting up the configuration. There are methods used to configure ECS / Electronic Service Agent (ESA). These methods are via the character-based interface using the CRTSRVCFG command and using the iNavigator's (iNav) Universal Connection Wizard.
xxxSRVCFG command changes (character-based interface)
Note: xxxSRVCFG commands have not changed in V5R3. In V5R4 and above, the commands have been changed.
CRTSRVCFG Enhancements in V5R4 and above
The following V5R4 CRTSRVCFG enhancements include:
| o | ROLE: This parameter indicates is the connectivity configuration is a primary configuration or a backup. The primary must be set up; however, the backup is optional. If configured, the backup configuration will be attempted if the primary configuration errors. |
| o | CNNTYPE: This parameter replaces the CNNTYPE, PTPTYPE, and VPNTYPE parameters noted in V5R2 and V5R3. |
| o | PROXY: Set to allow a HTTP proxy configuration along with another configuration type. |
CRTSRVCFG ROLE(*PRIMARY) CNNTYPE(*DIRECT) CNTRYID(US) STATE(MN) +
PROXY(*NONE) CNNPNT(*NO)
CRTSRVCFG ROLE(*BACKUP) CNNTYPE(*LCLDIAL) TELNBR1('9,397-0005') +
TELNBR2('9,1-800-555-1234') RSRCNAME(CMN05) PROXY(*NONE)
CHGSRVCFG Enhancements in V5R4
The following V5R4 CHGSRVCFG enhancements include:
| o | ROLE. New required field. |
| o | CNNTYPE: This parameter replaces the CNNTYPE, PTPTYPE, and VPNTYPE parameters noted in V5R2 and V5R3. |
| o | (Removed) INACTTMR |
| o | All parameters that can be changed are shown. |
| o | Same will be displayed for those fields that CHGSRVCFG cannot retrieve from current configuration. |
Universal Connection Wizard (GUI)
The Universal Connection Wizard (UCW) can be found in the following location:
Network - Remote Access Services - Originator Connection Profiles - Configure IBM Universal Connection
These enhancements have also introduced changes to the SNDPTFORD command.
SNDPTFORD Changes
Changes to the SNDPTFORD command include:
New delivery format: *IMAGE
| o | DLVRYFMT parameter: Optical images containing the PTFs ordered will be downloaded |
| o | IMGDIR parameter Directory to which images will be downloaded Default: QIBM/UserData/OS/Service/ECS |
| o | IMGPFX parameter Naming prefix for the optical images Default: Files are named by the Service Provider |
| o | Changes in the limits for downloading PTFs electronically |
| o | Shipped defaults LAN connectivity: NOMAX Dial connectivity: 100 MB |
| o | Can be changed via Set User Policy (QPDETPOL) API Can not be set to lower than 100 MB |
Cumulative PTF package
| o | Can be downloaded electronically Format: PTF images or SAVF Default delivery method is now electronic Previously always delivered via physical media |
| o | If size is greater than the maximum download limit PTFs are delivered on CD If the download size is lower than the limit set, the PTFs will be downloaded (see limits above). |
| o | Can be downloaded as images or save files. REORDER(*YES) Enables distribution of cumulative PTF package to other systems Enables creation of physical CD images or save files; dependant on DLVRYFMT parameter REORDER(*NO) Downloads only the PTFs that are not already on the system that is placing the order Note: This is a change from prior releases. |
In V5R4 and above only, there is an addition of mnemonics in the PTFID parameter. Available mnemonics are as follows:
| o | *CUMPKG (Cumulative PTF order, also orderable as SF99540) |
| o | *HIPERGRP (HIPER group PTF, also orderable as SF99539) |
| o | *DB2GRP (Database group PTF, also orderable as SF99504) |
| o | *BRSGRP (Save / Restore group PTF, also orderable as SF99186) |
| o | *JVAGRP (Java™ group PTF, also orderable as SF99291) |
| o | *HTTPGRP (HTTP group PTF, also orderable as SF99114) |
| o | *PFRGRP (Performance group PTF, no orderable number as of 05/19/06) |
Additional Notes
Ensure the following required PTFs are applied to the system:
V5R3: SI25201 ***
V5R4: SI25087, SI34505 ***
V6R1: SI34552 ***
*** Recommended fix list for ESA: http://www-912.ibm.com/s_dir/slkbase.nsf/recommendedfixes
Additional Resources
For additional information, refer to the following Rochester Support Center knowledgebase documents:
408968429, Point-to-Point Profile Changes for V5R3 and above:
406786038, Electronic Fix Distribution Enhancements in V5R3 and above:
411094026, Configuration for ECS / ESA Using a Character-Based User Interface - V5R4:
484148188, i6.1: What's New for SNDPTFORD:
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