RE: Achieving Shipping Compliance at Remote Locations -- MIDRANGE-L

I guess the first thing we need to decide is if we want to have a stand
alone solution or something that has a constant connection back to our
AS/400.  Here are the pluses and minuses I came up with so far for each,
maybe people with experience in this area can add more or correct my
misconceptions:

Constant connection:
+ All data resides in one place, our main system, and is constantly
up-to-date.
+ Can use existing programs.
+ Can make changes to programs and each plant has instance access to these.
+ Could allow access to other existing programs to solve a need unforeseen
at this point.
+ Could possibly use a dumb terminal (with some kind of intelligent
connection device) hopefully resulting in less technical administration than
a PC requires.
- If connection is down, work cannot be done.


Stand alone:
+ Can continue to work if connection is down.
+ Response time should be better.
- May need to develop interfaces to get the data there and back to the
AS/400.
- If I need another function, it has to be developed for the stand alone
platform.
- Should have identical setup here for troubleshooting, development,
testing, etc.


I guess I am thinking the stand alone solution would be PC based, but after
writing this, am wondering if a tiny AS/400 would be feasible?

Thanks for your input!
Rick


Booth said:
> "it depends" is right of course.
>
> I'd add 2 cents.  Use tcp/ip.
>
> Set up the hardware you choose in your own office so you have a working
> prototype where you can kick the s-o-b when its not working
> right, and where
> you can walk through field problems on your own hardware.
>
> I'd think you may want to go up a step from most PC printers.  I
> also think
> I might want at least 2 setups in each branch in case they forget to order
> supplies, a malfunction, etc.  I might also go for some sort of non PC (It
> sounds like they haven't PCs in their facilities.  You furnish
> one and they
> ll be using it for all the games and porn. I am cynical from experiences)
>
> I'd look a lot at what your AS/400 has inside.  Its got a good web server
> among other things.
>
> VPN is secure I suppose but its a pig for performance.  Talk with
> knowledgable ISP's.  They can give you services that may be just what you
> are looking for.

Carl said:
> As with most issues, it depends....
> Is DSL required, no, would any internet connection work.... Yes. If all
> you are doing is AS400 functions with some printing, a dial up
> connection would work well. Just off the top of my head here is how I
> would do it:
> 1. Set up some sort of VPN server on your internal network. If the PC
> server you are currently using is W2000 or NT, you have what you need.
> 2. Use a PC in each plant, each to have 2 parallel cards, one for a
> laser printer, one for the bar code printer.
> 3. Equip the PC with a bar code scanner
> 4. Have the PC connect via a dial up to the internet, then start the
> VPN connection to your internal network
> 5. Once you are connected, the PC looks like it is connected locally to
> the AS400.
>
> Of course it is not quite this simple, as you will need to be sure the
> AS/400 apps are up to snuff to perform the business tasks required. You
> may have some issues with the config of the printers, especially the bar
> code printer, but should not be much of a problem, it may require some
> trial and error. You will have to select a PC emulator that support the
> remote printing..... It can either be TN5250e or LPD/LPR. Most of the
> software out there is very inexpensive. Once you had a "hardware
> package" you were comfortable with, you could roll it out to each plant.
> If you go with a dial up connection, it should be pretty straight
> forward to the personal, if the connection drops, then have it dial
> again (persistent dial up).
>
> In my opinion, you can spend a lot of money on this, or not a lot of
> money, your choice. The solutions I am suggesting are pretty much the
> least expensive for initial costs, and recurring costs. Of course you
> could install frame relay, but to support one or 2 devices..... Why?
> Even DSL is relatively cheap. With DSL you could use a VPN router and
> ethernet connected printers.
>
> Just a few ideas for you to think over.
> cjg