Re: Connecting an AS400 to the Internet

John

At 08:21 AM 5/14/1998 -0700, you wrote:
>I am looking at hooking an AS400 to the internet so that programmers can
use it. I would like some input as to how and what I would need to do this.
>
>I do not have the AS400 yet, thinking of a model 170. How many programmers
could the base 170 handle? What would I need on the AS400? What type and
speed of modem or will something on network handle this (I do not have the
network ether) ? I would like to start off with ISDN 64K, then go to ISDN
128K, then whatever is next if need be. Or should I start with something
else? Does anyone know how many programmers could work on each one of these
lines without to bad a response (I would like sub second, if possible). In
the future (two years)  may need to tie more then one AS400 together. Would
like PC’s from the same location as the AS400 to have access to the
internet.  Need to allow the programmers to upload/download source, files
(data)  objects (if that is possible) and to print, all of this to PC’s and
AS400’s (at other locations, over the internet).  What will need to be on
the programmers PC, other AS400? Will a normal dial up access be fast
enough? How secure is all of thi!
>s going to be? Now for the all important question, cost, one time and
monthly fees?  Since the monthly cost will have to be passed along to the
programmers please keep that in mind when making recommendations ( I do not
know how many programmers I will be starting with, lets say 1 to 10). Also
I am not a network person, so not to technical.

I don't have all answers to everything you've asked. However, let me tell
you a little of what we have set up.

We have multiple PCs on an Ethernet network (you only need to install the
cards in the PCs and connect with appropriate cable). We happen to have
Novell Netware, but I don't think you need that to provide the Internet
access. All you need is the physical connection, and IP addresses for each PC.

Our development 400 is also on that same Ethernet network.

We have a router on the Ethernet network that connects with a 56K frame
relay line (with appropriate CSU/DSU—something like a modem but for high
speed) to an Internet service provider. I think this is probably the
easiest way to get going. You can get a class C block of IP addresses
(about 254) for your use, from the ISP. The ISP will give you DNS addresses
to use. The line's speed can be increased over time.

Security is a problem here, because any of these addresses you assign
internally are visible to the big, bad, Internet. You need a router that
can do some kind of packet filtering, at the least. Your ISP should be able
to help here, too. True firewalls/proxy/SOCKS servers are better but more
complex. The basic premise is to block all traffic, then open your net up
to known, trusted sources.

With this kind of setup, our internal users have access to the Internet.
And someone like me can get to the 400, e.g., by connecting with my own
ISP. All I need is the address of the 400. Client Access' PC5250 emulation
uses telnet protocol, so it's a natural for this. This emulation is one of
the licensed portions of Client Access, so Graphical Access may be good
enough. And FTP makes for great file transfer. The main problem is the
non-standard format of the 400's FTP directory info. Things like Cute FTP
can't handle it.

If you need file & print sharing, you might want to use NT Server or Novell
or Lantastic. BTW, you already have network printing to AS/400 printers
with Client Access.

================================

Another possibility is dialup to some kind of multiple connection modem.
This modem would feed a single ASYNC line on the 400. The 400 can make SLIP
connections this way, and maybe PPP by now on v4r2. Speed is listed (v4r1)
at 19200, but you can probably use faster.

This has the advantage of giving you a reasonable expectation of privacy,
since it is dialup and not as public as anything over the Internet.

But this approach does not address internal users who need to get access to
the Internet. I believe you can have the 400 dial out to an ISP, but I'm
not sure of that.

Hope this helps a little

Vernon Hamberg
Systems Software Programmer
Old Republic National Title Insurance Company
400 Second Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN  55401-2499
(612) 371-1111 x480


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