Re: Operations Navigator -- MIDRANGE-L

>  From:    Bkhan@medexassist.com (Basit Khan)
>  
>  I would like to keep these option for the 'QSECOFR"  only 
> but when I connect to Opr,Navigator it does not ask for the password.
>  ( I wonder Why?)

There's a lot of PC stuff that connects to AS/400 without using a 400 
interactive session password, such as various client server stuff that puts 
AS/400 files in a format that someone with Windows Explorer can royally muck 
up if their user security permits them to mess with.  400 Security is a 
bigger topic than how Operations Navigator works.  For 400 Security info you 
might want to check out

http://www.as400.ibm.com/tstudio/secure1/advisor/secwiz.htm

For Operations Navigator you might want to subscribe at  
   <A HREF="http://www.asc-iseries.com">www.ASC-iSeries.com</A>  
to what I have cut & pasted here from the last issue that I got - they 
sometimes send other ads in HTML that translate to garbage for folks trying 
not to use HTML in their e-mail like me.

MacWheel99@aol.com (Alister Wm Macintyre) (Al Mac)

Subj:    OpsNews  11/29/00 
Date:   11/29/2000 8:03:45 AM Central Standard Time
From:   ASC@ASC-iSeries.com (Advanced Systems Concepts)

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

The latest news and tips for IBM's Operations 
Navigator - from Chris Wilson at Advanced Systems Concepts.

Check out the OpCenter systems management plug-ins for OpsNav at 
( http://www.asc-iSeries.com/products_ops.htm ).

Welcome!  OpsNews informs the AS/400/iSeries user community about 
the latest goings on in Operations Navigator.  This issue 
includes sections on:  

    Q&A
    What's New
    What's in a Node - Management Central (Part 1)
    Plug-In Front

==== Q&A ============================================

Q:  I want to install the optional components for OpsNav.  Why is 
it that when I go to run selective setup in Client Access 
Express, I can't access the AS/400's NetServer path?  I'm using 
'//QmySystemName/Root' .  I verified that NetServer is running 
and my path is correct. 

A:  Assuming NetServer is running correctly in your environment 
(see the 8/25 and 9/25 OpsNews issues), then your problem may be 
one of sharing.  Most likely, your security officer restricted 
anyone from accessing '/root' by not sharing it as a resource on 
your network, therefore limiting you from explicitly naming that 
as your path.  Just as likely, you can still probably access the 
subdirectories beneath '/root', since your administrator would 
still want to allow Client Access Express updates to take place 
by sharing 'QIBM', for example.  If you can't even access the 
QIBM subdirectory, then you probably need to review your security 
policies regarding the IFS.  

Q: I've heard a lot about Management Central and I've installed 
it as an optional component.  Why does it appear separate from 
the systems in my environment?

A:  For all intents and purposes, Management Central is a 
separate entity from your direct AS/400 connections in OpsNav. 
Management Central is designed to allow you to monitor 
performance, apply fixes, and manage hardware/software inventory 
across multiple systems.  A model that encapsulates all connected 
systems (called 'endpoints') is required in order to apply the 
same change, search, etc. in one place.

==== What's New ==========================================

OpsNav hit the ground running at COMMON, as IBM hosted a 
presentation for the trade press on the upcoming V5R1 features.  
In case you didn't know, here's what you have to look forward to 
in the next release:

  > Graphical command prompting 
    (complete with XML-generated help text)

  > A WRKACTJOB equivalent

  > Enhanced performance monitor features

  > New recovery features within the 'Backup' node

  > OpsNav will treat partitioned systems independently 

Also, some rumors have been floated in the media regarding the 
evolution of OpsNav as a multi-platform standard within IBM.  I 
can foresee other platforms adopting the OpsNav model, but that's 
most likely where the comparisons will stop.  As I've pointed out 
previously, OpsNav is very dependent on Client Access API's and 
OS/400 for that matter, so adapting it to some other platform 
seems unlikely.  I've also read that this is somehow tied to the 
fact that IBM is enhancing OpsNav in Java, which doesn't mean 
much of anything other than the fact that it's Rochester's intent 
to eventually make it all Java based.  Again, running it in 
anything but Windows seems highly unlikely for the foreseeable 
future, since IBM hasn't even touched the original 2 million+ 
lines of C++ code OpsNav was written in.  A little hype is fun to 
discuss, but let's not get ahead of ourselves here.


==== What's in a Node ===================================

Management Central (Part 1)

I'll be discussing the features most people use first, so the 
easiest place to begin is by discussing the real-time performance 
monitors.  To create a monitor, open 'Management Central' and 
right-click 'Monitors' and select 'New Monitor'.  The monitor 
creation process is divided into 3 tabbed pages, the first being 
the 'General' tab.  Click on the boxes to "check off" the 
monitors you want to enable.  OpsNav gives you a fair range of 
choices, allowing you to define metrics like CPU utilization and 
disk storage.   Once you tell the monitor each metric you want to 
track, you can define what kind of threshold actions you want to 
take.  The 'Actions' tab allows you to select how you will be 
alerted when an alarm goes off.  The monitor functions are great 
for freeware, but suffer from some pretty severe limitations if 
you are serious about monitoring your system's performance 
metrics.  The graphs are small and inflexible, and there is no 
way of visualizing what job is causing the problem.   Without 
tooting our own horn too loudly, I think you'll find OpCenter 
Monitor is a better looking/more powerful monitor.  Of course, 
our plug-in isn't free, so let necessity dictate your actions!

==== Plug-In Front ========================================

ASC has released the OpCenter 'Support Tools' plug-in.  The 
Support Tools plug-in provides access to ASC's OpCenter Monitor, 
Job Intervention, and Message Alert products through the OpsNav 
interface.  OpCenter Monitor is a real-time performance cockpit 
for your system.  Job Intervention allows you to capture a user 
screen, view their QTEMP or LDA, and intervene on their behalf 
via command access.  Message Alert monitors interactive and batch 
message queues for potentially damaging system events, and alerts 
you via e-mail or pager.  For more information on any of these
products, visit ( http://www.asc-iSeries.com/products_ops.htm ).

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

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=====================================================================
(c) Advanced Systems Concepts, Inc.
847/605-1311
mailto:ASC@ASC-iSeries.com


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