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Hi guys At a clients request I am evaluating the possibilities regarding pulling data from PC's (OS is a mix of 95/98/NT) stationed at 27 different locations onto the AS/400 for data massage and update routines. The data collection is to happen every night for all 27 locations. Currently a PC dials out to all the PC's and collects the data using a RAS type utility and the resulting files are uploaded via a series of batch files for each location. Very labour intensive and very error prone. Having the transfer initiated from the PC end is not really an option. The proposal we are considering is to use dial-on-demand from the AS/400 to dial out to the PC's and collect the data using FTP. We know we need to check the AS/400 hardware to ensure the comms card can handle this and we know that the PC's will all need some type of FTP Server capability. To support this we will create some kind of control file with dial out details, data transfer details and then on a nightly basis "do the rounds" of each connection. To make this reasonably flexible we planned on generating an FTP script on the fly for each transfer connection and using another file to control what operations are performed for each location including a default list of actions. This will allow us to extend the system to adding additional files to be picked up or transmitted, and maybe even have operations run on the remote PC. I believe the data is fixed format and we will also look at building in some data format validation routines prior to subsequent processing on the AS/400. The system we wish to implement should also deal with retrying any connections problems (preferably after cycling through all the other connections) and providing some audit trails of which locations were/were not retrieved etc. The only part of this I have not done before is configured dial-on-demand on an AS/400 PP connection. I know that theoretically this can be done but how robust and practical is it ? Will the scenario we are looking fly ? What are the kinds of problems we are likely to strike with the remote PC's ? Is there another (better) way ? I have not ruled out a third party product, so any vendors out there with a product that may do what we require can also feel free to drop me a line directly in addition to any discussion or comment they post on the list. Any vendors that do contact me directly, please use address: evan.harris@infinity.co.nz Thanks in advance Regards Evan Harris +--- | This is the Midrange System Mailing List! | To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com. | To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com. | To unsubscribe from this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com. | Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com +---
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