Re: Why does node's Toolkit for i, use a database connection to execute CL commands?

Why does it look like Toolkit for i is establishing a database connection
in order to execute a CL command?

Kelly, just curious what made you think it was a "database connection"? Did
you notice the appearance of a new QSQSRVR JOB when the node.js service was
started and:

var conn = new xt.iConn(DBname);

was run?

I reviewed the hyperlink from your original post which indicated that
"node" is called from qp2term, which confirms that node.js runs in PASE.
This morning I read IBM's PDF on PASE plus sections of Frank Soltis' book
titled Fortress Rochester which explains PASE.


http://www-01.ibm.com/support/knowledgecenter/api/content/nl/en-us/ssw_ibm_i_71/rzalf/rzalf.pdf

Fortress Rochester provides a helpful diagram and explanation of the
"split" between PASE and IBM i, and describes a number of relevant
distinctions.

a. Power processors must "switch" between 32-bit mode for running PASE
programs and 64-bit mode for running IBM i programs.
b. PASE programs use an ASCII code page, while IBM i programs use EBCDIC.
c. PASE runs on top of a "syscall" interface while IBM i runs on top of a
"technology independent machine initerface".
d. PASE programs could be subject to significant rewrite when "hardware"
changes.
e. PASE programs run in a Portable Address Space Environment while IBM i
runs in a Single-Level Store Environment.

IBM has provided a number of APIs for "bridging" the gaps between PASE and
IBM i environments. One statement from the PASE PDF provides a summary:

"When you call ILE procedures from your PASE for i programs, you should
first prepare the procedure by enabling it for teraspace, converting text
to the appropriate CCSID, and setting up variables and structures."

That doesn't sound all that difficult, but when you consider the
"teraspace" requirement for ILE programs and review the sample C code
required by a PASE program to set up a call to an ILE procedure, you can
see why AIX developers would look for an easier interface.

The "easier" interface is IBM's implementation of SQL CLI functions, which
are supported in PASE, which may be used to connect to QSQSRVR jobs, which
can then call ILE programs and procedures, such as those found in
XMLSERVICE.
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