Remote PPP dial-up connection
This scenario shows how to create a point-to-point (PPP) connection from a remote system to access IBM customer support through a system, partition, or through Hardware Management Console (HMC).
Situation
Suppose that you purchase an additional IBM® i operating system for MyCompany, a small manufacturing company in Boone, Iowa. As part of providing support, you need to establish a connection between electronic customer support and MyCompany's system. Because the system does not include a modem and MyCompany does not have an Internet bound network connection, you can configure a remote connection through another system or Hardware Management Console (HMC) that already has a dial-up point-to-point connection to electronic customer services.
Solution
Create a remote Universal Connection to IBM through the AGNS. In this case, you establish a connection through the Connection Manager on your remote system through an AGNS point-to-point connection to Electronic Customer Support.
Advantages
This scenario provides the following advantages:
- MyCompany does not need to invest in an additional modem, cabling, or software to receive benefit from Electronic Customer Support. You can configure this connection through the Universal Connection wizard or CL commands.
- The AGNS connection provides a simple means of ensuring that MyCompany has Electronic Customer Support available for ease of troubleshooting system problems, tracking current system hardware and software, or receiving software updates and fixes.
- The AGNS provides a secure connection between MyCompany and IBM by implementing its own security when making a connection. You do not need to provide additional security.
Objectives
In this scenario, the customer wants to ensure that IBM can support the remote MyCompany system over the network through a point-to-point connection through AGNS. The objectives of this scenario are as follows:
- To create a remote point-to-point dial-up connection between the customer and ECS through AGNS
- To automate customer support through Electronic Customer Support and services
- To enable remote Electronic Customer Support to create electronic hardware and software service information of MyCompany's systems
- To permit Electronic Customer Support to send software fixes and updates to the remote MyCompany system over the network
Details
The following figure illustrates creating a remote connection to another system to access Electronic Customer Support through an AGNS connection.
Prerequisites and assumptions
The prerequisites for enabling Electronic Customer Support over remote AGNS connection include the following items:
- Ensure that the IBM i Access for Windows and System i® Navigator programs exist on your personal computer, or the IBM Systems Director Navigator for i web-based console is available on your system.
- If you are using System i Navigator ensure that you have installed all of the latest service packs. If you are using IBM Systems Director Navigator for i web-based console ensure the latest PTFs are installed on your system.
- If you are using IBM Systems Director Navigator for i web-based console ensure the HTTP Administration Server is started. You can start the HTTP Administration Server using the STRTCPSVR SERVER(*HTTP) HTTPSVR(*ADMIN) CL command.
- Ensure that you have security officer (*SECOFR) authority with *ALLOBJ, *IOSYSCFG, and *SECADM special authorities in your IBM i user profile and *USE authority to WRKCNTINF in order to configure the connection using the Universal Connection wizard.
- Ensure that the IBM TCP/IP Connectivity Utilities for i (5770-TC1) licensed program is installed.
- Ensure that the Digital Certificate Manager (DCM)
(5770-SS1 option 34) licensed program is installed. Note: System i Navigator is required to configure this option. The virtual private network (VPN) is only used over AT&T if your system is running V5R2 OS/400®, or later.
- Ensure that the QRETSVRSEC system value is set to 1. You can check this value with the Display System Value (DSPSYSVAL) command. If this value is not set to 1, enter a Change System Value (CHGSYSVAL) command.
- Ensure that the Universal Connection from the system with the modem have been configured to provide AT&T connectivity to others before you can actually use this remote connection.
- Ensure that you have configured TCP/IP connectivity between this system and the one containing the modem.
Remote system configuration steps
After you complete the prerequisites, you are ready to begin configuring the Universal Connection through the wizard.
Assuming that TCP/IP configuration already exists and works, complete these steps to set up the Universal Connection if you connect to Electronic Customer Support through a remote system.
- Completing the planning work sheet
The planning work sheet illustrates the type of information you need before configuring the AT&T Global Network Service (AGNS) connection. You use this information when running the Universal Connection wizard. - Starting the Universal Connection Wizard
The Universal Connection wizard is started from System i Navigator or IBM Systems Director Navigator for i web-based console. - Entering the service, address, and country (or region) information
From the Universal Connection wizard dialogs, specify the service, address, and country or region information about your company and the connections. - Selecting the dial-up connection using AGNS as a connection type
From the current system under Connection, select the dial-up connection using AT&T Global Network Service (AGNS) as a connection type. - Specifying the dial gateway address or host name
To create a remote connection to IBM, specify the information about the dial gateway address or host name that connects to IBM. - Configuring a proxy destination
To configure a proxy destination for the proxy option, follow these steps. - Indicating that this system does not provide connectivity for other systems or partitions
To indicate that this system has a direct connection to Electronic Customer Support without providing connectivity for other systems or partitions, click No. - Reviewing the Summary window
To ensure that the configuration meets your requirements, review the Summary window. - Testing the connection
To test the connection from your system to the Electronic Customer Support, follow these steps. - Optional: Configuring a backup configuration
If an additional connection method is available to you, you might want to rerun the wizard to configure a backup connection. This backup connection is used automatically in case the primary connection fails.
