Troubleshooting
Problem
This document is an introduction to the use of the IBM i NetServer.
Resolving The Problem
General Information
Question:
Question:
What is IBM i NetServer?
Answer:
Answer:
The IBM i NetServer allows network clients to access file and printer shares defined on the IBM i. File shares can point to any integrated file system (IFS) directory or user-defined file system (UDFS). Printer shares can point to any IBM i Output Queue that is associated with a printer.
Question: What are the requirements for NetServer?
Answer:
Requirements include the following:
Question: What are the requirements for NetServer?
Answer:
Requirements include the following:
- An IBM i system that is properly configured for TCP/IP. NetServer code is part of the IBM i Operating System since Version 4, Release 2 (V4R2) and is part of all currently supported OS versions.
- A unique server name for the IBM i NetServer.
- Active QSERVER subsystem.
- Active network print server daemon (QNPSERVD in the QSYSWRK subsystem) and network print socket server jobs (QNPSERVS in the QSYSWRK subsystem) for access to shared printers.
Note: The following are also recommended:
- A PC with access to Navigator for i (web browser) for configuring the NetServer.
- Use of a name resolution strategy (DNS or WINS server) for the NetServer.
Question:
Which PC (and other) clients can use these services?
Answer:
Which PC (and other) clients can use these services?
Answer:
Refer to the following link to the IBM i NetServer home page to see a list of supported client operating systems: IBM i NetServer
Question:
Can IBM help me set up the PC (or computer with the Samba Client) to use NetServer?
Answer:
The client code is a part of the PC operating system itself. There is no third-party client code to install or configure as there is with the earlier (and now obsolete) Client Access Network drives. Windows Networking code is now included in the default installation of current Windows versions. IBM can offer assistance in verifying the setup and configuration for one client only. This network client must be on a PC with a version of Windows that is supported for mapping NetServer drives to a currently supported version of the IBM i. The same assistance can be provided for a computer with a supported version of the Samba client. Further assistance setting up other computers is available through Consulting Services. If there appear to be problems with the Windows (or Samba) code or with its configuration, then it is recommended you contact your client computer vendor or Microsoft for assistance if needed.
Server Configuration
Question:
What are the NetServer default settings?
Answer:
The default settings include the following:
Can IBM help me set up the PC (or computer with the Samba Client) to use NetServer?
Answer:
The client code is a part of the PC operating system itself. There is no third-party client code to install or configure as there is with the earlier (and now obsolete) Client Access Network drives. Windows Networking code is now included in the default installation of current Windows versions. IBM can offer assistance in verifying the setup and configuration for one client only. This network client must be on a PC with a version of Windows that is supported for mapping NetServer drives to a currently supported version of the IBM i. The same assistance can be provided for a computer with a supported version of the Samba client. Further assistance setting up other computers is available through Consulting Services. If there appear to be problems with the Windows (or Samba) code or with its configuration, then it is recommended you contact your client computer vendor or Microsoft for assistance if needed.
Server Configuration
Question:
What are the NetServer default settings?
Answer:
The default settings include the following:
- The IBM i NetServer Server name is Q + the system name.
- The NetServer is started with the TCP/IP command: STRTCPSVR *NETSVR
- The QIBM directory is shared by default. It contains the installation code for the IBM i Access for Windows PC Clients. More default shares might be configured based on licensed program options installed on the system. QCA400 is a default share that was used on much older OS versions (V4x and before). QCA400 was originally created by IBM but it is obsolete. If it exists on a current OS version, it was restored from an earlier version and can safely be removed.
How do I configure the NetServer?
Answer:
The NetServer is easily configured by using the IBM Navigator for i.
Question:
Can I configure the NetServer without IBM Navigator for i?
Answer:
Yes. On currently supported IBM i systems, the GO NETS menu can be used from an operating system command line.
Note: GO NETS is part of IBM i Operating System code, and is installed as part of product
5722SS1 Option 7 "OS/400 - Example Tools Library". Directions for configuring the GO NETS menu, can be found in IBM technote Manage IBM i NetServer without Navigator - GO NETS .Security
Question:
How do I log on the NetServer?
Answer:
The user ID that was used to log on the network client is used by default. If your password is different on the i, the user is prompted for the correct password. If the user ID does not exist, one of the following happens:
- The NetServer defaults to using the guest profile when one is configured.
Note: The default is no guest profile support. - Depending on the client behavior, the user might be given the opportunity to specify a different user ID.
Question:
What exit points can be used to monitor NetServer activity and further control access to my i?
Answer:
The exit points used by the IBM i NetServer are the same as the exit points for the optimized file server and optimized network print server functions:
What exit points can be used to monitor NetServer activity and further control access to my i?
Answer:
The exit points used by the IBM i NetServer are the same as the exit points for the optimized file server and optimized network print server functions:
| QIBM_QPWFS_FILE_SERV | Exit point for file shares |
| QIBM_QNPS_ENTRY | Exit point called at print share server initialization |
| QIBM_QNPS_SPLF | Exit point called to process spooled file output |
They are documented in detail in IBM Documentation. Each of the following topics is a link to an IBM Documentation topic:
Register exit programs (7.5)
Exit program parameters (7.5)
Examples: Exit programs (7.5)
A file server exit program example is available in IBM technote File Server Exit Example (Unicode-to-EBCDIC Conversion).
References
Information is also available on the IBM i NetServer home page at the following URL: https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/633939
Note - added for searchability:
The name i5/OS NetServer can be used interchangeably with IBM i NetServer, System i NetServer, iSeries NetServer, OS/400 NetServer, or (older) AS/400 NetServer or AS400 NetServer.
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Historical Number
11631543
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Document Information
Modified date:
12 July 2023
UID
nas8N1019705