Editor’s note: In this article, I’ll discuss specific informational authorized program analysis reports (APARs) issued by IBM that involve the Client Access family of products. Even if you are not interested in tracking APARs, I suggest you read through this material because several of the APARs I’ll discuss here indicate the directions IBM is taking with many significant products and features, such as Windows 2000, Virtual Private Networks (VPNs), and compatibility with third-party products.

As part of the Client Access Web site redesign in late May to add Express client-specific information, IBM added a new Web page for Client Access Express for Windows (Express client) APARs, which are basically reports and advice on how to fix problems with your AS/400 or, in this case, the Client Access products. So when you surf to the Client Access Information APAR page at www.as400.ibm.com/clientaccess/caiiapar.htm (Figure 1), you will now see links to the following four Web pages that contain Client Access family APAR information:

• Express—Express client problems and information (www.as400.ibm.com/clientaccess/caiixe1.htm)

• Windows 95/NT—Client Access for Windows 95/NT problems and information (www.as400.ibm.com/clientaccess/ caiixd1.htm)

• Enhanced for Windows 3.1—Client Access for Windows 3.1 problems and information (www.as400.ibm.com/clientaccess/caiixk1.htm)

• Other AS/400 Client Information APARs—Information about the Client Access for Windows 3.1, Client Access Optimized for OS/2, Client Access for OS/2 (16-bit version), and the Client Access for DOS Extended products problems and information (www.as400.ibm.com/ clientaccess/caiixy1.htm)

For the Express client and Windows 95/NT client pages, IBM states that, if an APAR contains information that is pertinent to both clients, it will post that information on both pages. On the main Client Access Information APAR page, you will also see an additional link for AS/400 APARs (as400service.rochester.ibm.com/n_dir/nas4apar.nsf/nas4aparhome). This page contains the complete online set of APARs for each OS/400 release. These APARs are categorized in a variety of ways, including all APARs by component, Hiper APARs, APARs for each

individual OS/400 release (OS/400 V3R6 through V4R4), all Info APARs by release, and Info APARs by OS/400 release. So, if a particular Client Access APAR refers you to an AS/400-specific APAR for a fix, you can find both APARs by accessing the Client Access Information APAR page.

Express Client—What’s New, APAR-wise?

When Express client reached GA on May 21st, IBM also released its store of final Express client APARs on the Web. At this time, these APARs are divided into the seven different sections including service packs, support statements, PC5250, Connectivity, SDK for ActiveX and OLE DB, Migration, and Host Servers. While I recommend checking out this page on a regular basis for specific answers to your Express client problems, the following APARs are more significant items involving your Express client installations. You may want to review them to assess their impact on your shop.

• “Windows Express V4R4M0 PTFs” (II11759)—Lists the current PTFs for Express client and the corresponding V4R4M0 PTFs that should be posted on your AS/400.

• “Client Access and Microsoft Windows 2000” (II11853)—Details IBM’s progress with testing Express client with the Windows 2000 product line. This APAR specifically states that “The intent is that Express client will support Windows 2000 workstation and servers shortly after Microsoft makes Windows 2000 generally available.” APAR II11853 lists out known problems with Express client functions (such as PC5250 and the OLE DB provider) as well as other problems with functions that are generally associated with Express client (such as AS/400 NetServer). The APAR also announces that “There are no plans to support the Windows 95/NT client on Windows 2000 workstations or servers.” (Although that should come as no shock to anyone.) This APAR is also posted on the Windows 95/NT APAR page.

• “Client Access Express Support Position on VPN Connectivity” (II11791)—States that OS/400’s V4R4

VPN connectivity is based on the Layer 2 Tunneling Protocol (L2TP) and that, since L2TP is not supported in Windows 9x or Windows NT 4.0, VPN support will not be available with Express client until Windows 2000 (which does support L2TP) is released.

• “Client Access Express with Firewalls and SOCKS Clients” (II11792)—Offers the results of IBM’s firewall testing with Express client including the IBM Firewall for AS/400 running on the Integrated NetFinity Server (INS, formerly known as the IPCS), IBM eNetwork firewall, Microsoft Proxy Server 2.0, and the Novell BorderManager Firewall (which IBM lists as an unsupported firewall).

• “Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition” (II11373)—Presents statement of support and instructions for running Express client and the Windows 95/NT client on Microsoft’s Terminal server. (For more information on this technique, see “See Client Access Run!” by Jeff Van Heuklon and Ana Tomko, Midrange Computing, July 1999.)

• “CWBSY1008 Error Message After Migrating to Client Access Express” (II11841)—Offers the fix for this common problem. The problem will be fixed a future Express client service pack.

• “PC5250 License Error or Reconnect After Losing Connection” (II11840)
• “PC5250 Appears Hung or Does Not Start” (II11795)
• “Re-mapping PC5250 Key” (II10486) Again, since Express client is such a new product, I recommend checking this page on a regular basis for answers to your problems.

The Windows 95/NT Client—New APAR Info

Since IBM has posted many Windows 95/NT client APARs on the Client Access site since 1996, I’m just going to focus on the significant APARs that were posted or updated during

April and May (as AS/400 Network Expert went to press). Please check this APAR page for other documents that may help your shop. The following are the most significant new Windows 95/NT client APARs:

• “Client Access and Microsoft Windows 2000” (II11853)—See the description of this APAR in the Express client section earlier in this article, but understand that IBM will not be supporting Client Access for Windows 95/NT running on the Windows 2000 product line.

• “Client Access Support for Multi-processor PCs and Multi-threading” (II11851)—Cross-posted on the Express client APAR page, this APAR states IBM’s position that it will not support multiple threads within a single application that uses the Client Access for Windows 95/NT APIs. IBM also states in this document that it will not support using the Windows 95/NT client on multiprocessor PCs. In contrast, IBM is currently testing multithreaded applications using Express client APIs and that multithreaded applications are being supported on multiprocessor PCs for Express client.

• “Microsoft Windows NT Server 4.0, Terminal Server Edition” (II11373)—See the description of this APAR in the Express client section earlier in this article.

• “Client Access and Windows 98” (II11274)—This APAR has information about running the Windows 95/NT client under Windows 98 and any known problems and fixes.

• “CA/400 Support for TCP/IP for Twinax” (II11022)—See this APAR for tips, techniques, restrictions, additional setup information, and other possible software and hardware to purchase if you want run TCP/IP over existing twinax cable.

• “Requirements for PC5250 Support of TCP/IP Enhancements” (II110918)—This APAR was released last year but updated to reflect OS/400 V4R4 information and other current information. It has everything you need to know to add PC5250 print emulation, named workstation ID support, and bypass sign-on support to your AS/400-and TCP/IP- connected desktops. This is an important APAR even if you’re not using Client Access because this document deals with adding this support to your AS/400 for any TCP/IP client that is starting a session.

• “PC5250 Appears Hung or Does Not Start” (II11795)—This APAR is also posted on the Express client page.

• “Re-mapping PC5250 Key” (APAR II10486)—This APAR is also posted on the Express client page.

• “LDAP Support for SSL in Client Access V3R2M0” (II11440)—This APAR has instructions for adding this support to the V3R2M0 client only. This APAR is not needed for Express client because this support is provided with the appropriate Client Encryption software.

Keep Checking the Web

APARs are an extremely good source of information for solving your Client Access and Express client problems and for determining what IBM is going to do with a new technology or technique (such as Windows 2000 or LDAP). I encourage you to check these packages often to find new relevant information to better manage your Client Access installations.

Related Materials

Client Access Information APAR Web page: www.as400.ibm.com/clientaccess/caiiapar.htm

AS/400 APAR Web page: as400service.rochester.ibm.com/n_dir/nas4apar.nsf/nas4aparhome

“See Client Access Run!” Jeff Van Heuklon and Ana Tomko, Midrange Computing, July 1999

Figure 1: The Client Access Information APARs page is the place to go for IBM information on the Client Access product line as well as AS/400 APARs.