Knowledge Base

Configuring SNA Server to Talk to AS/400 Over 802.2

Article ID: 112158

Article Last Modified on 10/26/2007

APPLIES TO

This article was previously published under Q112158

SUMMARY

This article describes how to configure SNA Server to communicate with an AS/400 over 802.2 (Token Ring or Ethernet), to support 5250 emulation. Both SNA Server and AS/400 configuration parameters are discussed.

NOTE: The end of this article includes sample AS/400 configuration screens.

MORE INFORMATION

These instructions assume all of the following:
  • The Windows NT DLC transport driver has been installed and is bound to the correct network adapter.
  • The SNA Server DLC link service has been installed using the SNA Server setup program.
  • The system has been restarted.
Configure the following entries using the SNA Server Manager program:
  1. Zoom on the SNA Server service (which appears as the Windows NT machine name), located in the Servers and Connections window. Enter the following parameters:

    SNA Network Control Point Name 
          Network Name =  APPN (or Remote Network ID, RMTNETID value on the
      AS/400).
      Control Point Name = This is the remote control point name
      (RMTCPNAME) value in the AS/400 APPC controller definition.  For
      simplicity, this should be set to the local Windows NT machine
      name.
    Choose OK.
  2. Add a new Local APPC LU off the server service by choosing the Insert button and entering the following parameters: 
          LU 6.2 Type  = Independent
      LU Alias     = For simplicity, this should be the same as the
                     Local LU Name below.
      Network Name = APPN (same as network name above)
      LU Name      = This is the remote control point name in the AS/400
                     APPC controller description (RMTCPNAME).
    All other entries can remain at default values.

    NOTE: It is most efficient for all SNA Server users to use the same Local APPC LU. However, it is possible to create a unique LU for each user if desired, where the LU alias and LU name above could be replaced with the actual user name (though this requires additional administration to maintain).

    Choose OK.
  3. Configure the SNA Server 802.2 connection by zooming on the connection name: 
          Link Service = SnaDlc1 (or name specified during SNA setup)
      Remote End   = Peer System
      Activation   = If set to "On Server Startup" (default), then the
                     Switched disconnect (SWTDSC) value on the AS/400
                     controller definition should be set to NO. This causes
                     the underlying link to stay active even if there are
                     no active sessions. Otherwise, if SWTDSC is YES, then
                     SNA Server should be set to "On Demand" activation.

      Allowed Directions = Outgoing calls. Check Incoming Calls if you
                           want the AS/400 to activate the link.
    Zoom on the Setup button: 
          Remote Network Address = Set to the network adapter address of the
                               AS/400 (ADPTADR), located in the AS/400 line
                               description.
      Local Node ID = EXCHID value on the AS/400 controller description
                      (if not specified on the AS/400, leave at default -
                      05D FFFFF).
      Remote Node Name:
      Network Name = APPN (or remote network ID RMTNETID value on the
                     AS/400)

      Control Point Name = AS/400 local control point name, configured in
                           the AS/400 Display Network Attributes screen.
      Remote Node ID = Not used (leave blank)
    Advanced options can be left at their default settings

    Choose OK.
  4. Add a new Remote APPC LU off the connection by choosing the Insert button and enter the following parameters: 
          LU Alias     = For simplicity, this should be the same as the
                     Remote APPC LU Name below.
      Network Name = APPN (or remote network id RMTNETID value on the
                     AS/400)

      LU Name      = Must be set to the AS/400 local control point name
                    (set in the AS/400 Display Network Attributes screen).
      Uninterpreted LU Name = Not used (leave at default setting).

      Select Supports Parallel Sessions (required).
    Zoom on the Partners button. The Remote APPC LU must be partnered with the Local APPC LU created above, using the QPCSUPP mode. Because Enable Automatic Partnering is enabled by default for APPC LU's, this pairing will already be added.

    Choose OK.
  5. Save the SNA Server configuration file and restart the SNA Server service. Once the SNA Server service is Active, all connections configured to activate on server startup will go into a Pending state, then switch to Active.

    NOTE: If the connection stays in Pending mode and doesn't activate:
    1. Check the Windows NT application event log (using Event Viewer) to see the reason why the connection isn't activating. For example, if the AS/400 is not responding to TEST commands, then the remote network address may not be correct.
    2. Double check the configuration entries above with your AS/400 system administrator and make sure the AS/400 line is active. If all appears okay, check the SNA Server controller description on the AS/400. For LAN-based connections (such as Token Ring or Ethernet), the AS/400 defaults to auto configuration for new controllers, so manual generation on the AS/400 is not required.
    3. Check if the AS/400 is logging any errors when SNA Server attempts to establish the connection.
    4. If the connection activates but users are unable to open 5250 sessions, zoom on the Status button on the Local APPC LU, which should show the following (when working correctly):
         Partner LU      Mode      Connection     Sessions        Limit

     <remote LU>     SNASVCMG  <connection>    0               2
     <remote LU>     QPCSUPP   <connection>    0               64
    This means that up to 64 sessions are available for use, though no sessions are currently active.
At this point, a 5250 user can then open any valid APPC LU/LU pair supported by any SNA Server in the domain. However, in order to simplify 5250 user access through SNA Server, there are various options available to an SNA Server administrator and the 5250 user, including the following:
  • Default AS/400 session for a user: On the SNA Server user/group record, the administrator can define default local and remote APPC LU's. If defaults are configured, and the 5250 applet is used, this is the LU/LU pair the 5250 user will open when the 5250 applet local and partner APPC LU names are left blank.
  • If default APPC LU's are not preassigned to a user/group, here is how to configure pools of Local APPC LU's and Remote (partner) APPC LU's to simplify 5250 user access to one or more AS/400's supported by SNA Server:

    Local APPC LU pool: Define the Local APPC LU as a "Member of Default Outgoing Local APPC LU Pool". If a 5250 user does not enter a Local APPC LU when opening a session, the user will access one of the available Local LU's in this pool.

    Remote APPC LU pool: The Remote APPC LU pool is determined by the Remote LU's which are partnered with the Local APPC LU and the QPCSUPP mode. So, if a Local APPC LU is specified, but the Remote APPC LU is left blank, a 5250 session will be allocated from an available Remote APPC LU which it is partnered with.

SAMPLE AS/400 CONFIGURATION

The following AS/400 configuration screens are shown below, along with their corresponding configuration setting for SNA Server (see comments which are preceded with "****" below). This includes the AS/400 network attributes screen, Token Ring line description, APPC controller, and virtual device description. Many of the configuration settings are not relevant for communications to function, though are shown here for completeness. 
AS/400: Display Network Attributes
                             System:   OLYMPIA
 Current system name  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   OLYMPIA
   Pending system name  . . . . . . . . . . . . . :
 Local network ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   APPN

**** must match the remote network name on the SNA Server connection.

 Local control point name . . . . . . . . . . . . :   OLYMPIA

**** must match the remote control point name on the SNA Server connection

 Default local location . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   OLYMPIA
 Default mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   BLANK
 APPN node type . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   *ENDNODE
 Maximum number of intermediate sessions  . . . . :   200
 Route addition resistance  . . . . . . . . . . . :   128
 Server network ID/control point name . . . . . . :   APPN        REDHOOK
 Alert status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   *OFF
 Alert logging status . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   *NONE
 Alert primary focal point  . . . . . . . . . . . :   *NO
 Alert default focal point  . . . . . . . . . . . :   *NO
 Alert backup focal point . . . . . . . . . . . . :
   Network ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :     *NONE
 Alert focal point to request . . . . . . . . . . :
   Network ID . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :     *NONE
 Alert controller description . . . . . . . . . . :   *NONE
 Alert hold count . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   0
 Alert filter . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   *NONE
   Library  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :
 Message queue  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   QSYSOPR
   Library  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :     QSYS
 Output queue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   QPRINT
   Library  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :     QGPL
 Job action . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   *FILE
 Maximum hop count  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   16
 DDM request access . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . :   *OBJAUT
 PC Support request access  . . . . . . . . . . . :   *OBJAUT
 Default ISDN network type  . . . . . . . . . . . :
 Default ISDN connection list . . . . . . . . . . :   QDCCNNLANY


AS/400: Change Line Desc (Token Ring) (CHGLINTRN)

Line description . . . . . . . . LIND         > LANLINE
 Resource name  . . . . . . . . . RSRCNAME       LIN031
 Online at IPL  . . . . . . . . . ONLINE         *YES
 Vary on wait . . . . . . . . . . VRYWAIT        *NOWAIT
 Maximum controllers  . . . . . . MAXCTL         64
 Line speed . . . . . . . . . . . LINESPEED      16M
 Maximum frame size . . . . . . . MAXFRAME       1033
 TRLAN manager logging level  . . TRNLOGLVL      *OFF
 TRLAN manager mode . . . . . . . TRNMGRMODE     *OBSERVING
 Log configuration changes  . . . LOGCFGCHG      *LOG
 Token Ring inform of beacon  . . TRNINFBCN      *YES
 Local adapter address  . . . . . ADPTADR        494061026052

**** Must match the remote network address on the SNA Server connection.
Also, the Local Adapter Address (ADPTADR) parameter on the line description (for Token Ring or Ethernet) has a default of *ADPT. AS/400 Administrators can choose to enter their own locally administered address or the *ADPT inserts the burned-in adapter card address. The following information includes advantages of both options.

Locally Administered Address:

Advantages: The address is permanent and will not change. It is important to pick a unique address so that there are no network conflicts. This is the IBM recommended option.

*ADPT Address:

Advantages: The adapter address is inserted into the line description when the line is varied on. Afterward, you can display the line description and see the adapter card address. This address is a unique address and you are insured there will be no duplicates on your network.

Disadvantages: If the Adapter card has a hardware problem and is replaced, you need to have a new address when the line is varied on for the first time. All users who connect using the address will not be able to communicate unless they change their configuration accordingly. This can cause problems if you have many users because they all reference the same adapter address. 
 Functional address . . . . . . . FCNADR         *SAME
                  + for more values
 SSAP list:                       SSAP
   Source Service Access Point  .                04
   SSAP maximum frame . . . . . .                *MAXFRAME
   SSAP type  . . . . . . . . . .                *SNA
                  + for more values
 Early token release  . . . . . . ELYTKNRLS      *YES

**** For 16 MB Token Ring, note the Early Token Release setting. This
should match the early token release setting used on your local Windows NT
network adapter (set using the Network applet in Control Panel).

 Error threshold level  . . . . . THRESHOLD      *OFF
 Link speed . . . . . . . . . . . LINKSPEED      16M
 Cost/connect time  . . . . . . . COSTCNN        0
 Cost/byte  . . . . . . . . . . . COSTBYTE       0
 Security for line  . . . . . . . SECURITY       *NONSECURE
 Propagation delay  . . . . . . . PRPDLY         *LAN
 User-defined 1 . . . . . . . . . USRDFN1        128
 User-defined 2 . . . . . . . . . USRDFN2        128
 User-defined 3 . . . . . . . . . USRDFN3        128
 Autocreate controller  . . . . . AUTOCRTCTL     *YES

**** This setting controls whether the APPC controller definition and
virtual device definition (listed below) are automatically created by the
AS/400 on this line. For Token Ring or Ethernet lines, this is the default.
However, this is not the case for SDLC.

 Autodelete controller  . . . . . AUTODLTCTL     1440
 Recovery limits:                 CMNRCYLMT
   Count limit  . . . . . . . . .                2
   Time interval  . . . . . . . .                5
 Text 'description' . . . . . . . TEXT           'LAN Line description'

**** Note: If AUTOCRTCTL is YES (in the line description above), then the
APPC controller and virtual device definitions below do not have to be
generated. In this case, the SNA Server configuration settings noted below
will cause these AS/400 configuration entries to be automatically
generated.

AS/400: Change Ctl Desc (APPC) (CHGCTLAPPC)

Controller description . . . . . CTLD         > TRUTH00
 Online at IPL  . . . . . . . . . ONLINE         *NO
 APPN-capable . . . . . . . . . . APPN           *YES
 Switched line list . . . . . . . SWTLINLST      LANLINE
                  + for more values
 Character code . . . . . . . . . CODE           *EBCDIC
 Maximum frame size . . . . . . . MAXFRAME       16393
 Remote network identifier  . . . RMTNETID       APPN

**** Must match the network name configured on SNA Server (set using Admin
when zooming on the server name), as well as the network name configured on
the Local APPC LU.

 Remote control point . . . . . . RMTCPNAME      TRUTH

**** Must match the local control point name configured on SNA Server (set
using Admin when zooming on the server name), as well as the LU name of the
Local APPC LU.

Exchange identifier  . . . . . . . :   EXCHID      05600001

**** Must match the Local Node ID in the SNA Server connection

 SSCP identifier  . . . . . . . . SSCPID         *SAME
 Initial connection . . . . . . . INLCNN         *DIAL
 Dial initiation  . . . . . . . . DIALINIT       *LINKTYPE
 Switched disconnect  . . . . . . SWTDSC         *YES

**** If this is set to YES, the AS/400 drops the link when there are no
active users, so the SNA Server connection should be configured to activate
On Demand. Note that SNA Server 802.2 connections default to activate On
Server Startup. If this is desired, the SWTDSC setting should be set to NO.

 Disconnect timer:                DSCTMR
   Minimum connect timer  . . . .                170
   Disconnection delay timer  . .                0
 LAN remote adapter address . . . ADPTADR        10005A38374C

**** This is the network adapter address of the network card being used
on the SNA Server computer.

 LAN DSAP . . . . . . . . . . . . DSAP           04

**** This must match the SAP address on the SNA Server link service,
configured using SNA Server setup. This is usually set to 04, so this
rarely (if ever) changes.

 LAN SSAP . . . . . . . . . . . . SSAP           04

**** This is the SAP address of the destination AS/400 computer, and must
match the SAP address on the SNA Server connection, configured using SNA
Server Admin. Again, this rarely (if ever) changes.

 LAN frame retry  . . . . . . . . LANFRMRTY      *CALC
 LAN connection retry . . . . . . LANCNNRTY      *CALC
 LAN response timer . . . . . . . LANRSPTMR      *CALC
 LAN connection timer . . . . . . LANCNNTMR      *CALC
 LAN acknowledgment timer  . . .  LANACKTMR      *CALC
 LAN inactivity timer . . . . . . LANINACTMR     *CALC
 LAN acknowledgment frequency  .  LANACKFRQ      *CALC
 LAN max outstanding frames . . . LANMAXOUT      *CALC
 LAN access priority  . . . . . . LANACCPTY      *CALC
 LAN window step  . . . . . . . . LANWDWSTP      *NONE
 APPN CP session support  . . . . CPSSN          *YES
 APPN node type . . . . . . . . . NODETYPE       *CALC
 APPN transmission group number   TMSGRPNBR      *CALC
 APPN minimum switched status . . MINSWTSTS      *VRYONPND
 Autodelete device  . . . . . . . AUTODLTDEV     1440
 User-defined 1 . . . . . . . . . USRDFN1        *LIND
 User-defined 2 . . . . . . . . . USRDFN2        *LIND
 User-defined 3 . . . . . . . . . USRDFN3        *LIND
 Recovery limits:                 CMNRCYLMT
   Count limit  . . . . . . . . .                2
   Time interval  . . . . . . . .                5
 Model controller description . . MDLCTL         *NO
 Connection network network ID  . CNNNETID       *SAME
 Connection network CP  . . . . . CNNCPNAME      *SAME
 Control owner  . . . . . . . . . CTLOWN         *SAME
 Text 'description' . . . . . . . TEXT           'AUTOMATICALLY CREATED
 BY QLUS'

AS/400:  Change Device Desc (APPC) (CHGDEVAPPC)

Device description . . . . . . . DEVD         > TRUTH03

**** This device name corresponds with the SNA Server Local APPC LU name
(in this case, TRUTH), plus a two-digit device number, generated by the
AS/400 (but not configured in SNA Server).

 Online at IPL  . . . . . . . . . ONLINE         *NO
 Mode . . . . . . . . . . . . . . MODE           *NETATR
                  + for more values
 Message queue  . . . . . . . . . MSGQ           QSYSOPR
   Library  . . . . . . . . . . .                  *LIBL
 Local location address . . . . . LOCADR         00
 Single session:                  SNGSSN
   Single session capable . . . .                *NO
   Number of conversations  . . .
 Locally controlled session . . . LCLCTLSSN      *SAME
 Pre-established session  . . . . PREESTSSN      *SAME
 Text 'description' . . . . . . . TEXT           'AUTOMATICALLY CREATED
 BY QLUS'
 Mode description . . . . . . . . MODD         > QPCSUPP

**** This should not be changed; this is the default mode name for IBM PC
Support clients (and SNA Server).

 Class-of-service . . . . . . . . COS            #CONNECT
 Maximum sessions . . . . . . . . MAXSSN         64

**** This is the number of sessions supported by the QPCSUPP mode, and
should match the SNA Server session limit configured on the QPCSUPP mode
entry, configured using the SNA Server setup program (zoom on Local or
Remote LU, zoom on Partners button, then choose the Modes button).

 Maximum conversations  . . . . . MAXCNV         64

**** This should match the MAXSSN setting above.

 Locally controlled sessions  . . LCLCTLSSN      16
 Pre-established sessions . . . . PREESTSSN      0
 Inbound pacing value . . . . . . INPACING       7
 Outbound pacing value  . . . . . OUTPACING      7
 Maximum length of request unit   MAXLENRU       *CALC
 Text 'description' . . . . . . . TEXT           'created by <name>'

Additional query words: prodsna TR snafaq

Keywords: kbproductlink KB112158


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