Welcome to the Neighborhood!
IBM i NetServer opens the door to file and print serving via Windows Network Neighborhood (also known as My Network Places). Here's more on how to get IBM i NetServer working for you and what it means to you from an end user point of view.
IBM i NetServer is integrated in IBM i (formerly System i, i5/OS, OS/400) starting with V4R2. Without any additional client software, PC clients on the network utilize the file and print-sharing functions that are included in their operating systems (e.g. Windows Network Neighborhood) to access IBM i NetServer. You can configure IBM i NetServer properties and the properties of IBM i NetServer file and print shares with Navigator for i. This means Navigator for i only needs to be installed on the PC that you use for administration of IBM i NetServer.
IBM i NetServer supports the Server Message Block (SMB) protocol, including the updated CIFS (Common Internet File System) extensions, through the use of Transmission Control Protocol/Internet Protocol (TCP/IP) on the IBM i platform. This communication allows clients to access directories in the IBM i Integrated File System and output queues.
IBM i NetServer provides support for the following client operating systems:
- Windows NT
- Windows 2000 Professional
- Windows XP Professional
- Windows Server 2003
- Linux (Samba client support)
IBM i NetServer and IBM i Access
IBM i NetServer provides specific support for accessing integrated file system and printing resources. IBM i NetServer does not provide the same range of tools and applications as IBM i Access. However, you do not need to use IBM i Access or Navigator for i to benefit from IBM i NetServer. In fact, IBM i Access utilizes IBM i NetServer in order to provide its own drive mapping and print sharing support. In V4R4 and later, IBM i NetServer provides dynamic text data conversion support (for example, EBCDIC to ASCII) for files ending in selected extensions.
You can use IBM i NetServer to easily install IBM i Access (which includes Navigator for i) on your Windows 95/98/Me or Windows NT/2000 client PC. Note: the above link will place your browser into the IBM i, System i and i5/OS Information Center.The significant differences between IBM i NetServer and the file system support that IBM i Access provides are the following:
- The operating system of the PC client contains all of the software that is required to access IBM i NetServer. IBM i NetServer does not require that you install additional software on the client unless you are administering IBM i NetServer using Operations Navigator.
- IBM i NetServer allows the network administrator to share selective portions of the integrated file system tree, rather than exposing all of it. IBM i Access has no concept of shares.
- With IBM i NetServer, you can share a directory with read-only access.
- With IBM i NetServer, you can hide a share from the network by ending the share name with a '$'.
- IBM i NetServer allows you to convert file content on a file extension basis while IBM i Access does not.
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