Download How to Manage an R7 Environment

How to Manage an
XA Release 7 Environment
Belinda Daub
Senior IT Consultant
[email protected]
Belinda Daub
My technical background in the
iSeries/XA environment allows me
to help IT professionals manage
their computer systems to support
users in day-to-day operations
while implementing new
technologies for continued
business success .
Professional Experience
• 20+ Years in Information Technology
• 15 Years XA Experience
• IBM i5 Technical Certification
• Software Design and Development
MAPICS Expertise
• Installation and Migration
• XA Operations and Maintenance
• iSeries and XA Security Concepts
• Technical Strategies for working with XA
Recent Customer Success
• Vestas Wind Systems – implemented XA
Enhanced Security Tools for SOX
• Teledyne Technologies – beta
implementation for XA R7.8
Agenda
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R7 Operations Overview
Managing the R7 Java Environment
Maintenance and Updates
R7 Security Concepts
Performance Considerations
R7.8 Enhancements
R7 Operations Overview
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XA Architecture Changes
R7 Administration
Java Environment
Working with the IFS
R7 Operations Overview
• XA Architecture Changes
– Previously
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Server Applications in four XA libraries
Browser applications installed on workstation
Client connects directly through ODBC
Installation via CD or Network Share
Updates installed on each pc/server
R7 Operations Overview
• XA Architecture Changes
– Release 7
• Two additional libraries for product maintenance
enhancement PTF
– AMCESLIB
– AMCESSQL
• Power-Link runs from IFS directories with only small
part installed on user workstations
• Client connects through server jobs running on
iSeries
• Installation of clients using URL
• Updates installed to IFS and automatically updates
clients as users log on
R7 Operations Overview
• R7 XA Architecture – IFS Folders
•XA R7
Environments
•R7 Java
fixes
R7 Operations Overview
• R7 Administration
– Server Administration is the same
– New U-Jobs for java servers
– Client administration
• Configuration (questionnaires)
• Cleanup
• Timeout settings
– Security configured on both server and client
R7 Operations Overview
• R7 Client Application Settings (Questionnaires)
R7 Operations Overview
• R7 Client Administration and Idle Timeout
R7 Operations Overview
• Java Environment
– Global Environment
• Two host jobs running in QUSRWRK
– MPXREGSRV and MPXMGRSRV
• Serves up web pages for installation and
connection of R7 clients
• Must be active to access Java Clients
– If not, you will get ‘Page not Found’ error
• Shared by all R7 environments
R7 Operations Overview
• Starting the Global Environment
– Starts with first environment Java U-Job
– Start the global environment by itself or with
environments using batch command
PSICTLJVS
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Environment maintenance
Automatically end/restart environments for nightly
processing
Refer to download SH14910 – Instructions for Controlling Java
Servers
R7 Operations Overview
Global Environment Jobs
R7 Operations Overview
• Java Environment
– XA Environment U-Jobs (PSVJUPxy)
• MAPICS Java Server
• Process requests from the client jobs for each user
– (QZDASOINIT and QZRCSRVS)
• Two jobs started in QBATCH
– MPXENVCTL will end when the environment is ready
and signals the U-job to start
– UMynnnnnnn U-JOB will be in Delay Wait status for 3
minutes until the environment services have been started
• Must be active before using Power-Link
R7 Operations Overview
• Working with the IFS
– iSeries Integrated File System
• PC files on iSeries disk
• Provides access to/from the LAN
– iSeries Navigator – File Systems
• Folder and directory structure
• Create network shares
• Set user rights and permissions
– iSeries NetServer controls Windows access
• Does not require iSeries Access on user pc
R7 Operations Overview
– iSeries Navigator, Shares and Permissions
Questions
On
R7 Operations?
Managing the Java Environment
• Link Manager
– Environment management tool
– Install on IT workstations or servers only
– Global environment must be active
– Link Manager Console
– Common Tasks
Managing the Java Environment
• Link Manager Console
Left Pane is an overview of
all process types and
process instances for an
environment
Controller
Instance
Managing the Java Environment
• Link Manager Console
You can manage
environments or machines
(server and auxiliary
servers)
Managing the Java Environment
• Link Manager Console
Right Pane - Details
show specific
information for the
selected process:
– Max Sessions
– Current Sessions
Managing the Java Environment
• Link Manager Console
Right Pane - Log shows
status information for
the selected process
(for troubleshooting
errors)
Managing the Java Environment
• Link Manager Common Tasks
– Start/Stop client environments and/or
processes
– Review logs for troubleshooting errors
– Move processes to auxiliary servers
– Apply updates to the client environments
• Including global environment
Refer to Guide to Link Manager in SH14777 for more information
Questions
On
Managing the
Java Environment?
Maintenance and Updates
• Server PCM and PTF updates has not
changed
• Client PTF Updates applied via Link
Manager
• Operating System Update Considerations
• Network changes
Maintenance and Updates
• Client PTF Updates
– SH14855 for client updates
• View SH14855.doc for detailed information
• Move to AFDWEB folder like other fixes
• Use RST command to restore fixes to IFS instead
of QGPL
• Apply through Link Manager
– Global environment Updated with the first
environment maintained
– User workstations updated at next log-on
Maintenance and Updates
• Link Manger – Apply Updates
List comes from
‘fixes’ folder in IFS
Maintenance and Updates
• Operating System Update Considerations
– V6R1 conversion tools
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Applied immediately after the OS upgrade
Replaces XA objects with compatible versions
SH15514 - R7 Informational has detailed instructions
XAR6 and higher only
– Contact Infor if you have older versions of XA
– Third-party applications will likely require similar tools
• Network changes can affect access for the clients
– Server and Gateway Addresses
– Firewall and routing
– User Authorities
Questions
On
Maintenance and Updates?
R7 Security Concepts
• XA Connection Profiles
– MXAPLUS user profile is used for client connections
– Password retrieved and used to sign on
– Password is encrypted and must match the iSeries
profile password
– Use CAS Security Option 6 – Work with Client Data
Connection User Profiles to set the password
R7 Security Concepts
• Client vs Green-Screen
– Green-screen secured by menu options and
tasks
– Client secured by:
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Business objects
Type of maintenance (display, create, change)
Private user definitions (views, subsets, etc.)
Security Categories secure
– Public User definitions (cards, card files, views, subsets)
– Fields
R7 Security Concepts
• Client vs Green-Screen
– Client security areas
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Inquiry and Maintenance tasks
Field-level security categories
User Defiinition security categories
Client Administration
– Control java servers
– Integrator Business Objects
– Preference Administration
– Security for tasks may be in both green screen
and client application areas
• Both need to be configured (example: Purchase Order
Entry in Purchasing and Procurement Management)
R7 Security Concepts
• User Preference Administration (Integrator)
– Restrict user ability to customize user definitions
– Administer preferences for user/group of users
• Security Subsets
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Create subsets and assign to security category
Assign security category to users/groups
Restrict user access to modify/select subsets
Available for any field
R7 Security Concepts
• Auto-content Security
– 5 fields throughout the XA data base
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Company
Site
Customer
Vendor
Warehouse
– Works for all objects (including custom ones with
Enterprise Integrator)
– Reduces the need for multiple security subsets
– Assign to a user profile to control records a user can
access
– Example: Sales reps may be assigned customers
and they should only be able to access those records
R7 Security Concepts
• Deployment Profiles (Enterprise Integrator)
– Applies security in reverse of CAS
– Everything locked unless given specific access
– How it works
• First, create the profile and choose what will be
deployed
– Objects, Attributes, Actions and User Definitions
– Allow display or maintenance functions
• Then, assign users to the profile
– User only sees what you deployed
– Works for Power-Link and Net-Link
R7 Security Concepts
• Vendor Deployment Profile with Auto-content security
– Choose the objects
and maintenance
options you wish to
deploy
R7 Security Concepts
• Vendor Deployment Profile with Auto-content security
– Choose the
actions the user
can perform
R7 Security Concepts
• Vendor Deployment Profile with Auto-content security
– Assign User(s) to
the new
Deployment
Profile
– Control what user
can do in
• Power-Link
• Net-Link
• System-Link
R7 Security Concepts
• Vendor Deployment Profile with Auto-content security
– User sees only
4 objects on
the Browser
Register for CISTECH’s
Enterprise Integrator
training to learn how to
use these advanced
security features
Questions
On
R7 Security Concepts?
Performance Considerations
•iSeries Configuration
•Network and PC components
•Streamline User Definitions
•Create indexes for faster data access
•Performance Diagnostics and tools
Performance Considerations
• iSeries Configuration
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Get to V5R4 for performance improvements
Apply latest Database PTF package from IBM
iSeries Performance Configuration (SH14413) for Java
Purge and reorganize your XA data regularly
• Network and PC components
– Switches vs. Hubs
– Network traffic and Bandwidth performance
– Meet recommended PC requirements
• 1GB memory
• Consider other applications used simultaneously
– Auxiliary Servers for Net-Link and System-Link
– Citrix/Terminal Server for remote locations
Performance Considerations
• Streamline User Definitions
– Customization is easy and recommended
– Customization can reduce or increase the
number of access paths being used
– Train super users who understand basic data
base relationship concepts
– Design views to reduce the number of fields
• Eliminate a file if possible
• Avoid derived fields and sub queries
• Column totals can be expensive
Performance Considerations
•Streamline User Definitions - Views
•Click
•here
•cd record
Performance Considerations
• Streamline User Definitions
– Customize Subsets to
• Reduce the number of files to eliminate need for
“JOIN”
• Each file must have an index to avoid temporary
indexes
• Set user preferences to a subset that reduces the
number of records shown when opening objects
(avoid all records for large files)
Performance Considerations
• When working with Integrator objects
– Be sure the keys to custom files match those of
related XA files
– Multiple member files are not recognized by the
client
– Be careful defining cardinality for relationships
between a MAPICS object and a user object
• e.g. should it be “many to 1”, “1 to 1”, etc.
Performance Considerations
• Create indexes for faster data access
– SQL Optimizer will look for an available index
– If an index is not available, a temporary one will be
created (this takes time)
– Create logical files to provide the index
• Join logical files are not recognized by the optimizer
– Use diagnostic tools to identify missing indexes
• XAR7 Diagnostics
– Database Connection Monitor
– SQL Monitor
• System i
– iSeries Navigator SQL Monitor
– Visual Explain
Watch for upcoming sessions on XA R7 Performance
Performance Considerations
• R7 Performance Diagnostics and tools
– Press Ctl+D on
Power-Link Help
Screen
– Start monitors for your
Power-Link Job
– Open your object and
select the view and
subset to record
activity
Performance Considerations
• R7 Performance Diagnostics and tools
– Database Connection Monitor shows access paths created
Performance Considerations
• R7 Performance Diagnostics and tools
– SQL Monitor replaces SQL Spy
Performance Considerations
• System i Performance Diagnostics and tools
– SQL Monitor example shows index created
multiple times
Create index with
these key fields
Over this file
Performance Considerations
• System i Performance Diagnostics and tools
– Visual Explain
• Provides a window into SQL’s black box
– Shows how SQL is being implemented
– View your job log messages
– Provides graphical view of how the SQL statements are being
executed
• Identifies missing access paths
– Provides a way to create missing access paths
No. records
Optimizer msgs
Click on node to
show file info
Temporary index
Questions
On
R7 Performance?
R7.8 Enhancements
• Infor currently in 3 beta installations
– general availability expected by 3rd quarter
• New Link Manager Console – same as Power-Link
– Will manage both 7.7 and 7.8 environments after installed
• IFS Structure changes provide for environment Independence
for applying updates
• Product Maintenance Utility is prerequisite – including
additional two libraries
• Installation process via disk image (or network share)
• Updates:
• Remote Fix Servers for improved updates in WAN environments
• Staged apply allows background download for users
Watch for upcoming R7.8 sessions this fall
Thank You!
Technical Information
Belinda Daub
[email protected]
704-814-0004
Sales Information
Ben McCormick
[email protected]
704-814-0016