There's a tool for that!

Refresh R67 is ready to download

Our latest tools refresh (R67) is ready for you to download and install. This refresh supports IBM i releases 7.1, 7.2, and 7.3. The refresh contains 3 new tools, along with over 20 fixes and enhancements.

The new tools are briefly described below.

Complete documentation for all our tools is on our web site. Always check for tools before starting a new project! We may have something that will lighten your load. Good places to start are our category page or searching our index page.

Call 507-258-5182 or email support@taatool.com to order your refresh. We can either send you a download link or ship it to you on CD.

Why do we call this a "refresh"?

We do a simultaneous refresh of the tools across all of the underlying supported releases of the IBM i Operating System. To call this a release or version would confuse it with the VRM numbering of the underlying OS, since we refresh the tools far more often. You could consider this our parallel to IBM's Technical Refreshes for IBM i, but our refreshes apply to multiple VRMs of the IBM i OS.

New Tools

DSPFCNUSG2

Function identifiers on the IBM i provide the ability to implement granular security over specific system functions instead of the risky practice of granting users all object authority, service authority, job control authority, etc., just to do certain tasks.

The IBM command DSPFCNUSG allows users to check who is authorized to different functions by manually displaying each one, but with over 80 functions on an average system, keeping tabs on system security this way can be a daunting task that involves checking each and every one of these separately.

DSPFNCUSG2 simplifies the work by displaying function identifiers and usage information in an easy to read report, allowing verification of authorities in a quick and easy manner. This tool will be an instant favorite of system administrators.

ENDSBS3

End Subsystem 3 will bring the system to a quiesced state by ending most subsystems. ENDSBS3 provides an advantage over other ENDSBS tools by including an omit list to specify subsystems which should not be ended.

WRKACTGRP

Work with Activation Groups (WRKACTGRP) provides a work display for activation groups that have been created for the current job. A reclaim option is available to free system resources scoped to the job. A display option also exists to view additional activation group attributes. Finally a way to view and manage activation groups more easily!

Conferences: Past and Future

We had a great time at the Fall RPG and DB2 Summit in Minneapolis. Dave got to show off his talents on their "gong show" (minute 6:18). The next Summit will be in Dallas in March. We'll be there and will post a discount code on our site when we receive one from Jon, Susan, and Paul. There may even be another performance from Dave.

The COMMON Annual Meeting is coming up in late May in San Antonio. Dave and Sue will be there! Come and check out our booth and say "hi". We love talking to you and hearing how you use the tools.

Featured Tools

We get many questions every month that sound like "Do you have a tool that does X". The answer is almost always "YES!". Lately we've gotten a chance to point out a number of tools. Here are a couple that you might want to look at.

SAVSNDL and SAVSNDM

Save and Send Library (SAVSNDL) and Save and Send Member (SAVSNDM) are two tools that let you send objects to another system via FTP. On the target system, they are then easily restored with their counterpart RSTSNDL and RSTSNDM commands. Packaging into a save file and issuing the FTP command are all done for you. We use these heavily at TAA.

CVTTCPJOB

Convert TCP Job (CVTTCPJOB) converts information about all jobs connected to a specific TCP port to a database file for easy viewing and analysis. If you need to see what jobs have been started with Telnet (port 23), FTP (port 21), or DRDA (port 446) this is the tool to use.

This tool creates a database file. To display that file use the very convenient DSPDBF tool.

For example, to see who is connecting through telnet do the following:

CVTTCPJOB PORT(23) OUTLIB(QTEMP)
DSPDBF FILE(TCPJOBP)

And look for the "current user" field.

IBM's support for IBM i 7.1 ends in April

Are you ready?

If you are still on 7.1 (or earlier!) you should be making plans to upgrade now. Here at TAA Tools we've partnered with iTech Solutions Group to perform our upgrades. Fill out this quick form if you are interested in getting a quote.

taatools

TAATool.com