Scenario: Establishing a dial-up connection with an Ethernet device server

Most IBM® i partitions are connected to a network through an Ethernet connection. However, some remote applications or services are only available over a dial-up connection. Ethernet device servers (also know as Ethernet serial servers or Ethernet terminal servers) have both an Ethernet port and serial ports to which modems can be attached. These ports allow systems with only an Ethernet connection to access the modems on the Ethernet device server and establish a dial-up connection.

Situation

One of your companies corporate applications is hosted on a remote system that is only accessible by using a PPP dial-up connection. Your IBM i has an Ethernet connection to the local network, but it does not have a WAN card for dial-up connections.

Solution

You can use an Ethernet device server on your local network to establish a dial-up connection. You need to create a Point-to-Point Protocol (PPP) originator profile on your IBM i to access the Ethernet device server and establish the PPP connection to the remote system.

Sample Configuration

To set up a sample configuration from IBM Navigator for i, follow these steps:

  1. Configure an originator connection profile on your system.

    Ensure that you select the following information:

    • Protocol type: PPP
    • Connection type: Switched-line
    • Operating mode: Dial
    • Link configuration: Single line
  2. On the General page of the New Point-to-Point Profile Properties, enter a name and description for the originator profile.
  3. Click Connection to open the Connection page. Choose the appropriate PPP line name or create a new PPP line by typing a new name and clicking Open.
    Note: A PPP line capable of accessing an Ethernet device server can also be created by using the CRTLINPPP CL command and specifying RSRCNAME(*ETHDEVSVR).
    1. On the General page of the new line properties, select the option to use an Ethernet device server. Configure the IP address and port that is used to access the Ethernet device server.
    2. Click OK to return to New Point-to-Point Profile Properties page.
    3. Click Add, and type the telephone number to dial to reach the remote system that is hosting the application.
    4. Click Authentication to open the Authentication page, select Allow the remote system to verify the identity of this system. Select the authentication protocol, and enter any required user name or password information.
  4. Click TCP/IP IPv4 Settings to open the TCP/IP IPv4 page. The default settings typically are acceptable. Make any needed changes.
  5. Click TCP/IP IPv6 Settings to open the TCP/IP IPv6 page. The default settings typically are acceptable. Make any needed changes.
  6. Click DNS to open the Domain Name System (DNS) page, enter the IP address of the DNS server that is provided by your ISP.
  7. Click OK to complete the profile.

To use the connection profile to connect to the remote system, right-click the connection profile from IBM Navigator for i, and select Start. The connection is successful when the status changes to Active. Refresh to update the status that is displayed.