Knowledgebase

Issue:

How to use a Perle serial server in conjunction with a model 3i to give TCP/IP LAN PC's connectivity to the AS/400,for terminal emulation and system management

Cause:
AS/400 require a twinax device connected to port 0 address 0 as the console. To manage the as/400 on twinax across a net work a M3i and a CS9000 can be combined to provide such connectivity.

Solution:

Any m3I can be serially attached to a console/serial server to allow TCP/IP connectivity to any Telnet client on the LAN.
The m3I's ports are directly connected to the console/serial server.
When a Telnet client on the LAN connects to the console/serial server port they be presented with an AS400  5250 session.
The M3i is a protocol converter that converts the Ascii data to 5250 data.
The configuration examples all refer to setting the terminal emulation to VT100,this is not the AS/400 mode of emulation, this is reserved for the connection from the PC to the serial port side of the m3i,the M3i has built in to its configurator a specified set of terminal definitions such as VT100,Perletalk etc.
telnet sessions by default will emulate a vt100 terminal definition,this will allow users to map select keys for 5250 emulation of use the combination keys to generate a function key.

1. Configure the Serial Server's port/line for a "reverse" telnet mode:

Iolan+
Terminal type[VT100],  Speed[9600], Parity[None], Bits[8],  Stop[1], Flow control[Xon/Xoff]
Access [Remote] and Mode [Telnet]. 
All else default settings. Take note of the "Local port number"( ie., 10001)

CS9000/Jetstream
Service [reverse telnet]
Terminal [vt100], Speed [9600], flow [Software], bits [8], parity [none], stop [1]
CS/JS Port [1000X] = this is usually 10000 + the line #

2. Configure the Model 3i serial port as shown in the following screen shot. 
Any M3I serial ports that will be connected to the Serial Server serial ports will be configured exactly the same except for the Workstation address (0 through 6) which needs to be different for each serial port. 

3.  For the serial cable diagram, use the following pins specs. 

IOLAN+ RJ45                 Model 3i DB25
2 (RTS) --------------------  5  (CTS)
3 (DSR) --------------------  20 (DTR)
4 (TXD) --------------------  3  (RXD)
5 (RXD) --------------------  2  (TXD)
6 (GND) --------------------  7  (Gnd)
7 (CTS)  -------------------  4  (RTS)
8 (DTR) --------------------  6  (DSR)

CS9000/Jetstream RJ45       Model 3I DB25
2 (DSR) --------------------  6  (DSR)
3 (DTR) --------------------  20 (DTR)
4 (GND) --------------------  7  (Gnd)
5 (TXD) --------------------  3  (RXD)
6 (RXD) --------------------  2  (TXD)
7 (CTS)  -------------------  5  (CTS)
8 (RTS) --------------------  4  (RTS)

Note: pin 1 is not used.

3. On the rear of the Model 3i are numbered serial ports.  Each serial port has a DTE/DCE switch.  Make sure to set the switch to the DTE position for any ports are to be connected to the Serial Server. 
If you need to change the switch position make sure to power off the Model 3i, change the switch to DTE then power on the Model 3i. 

4. Once all the Model 3i serial ports have been configured you are done. 
There is no need to configure the Workstation Definition screens as they default to 5251 device emulation unless your require a different device emulation to be used with the AS/400. 

How to call up the AS/400 sign-on screen

A Client on the LAN would telnet to the local port number configured in the Serial Server. Configure the client's telnet application to emulate a VT100 Terminal type.

telnet   
or telnet

For example,   telnet 192.168.99.3  10001

Once the Client has established a reverse telnet connection they will be required to press the "carriage return" (Enter) key twice in order to call up the AS/400 sign-on screen.

NOTE: The CS9000 has capability of enabling security on the port, and a menu capability (firmware ver. 3.4.0 or higher) that can be presented. Please refer to the CS9000 manual on this configuration. 

Keep in mind that all Clients will be using VT100 key sequences to navigate on the AS/400. 
For example,  to perform the following AS/400 5250 functions requires the following VT100 key sequences.  
Refer to Appendix C of the Model 3i User's Guide for a detailed list of VT100 specifications.

5250 function  VT100 equivalent

ENTER   ESC RETURN (actually on a PC keyboard the Return key is labelled as the Enter key).
F3     ESC 3
F10   ESC 10
RESET   ESC R

CS9000 Dial in OPTION:

With the CS9000 a modem can be attached to one of the unoccupied serial ports to allow a remote client to dial in with any vt100 Terminal dialer application (such as Hyperterminal).

Refer to your CS9000 manual for cable pinouts for the modem connection.

You must first "Add" a modem under the Line Configuration menu. Then "Change" modem to enter the initialization string appropriate for your modem type.

Modem Line configuration:
Service [cslogin]
Terminal [vt100], Speed [115200], flow [Hardware], bits [8], parity [none], stop [1]
Dial [in], modem [see above]

The client can then log into the CS9000 and telnet to one of the configured m3I ports using the CS9000 telnet command line interface.

Optionally the port can be configured for a PPP dial-in connection so this will allow user's to access the Easy Port Access menu system (v3.4.0+) to select a port to connect to (as defined by the CS9000 admin).
This will require the dial-in client to have a PPP dialer and a Telnet client application.

Related Articles:
1.) Configuring and using the Easy Port Access menu for the CS9000
2.) Configuring a simple PPP dial in connection