Mixing interactive and batch jobs on a WAN line

Example: Interactive subsystem configuration

1.Create a subsystem description:

CRTSBSD SBSD(MYLIB/MYINTER) POOLS((1 *BASE) (2 *INTERACT))

2.Create a class

CRTCLS CLS(MYLIB/MYCLASS) RUNPTY(20)

3.add routing entries to your subsystem:

ADDRTGE SBSD(MYLIB/MYINTER) SEQNBR(10) CMPVAL(QCMDI) PGM(QSYS/QCMD) POOLID(2) ADDRTGE SBSD(MYLIB/MYINTER) SEQNBR(9999) CMPVAL(*ANY) PGM(QSYS/QCMD) POOLID(2)

4.Create a job queue, and add the job queue entry to your new subsystem:

CRTJOBQ JOBQ(MYLIB/MYJOBQ)

ADDJOBQE SBSD(MYLIB/MYINTER) JOBQ(MYLIB/MYJOBQ) MAXACT(200)

5.Set up the workstation name entries. Remove all the *ALL workstation type entries first, and then add the appropriate workstation name entries:

RMVWSE SBSD(QSYS/QINTER) WRKSTNTYPE(*ALL) ADDWSE SBSD(QSYS/QINTER) WRKSTN(QPADEV*) ADDWSE SBSD(MYLIB/MYINTER) WRKSTN(PC*)

6.If desired, update your system startup program to start your new subsystems automatically.

Communications performance considerations for batch jobs

Each piece of work run on the AS/400 system is called a job. Each job is a single, identifiable sequence of processing actions that represents a single use of the system. The basic types of jobs that are performed are interactive jobs, batch jobs, spooling jobs, autostart jobs, and prestart jobs.

Batch jobs are predefined groups of processing actions that are submitted to the system to be performed with little or no interaction between the user and the system. Batch jobs can be tuned for optimized performance.

To optimize batch jobs for communications, consider the following:

vBreak the application into pieces and having multiple batch threads (jobs) operate concurrently.

vReduce the number of open and close operations, input and output operations.

vIf you have a considerable amount of main storage available, consider using the Set Object Access (SETOBJACC) command. This command preloads the complete database file, database index, or program into the assigned main storage pool if sufficient storage is available. The objective is to improve performance by eliminating disk-read/write operations.

vTry to limit the number of communications input and output operations by doing fewer (and perhaps larger) application sends and receives when communications lines are used.

vBlock the data in the application. Try to place the application on the same system as the frequently accessed data.

For more information about batch job performance, see the Communications Management book.

Mixing interactive and batch jobs on a WAN line

When interactive users and large transfers are running on a communications line concurrently, you may need to change configuration parameters. You should be able to configure AS/400 communications to work with interactive and batch jobs.

To mix interactive and batch jobs on a wide area network (WAN) line, consider the following to keep interactive performance acceptable:

vUse Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) transmission priority to prioritize the interactive user’s transfer over that of the large transfer. This is the preferred method to transfer batch and interactive jobs.

Chapter 3. Optimizing communications performance 13

AS/400 specifications

The IBM AS/400, now known as the IBM iSeries, is a midrange computer system that has been a cornerstone of enterprise computing since its introduction in 1988. Designed to provide a robust platform for business applications, the AS/400 is celebrated for its reliability, scalability, and integrated database capabilities.

One of the key features of the AS/400 is its Integrated Operating Environment, which blends hardware and software resources seamlessly. This integration allows businesses to execute diverse workloads, ranging from traditional applications to modern web-based services, all on a single platform. The operating system, OS/400 (now IBM i), offers a rich set of APIs and tools for developers, simplifying application development and management.

Another standout characteristic of the AS/400 is its built-in database, DB2 for i. This powerful relational database management system allows for efficient data handling and provides advanced features such as support for SQL, XML, and JSON, making it easier for businesses to manage their data and integrate it with other systems. The database's tight integration with the operating system enables high performance and security.

In terms of scalability, the AS/400 can accommodate small businesses as well as large enterprises, with the ability to support hundreds of users simultaneously. Its architecture allows for easy upgrades in hardware, meaning that organizations can scale their systems without replacing the entire infrastructure.

Security is another critical attribute of the AS/400. With a sophisticated security model, it offers built-in user authentication, access control, encryption, and auditing capabilities to protect data and applications from unauthorized access.

The AS/400 also supports multiple programming languages, including RPG, COBOL, Java, and PHP, giving organizations the flexibility to choose the development tools that best fit their needs. This diversity helps maintain legacy applications while also developing new ones that leverage modern technologies.

Moreover, the platform supports both traditional green-screen interfaces and modern graphical user interfaces, allowing organizations to transition smoothly into contemporary user experience paradigms.

Overall, the IBM AS/400 stands out as a resilient, flexible, and secure computing platform that enables organizations to effectively manage their business operations, streamline processes, and adapt to changing market demands. Its unique combination of integrated features and capabilities ensures that it remains relevant in today's fast-paced technology landscape.