DB2 UDB for iSeries

Tested with Client Access version 8.00.04.08, AS/400 version V4R5 with all available PTFs installed. When using Client Access V5R2, make sure that cumulative PTF SI8400 (November 2005) is installed.
The ITP/MDK Repository uses transactions to perform modifications to the database. Therefore, the library in which the ITP/MDK Repository database will be stored must be created with a journal.

Use the following SQL command to create the library:

CREATE COLLECTION <name of the library>

If there is no support for executing SQL statements installed on the AS/400 (or iSeries) system, the library can also be created with the same command using a PC based tool (for example winsql).

ODBC Data Source configuration

When configuring the DSN for the database connection, make sure to select the following settings:

• On the tab Performance, check Enable pre-fetch of data for queries.
• On the tab Performance, click Advanced and then check Use blocking with a fetch of 1 row. For the 'Record blocking size (KB):' select a larger value than the default of 32; we recommend 512.

Without these settings some operations may take much more time than necessary.

Client Access issue

We noticed that Client Access could behave interactively when the user's password expires within fourteen days. This causes a connection error. This behavior can be changed by editing the registry or by setting the password of the account used to never expire. If a never to expire account is not an option the procedure below will push the problem forward to the point when the password is expired.

Locate the within the key:

HKEY_USERS\.DEFAULT\Software\IBM\Client Access Express\CurrentVersion\Security

the value:

PasswordExpirationWarningDays

Add a string (type (REG_SZ) ) with a value 0.

If the Security folder is not present you will have to create it as well as the key. The PasswordExpirationWarningDays key is editable from the GUI, but only for a specific user not for the local system 'user', so using the GUI will not work. Note that changing this setting only delays the problem since the password will expire on the iSeries. This means that you as admin must consider a strategy to solve this problem; either you set a password that will not expire or schedule changing the password for yourself. Client Access will also try to become interactive when one tries to connect with an unauthorized user profile, also causing an error.

Conversion

Because of improved support for Unicode on iSeries databases, a conversion will be run if you upgrade from a pre-3.2.0 version. This will convert all text fields in the repository database to UTF-8, and may take a while to finish. This conversion will not be run if the ITP/MDK Repository does not use a iSeries database.