This chapter describes the kinds of things you can do with RSF.
With RSF's optional High Availability feature installed, you can replicate libraries, IFS directories, user profiles, system values, network attributes authorization lists and more to a secondary machine or partition.
You define replication attributes for each library with the Change Library Sync Attributes (CHGRSFSA) command or the Set Sync Attributes For a List (SETRSFSA) command. You define replication attributes for system information with the Change System Sync Attributes (CHGRSFSSA) command.
Start replicating libraries with the Synchronize Libraries (SYNCLIBRSF) command or the Synchronize List of Items (SYNCLSTRSF) command. Start replicating system information with the Synchronize System Info (SYNCSYSRSF) command or the Synchronize List of Items (SYNCLSTRSF) command. Start replicating IFS directories with the Synchronize IFS Directories (SYNCIFSRSF) command.
Menu RSFHA and the Work With Sync Attributes (WRKRSFSA) display provide a central place from which to manage your HA environment.
See Chapter 5: High Availability and Mirroring for more information.
RSF makes it easy to send and retrieve all kinds of objects between iSeries machines.
Objects. For objects stored in libraries, use the Send Objects (SNDOBJRSF) and Retrieve Objects (RTVOBJRSF) commands.
File Members. To copy database file members between systems, use the Copy File Using RSF (CPYFRSF) command.
Libraries. For entire libraries, use the Send Library (SNDLIBRSF) and Retrieve Library (RTVLIBRSF) commands.
IFS Objects. For IFS objects, use the Send IFS Objects (SNDIFSRSF) and Retrieve IFS Objects (RTVIFSRSF) commands.
Save Files. To send and retrieve save files you've prepared yourself, use the Send Save File (SNDSAVFRSF) and Retrieve Save File (RTVSAVFRSF) commands.
Broadcast. Have a set of objects you would like to distribute to 10, 100 or 1,000 machines? RSF's broadcast support allows you to send it to all of them simultaneously. Just specify *BROADCAST for "Connection method" on the Add Server Directory Entry (ADDRSFSDE) command. See the command help text for more information. Also see Appendix F: Sending Broadcasts. (Broadcast is supported for TCP/IP networks only.)
Whole System. To copy an entire system--from user profiles and libraries to spooled files and system values--use the Copy Entire System (CPYSYSRSF) command.
RSF makes it easy to send and retrieve spooled files between machines.
Ad Hoc. To send or retrieve one or more spooled files immediately, use the Send Spooled Files (SNDSPLFRSF) and Retrieve Spooled Files (RTVSPLFRSF) commands.
Work With. To work with a list of spooled files and select spooled files to send from the list, use the Work With Spooled Files Using RSF (WRKSPLFRSF) command. From the list, key 1 beside a spooled file to send it; key 3 beside a spooled file to copy it or split it into multiple parts.
Automatic. To automatically forward spooled files to another system as they show up in an output queue, use the Start Monitoring Output Queue (STRMONOUTQ) command. Use the End Monitoring Output Queue (ENDMONOUTQ) command to stop forwarding the spooled files.
Search. To find a spooled file containing a particular character string , use the Find Spooled File (FNDSPLFRSF) command.
RSF makes it easy to send email and text messages from any iSeries program or command line. You can also attach libraries, objects, spooled files and IFS objects to your email.
General. To send a general email message, with or without attachments, use the Send Email (SNDEMLRSF).
Quickly Mail Objects. To quickly email objects, use the Email Library (EMLLIBRSF), Email Objects (EMLOBJRSF) and Email IFS Objects (EMLIFSRSF) commands.
Quickly Mail Spooled Files. To quickly email spooled files, use the Work With Spooled Files Using RSF (WRKSPLFRSF) command. From the list, key 1 beside a spooled file to email it.
RSF let's you check any number of conditions on your machine and take action if anything needs attention. You can tell RSF to monitor things like:
And much, much more. In fact, there's no limit to the things RSF can monitor for you on your system. When a critical condition is detected, RSF can send an email or text message to the recipients of your choice.
See the Check Condition (CHKCDNRSF) command for more information.
RSF lets you define packages of objects which can be transmitted between systems. A package consists of a save file containing the objects, and these optional parts:
You can send and retrieve packages using the Send RSF Package (SNDRSFPKG) and Retrieve RSF Package (RTVRSFPKG) commands.
Users can also work with a list of packages available to them with the Work With RSF Catalog (WRKRSFCAT) command and associated display. From the display, users can select packages to be downloaded and installed according to the instructions in the custom installation program included with the package. Installation programs are written by the package creator.
See Chapter 11: Packages for more information about RSF packages.
In addition to Object Distribution and Automatic System Monitoring, RSF provides many other powerful system management tools.
Copy Entire System. Ideal for streamlining hardware upgrades and machine replacements, the Copy Entire System (CPYSYSRSF) command lets you copy everything from your old to your new machine. User profiles, libraries, spooled files, system values, IFS directories¾copy it all with a single command.
Forward Messages. Use the Start Message Queue Monitor (STRRSFMSGM) command to monitor remote message queues from a central iSeries. This function is sometimes called Remote Console Support because it allows you to forward system console messages from remote machines to a central machine.
Messages forwarded from remote machines are directed to a message queue on the central machine. Answering forwarded inquiry messages on the central machine causes the specified reply to be sent automatically to the originating remote machine.
Forward Spooled Files. To automatically forward spooled files to another system as they show up in an output queue, use the Start Monitoring Output Queue (STRMONOUTQ) command. Use the End Monitoring Output Queue (ENDMONOUTQ) command to stop forwarding the spooled files.
Forward Data Queue Messages. To automatically forward data queue entries to another system, use the Start Data Queue Link (STRDTAQLNK) command. Use the End Data Queue Link (ENDDTAQLNK) command to stop forwarding queue entries.
Location Lists. With RSF, you can create lists of remote locations to work with. You can then use various RSF commands to:
- Schedule a transmission to each location: Schedule RSF Transmission (SCDRSFTNS).
- Send objects, libraries, and packages to each location:
Send Objects Using RSF (SNDOBJRSF)
Send Library Using RSF (SNDLIBRSF)
Send RSF Package (SNDRSFPKG)
Send IFS Objects (SNDIFSRSF)
Run Command (RUNCMDRSF)See Location Lists in Chapter 9, Requester Operations for more information about location lists.
Ensure Needed User Profiles Exist. When sending objects to remote machines, the operating system will complain if the user profile that owns an object on the original machine does not exist on the target. For this reason, RSF provides the Check Object Owner (CHKOWNRSF) command. Running this command for a given library on the source machine will indicate any owner profiles that are missing on the target.
Events. RSF helps you coordinate interdependent functions across multiple machines by allowing you to define events. You can then condition the start of other functions on the status of various events.
For example, condition the running of a report on machine A with the completion of various tasks on machines B, C and D.
See Events in Chapter 9, Requester Operations for more information on using RSF events.
Call Remote Programs. RSF makes it easy to call programs on other machines, passing input and output parameters. Use this feature to build your own tools.
See Chapter 12: Calling Remote Programs for more information. Also see the help text for the Run Command (RUNCMDRSF) command.
Pass Through/Telnet. To access another iSeries interactively, use the Start Pass-Through Using RSF (STRPASRSF) command. Whether connected via SDLC or TCP/IP, dial-up or LAN, RSF makes the connection and presents a sign-on display to the remote machine.
Tunneling. You can run any TCP/IP application--telnet, ftp, DDM and more.--through an RSF tunnel. RSF tunnels encrypt the communications traffic and funnel the connection through the standard RSF port: 602. No need to open additional firewall ports. See the Start RSF Tunnel (STRRSFTNL) command for more information.
RSF helps you determine if all of your libraries and IFS directories are in order.
Check Library. Compare the contents of one library to another, on the same or on different systems. You can even compare the contents of files to see if they match. Any mismatched objects are shown. Includes display, printer and outfile support. See the Check Libraries (CHKLIBRSF) command.
Check IFS directory. Compare the contents of two IFS directories. Again, the directories can be on the same or different systems. For fast results, RSF can compare only the object attributes. For a thorough comparison, direct RSF to examine the contents of stream files as well. See the Check IFS Directory (CHKDIRRSF) command.
Archive and Refresh. Ever need to run some tests against a library or IFS directory, change some objects and then roll the clock back to the time before you made any changes? RSF's archive and refresh functions make this easy. Archive one or more libraries and IFS directories and then experiment to your hearts content. When finished, refresh the libraries and directories to the point at which the archive was made. See the Archive Library (ARCLIBRSF), Archive IFS Directory (ARCDIRRSF), Refresh Library (REFLIBRSF) and Refresh IFS Directory (REFDIRRSF) commands.
Delete Orphan Objects. Suppose you have two libraries that are supposed to be the same, but the backup library has more objects than it should. No problem. Use the Delete Orphan Objects (DLTOBJRSF) command to delete objects in the backup library that do not exist in the associated production library.
Delete a Journal. If you've ever needed to delete an AS400 journal, you've likely discovered that it can be harder than you thought. Journals have multiple pieces and objects that use them. To successfully delete a journal, you have to end journaling and delete all of the pieces in just the right order. Struggle no more. RSF's Delete Journal (DLTJRNRSF) command does the whole thing for you; just specify the qualified journal name and press Enter.