Integrated Windows servers

Installation

When you install an integrated server, parts of the installation process are performed on IBM i and parts of the installation process are performed on the integrated server console. For example, IBM i creates configuration objects and virtual storage for the server and starts the server. Then you install the integrated server operating system from the integrated server console. Unlike a stand-alone server, the integrated server installation process is initiated from IBM i, rather than at the server console.

You must also perform some other tasks both before and after the integrated server operating system is installed. See the installation road map in the IBM i iSCSI Solution Guide for the entire process.

Cloning

When you clone an integrated Windows server, parts of the cloning process are performed on IBM i and parts of the cloning process are performed on the integrated server console. For example, you prepare the server for cloning from the Windows console, then you use an IBM i GUI cloning wizard to duplicate the IBM i configuration objects and virtual storage for the server, then you perform some final setup on the clone server to get it ready for production use.

See the cloning road map in the IBM i iSCSI Solution Guide for the entire process.

Key IBM i integration features for integrated Windows servers

IBM i Integrated Server Support provides the following features for an integrated Windows server:

Startup and shut down from IBM i

The integrated server can be started or shut down from IBM i, allowing remote management of the server.

IBM i virtual storage

The integrated server uses virtual storage that is provided by IBM i. IBM i manages storage differently than a stand-alone server. Some techniques necessary to administer storage on a stand-alone server are unnecessary for integrated servers. See Storage management for integrated servers.

Dynamic virtual storage linking

IBM i virtual storage can be linked (added) to the integrated server while it is active. For example, if the server is running low on storage capacity, you can add virtual storage to the server without shutting it down.

Dynamic virtual storage unlinking

IBM i virtual storage can be unlinked (removed) from the integrated server while it is active.

Virtual storage backup and recovery from IBM i

You can back up entire IBM i virtual storage spaces that the integrated server uses along with your other IBM i data. This backup provides a snapshot of the storage that can be used for disaster recovery. The storage can even be backed up while the server is active.

You can restore entire IBM i virtual storage spaces that the integrated server uses. The integrated server must be shut down in order to restore a virtual storage space.

File level backup and recovery from IBM i

You can back up or recover individual Windows files within an IBM i virtual storage space from IBM i while the integrated Windows server is active.

File level backup and recovery from Windows

You can use supported IBM i tape devices from the integrated Windows server to back up or recover individual Windows files while the integrated Windows server is active.

Shared IBM i tape and optical devices

Supported IBM i tape and optical devices can be used by the integrated Windows server as if they were local devices on Windows. Note that a subset of IBM i tape devices are supported for use with various Windows versions. See the IBM i iSCSI Solution Guide for more information.

Enroll IBM i users and groups to Windows servers and domains

You can enroll IBM i users and groups to a Windows server or domain. User enrollment allows simplified administration of users that exist both on IBM i and in the Windows environment. For example, when the user changes their password on IBM i, their password is automatically changed in the Windows environment as well.

Submit remote commands from IBM i to Windows

The remote command feature enables IBM i to run Windows commands on the integrated Windows server, allowing remote management of the server.

Virtual Ethernet connections

The integrated Windows server can use virtual Ethernet connections. These connections allow TCP/IP communication with IBM i or other logical partitions on the Power server without requiring LAN adapters, cables, hubs, or switches.

Windows event log propagation

The integrated Windows server event log entries can be sent to an IBM i message queue or job log. IBM i administrators can view the Windows event log entries from IBM i.

IBM i management interfaces

You can manage IBM i integration features using the IBM Navigator for i Web GUI or using IBM i control language (CL) commands. Most integrated server management tasks in this topic are documented using the Web GUI, but links to the corresponding CL commands are also provided.

IBM i management infrastructure for integrated Windows servers

The infrastructure for managing integrated Windows servers from IBM i has the following key pieces:

IBM i software

Most of the software for installing and managing an integrated server runs on IBM i. This software consists of IBM i base operating system functions and various IBM i options such as Integrated Server Support (IBM i option 29). The IBM i software enables integrated server installation, IBM i configuration object management, virtual storage management, and much more.

IBM i configuration objects

On the IBM i side of server management, an integrated server is represented by a network server description (NWSD) and several other types of configuration objects. You can stop and restart the server from IBM i by varying the NWSD off and on. See IBM i configuration objects for integrated servers for more information.

Integrated Windows server

The integrated Windows server that is integrated with IBM i.

Windows utilities

Windows utilities are used to access shared IBM i tape and optical devices. Windows utilities are also used to maintain the Integrated Server Support software that runs on the integrated Windows server. See Windows utilities for IBM i integration with integrated Windows servers for more information.

Windows services

Windows services are used to perform many of the integration tasks for integrated Windows server. See Windows services for IBM i integration with integrated Windows servers for more information.

QAS400NT user profile

This IBM i user profile is used when performing integrated Windows server administration tasks. See QAS400NT user and integrated Windows servers for more information.

Windows utilities for IBM i integration with integrated Windows servers

Some of the utilities that provide the IBM i Integrated Server Support features are installed on the integrated Windows server. The following Windows utilities are provided in a Microsoft Management Console (MMC) plug-in named IBM i Integrated Server Support:

IBM i post-install utility for Windows Server 2008 and 2012(ibmsetup.exe)

This utility is used to install Integrated Server Support on an integrated Windows Server 2008 and 2012 server.

Software Level

View the level of IBM i Integrated Server Support software that is installed on IBM i and on the integrated Windows server. Optionally synchronize the Integrated Server Support software from IBM i to the integrated Windows server.

IBM i Devices

View the IBM i (IBM i) tape and optical devices that can be shared with the integrated Windows server. Lock (allocate) an IBM i device so that it can be used by the integrated Windows server. Unlock (deallocate) the IBM i device when it is no longer needed by the integrated Windows server.

Windows services for IBM i integration with integrated Windows servers

Some of the programs that provide the IBM i Integrated Server Support features are installed as Windows services that run on the integrated Windows server. The following Windows services are provided for integrated Windows server management:

IBM i Integration Manager

Manages integrated server startup and shutdown operations.

IBM i Shutdown Manager

Enables system shutdown from IBM i over the iSCSI network.

Important: If this service is stopped, the computer might not respond to a shutdown request from IBM i, which might result in data corruption.

IBM i Administration

Supports user enrollment, event log, disk, and statistics service requests from IBM i.

IBM i Remote Command

Enables processing Windows commands from IBM i.

IBM i Virtual Ethernet Manager

Manages the connection status (link state) for iSCSI-based virtual Ethernet network adapters.

Note: If this service is stopped, the computer does not respond to any virtual Ethernet link state changes.