8 Configuring TCP/IP

This chapter describes configuring TCP/IP for the Microsoft Windows platforms that are supported by the Oracle Transparent Gateway for DRDA. TCP/IP is a communications facility that is already part of the operating system. No thirdEparty protocol software is required. Read this chapter to learn more about configuring TCP/IP.

This chapter contains the following sections:

Before You Begin
Configuring TCP/IP

Before You Begin

This chapter requires you to enter parameters that are unique to your system in order to properly configure TCP/IP. Refer to Appendix E for a worksheet listing all of the installation parameters that you will need to know about before you complete the configuration process. Ask your network administrator to provide you with these parameters before you begin.

Port Number

The DRDA standard specifies that port 446 be used for DRDA services. However, if several DRDA Servers are operating on the same system, then they will need to provide service on different ports. Therefore, the port number that is used by each DRDA Server will need to be extracted from the configuration of each individual DRDA Server. DB2 for OS/390 and DB2/400 typically use the DRDA standard port number, 446, whereas DB2/UDB typically uses 50000 as the port number. Refer to IBM DB2 Administrator and Installation guides for locating and changing these port numbers for the DRDA Server. For additional information, consult your DB2 DBA or system administrator.

Configuring TCP/IP

The following configuration example is for Microsoft Windows NT 4.0. Other Microsoft Windows operating systems may have these panels in a different location or may present them differently, but the required contents will be essentially the same.

You configure TCP/IP from the network configuration tool in the Microsoft Windows Control Panel.

Select the Protocol tab and select TCP/IP Protocol. Then, click Properties to display the Properties panel.

Figure 8-1 Network Configuration Tool

Description of "Figure 8-1 Network Configuration Tool"

If the TCP/IP Protocol is not already installed, then click Add and then select the TCP/IP Protocol.

Configuration consists of assigning a host name, an IP address, and a network mask to a given network interface.

In the IP Address tab, use the drop-down list to select the adapter you will use. Your network administrator can tell you whether you will be using DHCP or a static IP address. If using a static IP, then you must enter the correct values for IP address, subnet mask, and default gateway.

Figure 8-2 TCP/IP Properties Panel

Description of "Figure 8-2 TCP/IP Properties Panel"

Additional configuration consists of defining a name server IP address or creating entries in the hosts file on the local system. Name server translate host names into IP Addresses when queried on a particular host name. The hosts file provides this same functionality, but in a nonEnetwork participating manner.

The Hosts file may be edited with a text editor of your choice. For example, in Microsoft Windows NT, the file is located in:

C:\winnt\system32\drivers\etc\hosts

where C:\winnt is the Windows NT system root.

To use a name server, you must configure the TCP/IP to use DNS. Select the DNS tab and enter a host name and domain name. Your network administrator will provide these values. Click Add below the Domain Suffix Search Order box and enter the IP Address of the name server. You may enter up to three name servers. Click OK.

Figure 8-3 Define a Name Server

Description of "Figure 8-3 Define a Name Server"

For local configuration (in other words, the gateway and the DRDA Server are on the same system), it may be desirable to use the loopEback address. The IP address is 127.0.0.1 and is typically given the local name ("localhost" or "loopback") in the Hosts file. Using the loopEback address reduces the amount of network overhead by handling the traffic internally without actually talking to the network.

The gateway is configured for TCP/IP using the DRDA_CONNECT_PARM initialization file parameter. In an SNA configuration, this parameter would be set to the Side Information Profile name (name set in Figure 6-21 or Figure 7-17). In a TCP/IP configuration, this parameter should be set to the IP address or Host name of the DRDA Server, which should be followed by the Service Port number of that server. For more information about the port number, refer to "Port Number".

Note:

When installing the gateway, you must choose either SNA or TCP/IP for the networking interface. The DRDA_CONNECT_PARM must be configured correctly for the chosen networking interface.

The rest of the DRDAEspecific parameters are unrelated to the communications protocol and may be set the same for either SNA or TCP/IP installations.

Example #1: Configuration for a DRDA Server on a host named 'mvs01.domain.com' (or IP address of 192.168.1.2) with a Service Port number of 446.

DRDA_CONNECT_PARM=mvs01.domain.com:446

DRDA_CONNECT_PARM=192.168.1.2:446

Example #2: Configuration for a DRDA Server on the same host as the gateway with a Service Port number of 446.

DRDA_CONNECT_PARM=localhost:446

DRDA_CONNECT_PARM=127.0.0.1:446

For additional information on configuring TCP/IP, refer to the Microsoft Windows installation and configuration guides.