13
Wed, Nov
5 New Articles

Integrating Windows 7 Features with IBM i: What Works, What Doesn't, What Changed

Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

It appears Microsoft has hit the PC operating system target with Windows 7. It's fast, intuitive, and secure, but what's in it for us IBM i professionals?

 

The reasoning for migration to Microsoft's latest version of its operating system is quite compelling, enough so that directors of traditional IBM i installations may decide the effort and expense of conversion is merited. This article examines the major benefits and significant limitations of migrating to Windows 7 in the IBM i environment as well as the requirements for its implementation.

The Case for Windows 7

For the Microsoft Corporation, it's been a tough decade what with their missteps with the Vista operating system, reverse downgrades to XP, and Microsoft's lack of innovation (look what Apple has done in the same period). Microsoft has also suffered from malware attacks targeted at security weak spots, criticism over cost of ownership as compared with UNIX and Mac, and lawsuits in the U.S. and Europe. Even Microsoft's effort to market its software has been feeble (you've seen the commercials—a doughy Windows representative versus a likeable, young Mac spokesperson.)

 

Prior to Windows 7's release, Windows users had two choices: go with Windows Vista and make the best of it or stick with Windows XP, an operating system now 10 years old. But Windows 7 may have saved the day for Microsoft and its customers. This latest operating system is sleek, fast, and stable. And it lacks the nagging security sentinel that has been annoying Vista users for years.

Compatibility with Existing Applications

In Windows 7's initial release in fall of 2009, a number of compatibility issues with existing applications emerged. In cases of known problems, a dialog box would pop up announcing that there was a compatibility issue and giving the user the option of searching Microsoft's solution base for resolution. In actual practice, the problems were seldom corrected in this manner but instead were rectified through normal Windows updates.

 

On the Windows 7 32-bit platform, most compatibility problems have been fixed; about 2,600 out of 3,330 popular applications listed on Microsoft's Windows 7 Web site are now compatible. About 10% of the applications still have problems and will require an update from the software provider to resolve the issues; another 10% are listed as Pending, which suggests the possibility of a fix in the future; and only a handful are not compatible with no apparent plan to make them so. Note that Windows 7 for 64-bit processors lags behind its 32-bit cousin in terms of compatibility, with only about 70% of the most popular applications listed as Compatible, Future Compatible, or Compatible After Upgrade from the Software Provider.

 

These are the notable software applications that are not compatible with Windows 7 x86 for 32-bit processors (with presently no intent to make them compatible):

  • Lotus Notes version 8
  • Microsoft Office 2000 and Microsoft 97 (requires a paid upgrade to Office 2003/2007)
  • Microsoft Exchange Server 2007
  • Microsoft Visual Studio 2005 Team Suite
  • Microsoft Picture It! 2005 and 2007
  • Microsoft .NET Framework 1.0 (free upgrade required)
  • Microsoft SQL Server Standard (x64)

Here's the notable IBM software that is not compatible presently but is listed as Pending - Information Coming Soon:

  • Lotus 1-2-3 version 9
  • DB2 Express, Workgroup and Enterprise, version 9
  • Websphere Application Server, version 6 and Websphere Application Server Network Deployment, version 7

If you're running Windows 7 for 64-bit machines, the application listings vary significantly from the above. Note also that the listings will change with time as vendors and Microsoft resolve compatibility issues. For more information on compatibility with Windows 7, see Microsoft's Application Compatibility Web site.

Hardware Considerations

This is perhaps the best part of Win7. Microsoft has rethought its snooty Vista posture in which your hardware is evaluated to see if it's capable of supporting their bloated operating system. Instead, Windows 7 actually runs faster and with greater support for application throughput and graphics rendering than XP (that's not a typo; I do mean XP!). In testing here, Windows 7 loads and runs applications 25% to 30% faster than XP on single-core x86 machines. Testing with 64-bit and multi-core processors also indicates improved performance and utilization under Win7, bearing in mind that most PC applications still can't light up more than one processor.

Windows 7 User Interface

Again, MS has learned its lesson. Windows 7 provides a level of user interface eye candy that matches the machine it's running on. If you have the graphics processing power to support Aero (Windows 7's glossy, everything-glows-in-the-dark look), then you get it. If not, you get a less-demanding scheme that still supports good performance. Other new UI features include the snap-fit of two side-by-side applications on the screen, a new task bar with "jump to" screen views, and a new Start menu with shortcuts to recently used applications and the files they were using. Windows 7 also provides convenient and intuitive shortcut keys and improved color and font rendering.

Windows7 with IBM i Access

With a couple of exceptions, IBM i Access is now well supported under Windows 7. Officially, IBM stands behind Windows 7 compatibility only for iSeries V5R3 users and up. iSeries users at V5R3 and up should be running i Access version V6R1 on the client. According to IBM, you can acquire the V6R1 IBM i Access for Windows client while keeping your IBM i operating system at V5R4 by ordering 5722XW1 (IBM i Access Family) refresh feature 2649. This feature is available at no charge to current 5722-XW1 IBM i Access Family customers that have a software maintenance contract. Also, please note IBM indicates that information in IBM's Windows 7 APARs also applies to Windows Server 2008 R2.

 

Unofficially, testing with earlier versions of iSeries operating systems indicate problem-free operation for mainstream i Access and iSeries Access applications like 5250 terminal emulation, print sharing, and file transfers. Standard Windows applications like network drive mapping to an iSeries, file sharing, and TCP/IP applications such as FTP also are well-behaved under Windows 7 and prior versions of iSeries operating systems.

Things IBM Wants You to Know

If you're considering upgrading to Windows 7, the most important things IBM officially wants you to know are these:

  • The V6R1 IBM i Access for Windows client will begin supporting Windows 7 with service pack SI35607.
  • There are no plans to support the V5R4 IBM i Access for Windows client on Windows 7.
  • Microsoft has released a security update that is now a prerequisite for all future V6R1 IBM i Access for Windows service packs. For information about the security update and how to install it, click here.
  • The AFP Driver and AFP Viewer components in the V6R1 IBM i Access for Windows client will not be supported on Windows 7 until sometime in 2010.

Windows User Account Control and i Access

Some features of i Access and iSeries Access require a Windows administrator's level of user authority, and i Access is unable to prompt the user for an admin password. That means that if you choose to enable User Account Control (UAC) on your Windows PCs, then your users may be required to right-click on an i Access icon or Start menu item and then select "Run as administrator" to successfully run the application. Users who do not have administrator authority on the PC will be prompted for an administrator's password when the application is first launched. (Refer to Information APAR II14338 for details on elevated authority aspects of IBM i Access with Windows Vista.)

 

As with Microsoft's Vista OS, there may be issues caused when i Access or a third-party application attempts to create folders or files in a directory that the user does not have access to. Under Windows 7, the user does not have access to the root (C:) directory, as well as any directory under Program Files. If you must, you can remedy this situation in Program Files by changing the owner of a directory and all of its subdirectories:

  1. Start Windows Explorer.
  2. Right-click on the folder name and select Properties.
  3. Click the Security tab, then click the Advanced button, and then click the Owner tab.
  4. Select a user with Administrator authority that is to become the owner of the folders and files.
  5. Put a check on Replace Owner On Subdirectories And Objects and click Apply.

IBM i Access Installation Considerations

Once the SI35607 PTF is applied to the IBM i system, you can install the PC-side service pack from the network share named ROOT on your IBM i. Accessing this share uses the LAN Manager component of Windows and NetServer support on the IBM i. Much like Vista, Windows 7 has a default negotiation method for such connections that may fail when accessing the IBM i. One way to resolve this problem is to change a policy setting on the PC. Changing the policy setting requires administrator authority and can be performed as follows:

  1. Go into the Windows Control Panel and select Administrative Tools.
  2. Double-click Local Security Policy in the right pane.
  3. From the Local Security Policy window, expand Local Policies.
  4. Select Security Options.
  5. In the right pane, scroll down to the setting called Network Security: LAN Manager Authentication Level and double-click it.
  6. Change it to Send LM & NTLM - Use NTLMv2 Session Security If Negotiated.
  7. Select OK, and exit. You should now be able to access the network share.

On Windows 7, when installing or updating IBM i Access for Windows from a network share, you must first map a network drive from a command prompt that has elevated authority (i.e., was launched with "Run as Administrator").

Other Windows 7 Installation Issues

Aside from i Access installation considerations, some PC-side problems have been reported under Windows 7. These issues are mostly authority oriented, meaning some or all dependent components of a software package are not installed with the rest of the package. For example, installing a software package that includes third-party DLLs and OCXs may fail to include those components during the installation under Windows 7. Ironically, some of the components that fail most frequently come from Microsoft.

 

The resolution for these incidents is to install the missing components manually under elevated command mode. To do that, sign on as the PC's administrator and copy the missing components to the proper directory (usually Windows/System32 for common OCX and DLL files). Then, register the components into the System Registry:

  1. Start a DOS command session in Elevated Command Mode (go to the Start menu,  choose Accessories, right-click on Command Prompt, and select Run As Administrator).
  2. Navigate to the directory where the OCX has been copied ('cd c:windowssystem32')
  3. Register the OCX with the REGSVR command (mscomctl.ocx is used here as an example):

          regsvr32.exe MSCOMCTL.OCX

 

For complete information, please see IBM's Web site for Windows 7 and i Access.

 

Anecdotally, as an instructor in the Computer Science department at Eastern Washington University, a feeder college for Microsoft, I can testify that MS accepts only the best and the brightest. This time the best and the brightest got it right. And who knows; maybe by letting some other software giant (read: Google) take control over aspects of IT for awhile, Microsoft can be perceived as a bit less sinister.

 

All in all, it's agreed even among Microsoft critics that Windows 7 is the best operating system the "Evil Empire" has produced to date.

 

Chris Peters has 32 years of experience with IBM midrange and PC platforms. Chris is president of Evergreen Interactive Systems, a software development firm and creators of the iSeries Report Downloader. Chris is the author of i5/OS and Microsoft Office Integration Handbook, AS/400 TCP/IP Handbook, AS/400 Client/Server Programming with Visual Basic, and Peer Networking on the AS/400. He is also a nationally recognized seminar instructor and a lecturer in the Computer Science department at Eastern Washington University. Chris can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..


MC Press books written by Chris Peters available now on the MC Press Bookstore.

i5/OS and Microsoft Office Integration Handbook i5/OS and Microsoft Office Integration Handbook
Harness the power of Office while exploiting the i5/iSeries database.
List Price $79.95

Now On Sale

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: