System information

22
AS/400 IBM Network Station: Techniques for Deployment in a WAN
headquarters building one block away are actually remote since that Token
Ring LAN is connected to the AS/400 LAN through a remote bridge. As you
can see, it is very important to understand your existing network. If a current
network diagram does not already exist, it is very important to create one
before implementing network computers.
Sample network diagrams are found throughout other chapters in this
redbook. In addition, other manuals which contain TCP/IP planning
information, including sample network diagrams, are the following:
•
TCP/IP Fastpath Setup , SC41-5430
•
TCP/IP Configuration and Reference, SC41-5420 (see Chapter 3
"Configuring TCP/IP" for a sample network diagram)
•
IBM Network Station Manager Installation and Use, SC41-0664 (see the
Chapter 1 topic "What Do I Need to Know About TCP/IP Networks" for
sample network diagrams)
1.4 Initialization Options for Remote Sites
As previously mentioned, IBM Network Stations can be locally attached to an
AS/400 boot server using Token Ring, Ethernet or twinax connectivity. In fact,
some of you may already have locally attached IBM Network Stations in your
enterprise. In addition, you may also have users in remote sites who could
benefit from having IBM Network Stations. You may be wondering how to best
implement them in your remote sites. Although it is technically possible to
boot remote IBM Network Stations over a wide area network, it is
not
advisable to do because boot up time can range from 10 to 20 minutes over a
56 KB connection. (Remember, the operating system kernel and other files
are being downloaded from the boot server to the IBM Network Station.)
Therefore, we recommend that you boot remote IBM Network Stations from a
remote boot server, through local Flash card peer boot or through the new
IBM 2212 Access Utility solution. Each of these options are outlined in the
following sections and the remote boot server and local Flash card peer boot
options are discussed in subsequent chapters. The 2212 Access Utility was
not yet available when this redbook was being written. Therefore, a chapter
detailing its implementation could not be included. However, an IBM redbook
discussing the IBM 2212 Access Utility is planned for availability in 1999.
1.4.1 Remote Boot Servers
One of the advantages of the IBM Network Station is that it can boot from a
properly configured AS/400, RS/6000, S/390, or PC (NT) server. As a result,
a potential boot server may already exist at your remote site. For example,