1.2.4 Today's I/T
Environment: Something Old, Something New
1.2.4 Today's I/T
Environment: Something Old, Something New
As you saw in Section 1.1 Product History, OS/2 Warp Server for e-business is the latest in a long family of PC networking products. This section highlights the major functions of OS/2 Warp Server for e-business. We will not include much detail because the focus of this document is to assist you with the migration process. We refer you to another IBM redbook titled OS/2 Warp Server for e-business, SG24-5393, which provides much greater detail about the new capabilities in OS/2 Warp Server for e-business.
Beginning with OS/2 Warp Server, Version 4, the base operating system has been installed as a part of the overall installation process. OS/2 Warp Server, Version 4 was based on OS/2 Warp, Version 3. OS/2 Warp Server for e-business is now based on OS/2 Warp 4 with some unique modifications and enhancements.
One such enhancement is the inclusion of both the uniprocessor and the Symmetric Multiprocessor (SMP) support in the OS/2 Warp Server for e-business packaging. Previously, this was only available in the SMP Feature version of OS/2 Warp Server, Version 4.0. The SMP support is optimized for 8-way CPUs with support within the architecture for up to 64-way systems. The List I/O and Raw I/O APIs have also been included for use by applications that will need high I/O performance. Pentium Pro support has also been included.
Memory support has also been enhanced since now an application can access a virtual memory address space of up to 3 GB by use of the VIRTUALADDRESSLIMIT = 3072 parameter in CONFIG.SYS. The default value for VIRTUALADDRESSLIMIT in OS/2 Warp Server for e-business is 1 GB. The VIRTUALADDRESSLIMIT parameter is also available for OS/2 Warp Server, SMP Feature. Areas of memory below 512 MB have been remapped for higher availability in that region.
Security Enablement Services (SES) KPIs (Kernel Program Interfaces), previously available in FixPaks for OS/2 Warp, Version 3 and included in OS/2 Warp 4, are also available in the base. Both uniprocessor and SMP versions of SES are available in OS/2 Warp Server for e-business. In addition, there are modified KPIs (those that required a file offset parameter) for supporting files greater than 2 GB in size. These are planned for discussion in the redbook OS/2 Warp Server for e-business, SG24-5393.
The enhanced, 32-bit version of CHKDSK, a utility to check and repair file system errors on hard disks, is also included. CHKDSK is also enhanced to support the JFS file system.
There are many other features included that are not discussed in detail here including the following:
These functions are discussed in more detail in the redbook OS/2 Warp Server for e-business, SG25-5393.
As you already know, OS/2 Warp Server, Version 4 supports the FAT, HPFS and 386 HPFS file systems, which have existed for several years now. OS/2 Warp Server for e-business supports these and also a new file system called Journaled File System (JFS). Let's describe each one briefly to refresh your memory, and then we'll discuss JFS in more detail.
The File Allocation Table used a linear search mechanism to find files, which became very slow as hard disks grew in size, and the number of files in a directory increased. FAT dates back to the early days of DOS and is still supported as a bootable file system primarily for backwards compatibility and data interchange. Installation of OS/2 Warp Server for e-business on a FAT partition is generally not recommended.
High Performance File System is another bootable file system that is supported in OS/2 Warp Server for e-business. HPFS is preferred over FAT because of the many enhancements in speed and reliability that were made. JFS (see Section 1.3.2.4 JFS below) is faster than HPFS and offers better scalability, caching, and shorter recovery times. Thus, it can replace HPFS in all applications except the boot partition.
386 HPFS is implemented at Ring 0 of the Intel processor architecture to eliminate the overhead associated with ring transitions to Ring 3-based device drivers and applications. This means that the transfer of data from the 386 HPFS cache to the network adapter driver occurs much more quickly.
386 HPFS is best used for file serving and for 802.2 Remote Initial Program Load (RIPL) of DOS, OS/2, and WorkSpace On-Demand RIPL clients. As of this writing, it is also the only choice if you need DASD limits or the Fault Tolerance Feature since (as of the writing of this redbook) JFS does not implement these.
Before installing over to a machine with 386 HPFS, you have to remove the 386 HPFS DASD limits and access controls (ACLs) as well as the Fault Tolerance from the target volume. See Section 3.12 Backup Directory Limits, Section 3.13 Backup Access Control Information, and Section 3.20 Deactivate Fault Tolerance for instructions on how to implement this.
JFS, a 32-bit file system, is especially suited for application servers, such as hosting the data of a Web server or a Lotus Notes server. JFS can be used to replace HPFS in most cases. It offers larger and faster caching capabilities and improves performance over HPFS. Currently, JFS is the only file system in OS/2 Warp Server for e-business that can be extended by adding more partitions to a volume, thus, increasing available file space. JFS also offers better performance and scalability on SMP machines due to the changes in the I/O subsystem and features special optimizations for IP-based services.
Similar to 386 HPFS cache, JFS cache does not have a specific maximum. It is dependent on the amount of real memory installed on the system. The default is set to 1/8 of memory, but this default may be overridden by the Tuning Assistant (in the case of an attended installation). The memory used by JFS cache is allocated from the system arena and it is non-swappable.
JFS also includes the following capabilities:
More information on JFS features can be found in the redbook OS/2 Warp Server for e-business, SG24-5393.
All components of OS/2 Warp Server for e-business are supported for installation and execution on JFS volumes.
It may be helpful to summarize some of a the similarities and differences
between the file systems. Refer to
Table 2 for a comparison of FAT, HPFS, 386 HPFS, and JFS.
Table 2: File Systems Feature Comparison
Employees and consultants who have been working with PC-based systems should be familiar with FDISK; a utility in DOS and OS/2 that enables you to define partitions to be used for operating systems. Defining a partition using FDISK before formatting the logical or physical drive is usually a prerequisite. Because of growing demand for space and availability, customers are seeking enhancements to the existing way of partitioning hard disks.
IBM is introducing a new function called Logical Volume Manager (LVM). LVM manages the physical layout of the hard disk, which provides a layer of abstraction from the user and application. One advantage of this is that the physical layout can change without the application needing to know about the change. For example, a volume can consist of more than one partition across more than one physical disk, and the volume size can be increased as a long as there is available unallocated space.
Along with new function, LVM introduces some new terms:
LVM has command-line, full-screen, and graphical interfaces. Although LVM basically replaces FDISK, the full functionality provided by LVM is usable only by the JFS file system for features, such as:
The Multiprotocol Transport System (MPTS) provides support for network adapters and the implementations of protocols on OS/2. The protocols supported are:
The MPTS utility provides the ability to configure adapters and protocols. This utility includes a listing of the network adapters whose support files are included within the product. For a listing of all possible adapters supported, view the following URL:
http://service.software.ibm.com/os2ddpak/html/lanadapv/index.htm
The Intelligent I/O (I2O) architecture is an emerging standard for the development of high-performance I/O systems. The architecture enables the I2O-architected adapter to run driver functions that process LAN I/O transactions that are normally handled by the CPU, thus, decreasing the CPU utilization for LAN I/O processing.
OS/2 Warp Server for e-business provides support for I2O ethernet, token-ring, and SCSI devices. MPTS includes an IBM I2O LAN driver (I2OLOSM.OS2) to enable support for I2O-architected devices. This driver is written to Network Device Interface Specification (NDIS), Version 2.01 and behaves as an NDIS V2.01 MAC driver.
Since 1997, IBM has marketed PC systems that are I2O Ready, such as the PC Server 704 and the IBM Netfinity 7000. In January 1999, IBM announced I2O Ready high-speed communications PCI adapters. Intel, Compaq, Hewlett-Packard, Novell, and many other companies also have I2O Ready offerings. For more information about I2O, visit the I2O Special Interest Group at:
TCP/IP services have been part of OS/2 Warp Server since the Version 4 release in 1996. Since this time, many enhancements in function and usability have been incorporated into subsequent TCP/IP Services releases. OS/2 Warp Server for e-business includes the latest version of TCP/IP, Version 4.21.
Since this new version of TCP/IP is described in more detail in the redbook OS/2 Warp Server for e-business, SG24-5393, we only mention some of the highlights and improvements.
Although Web servers and network computing are gaining momentum, File and Print serving is still the backbone of many servers in place today. Some of the enhancements in File and Print Services include:
IBM has also increased the maximum numbers allowable for some resources within the File and Print Services component, such as MAXOPENS (65535), MAXSESSOPENS (32768), MAXSEARCHES (16384) and MAXCONNECTIONS (16384). This enables OS/2 Warp Server for e-business to continue to scale even higher than it could before making it the ideal choice for Enterprise customers.
As in the previous version of OS/2 Warp Server, the Backup and Recovery Services are based on the Personally Safe 'n' Sound (PSnS) product. In OS/2 Warp Server for e-business, PSnS, Version 6.01 is included. This component allows backup of applications, data, and access controls to diskette, tape, local and remote hard disks, optical disks, and also to the ADSTAR Distributed Storage Manager (ADSM) server on any platform.
This version has more hardware device support and also includes the following major enhancements:
In OS/2 Warp Server, Version 4, IBM included the ability for OS/2 and Windows systems to dial into a Remote Access Server to access resources as if the remote clients were actually on the LAN. This function was provided by the LAN Distance program. Since this time, IBM has also added a Point-to-point Protocol (PPP) server and the ability for any PPP client to connect to it. PPP clients include the IBM 8235 Dialer, Windows 95/98 and Windows NT Remote Access, and Shiva PPP.
This PPP server and client support has been included in OS/2 Warp Server for e-business.
Remote Access Services has also been enhanced to provide client support for the dynamic assignment of IP address known as dynamic IP.
IBM has a long history in the Systems Management area on many computing platforms. On the Intel platform, the original systems management function in OS/2 Warp Server, Version 4 was provided by OS/2 SystemView. With the release of OS/2 Warp Server SMP Feature, the Netfinity server function was introduced. OS/2 Warp Server for e-business now includes Netfinity, Version 5.2.
Also new in OS/2 Warp Server for e-business is the inclusion of a Tivoli Management Agent (TMA). This TMA enables the server to become a managed object in the Tivoli Managed Environment, a very popular cross-platform systems management framework.
The Advanced Print Services of OS/2 Warp Server for e-business are still based on Print Services Facility/2 (PSF/2). PSF/2 allows the administrator to define print conversion transforms for HP-PCL, PPDS, Postscript, and 3270 Host data streams. One major feature of Advanced Print Services is the ability to print Postscript output on non-Postscript printers. With Advanced Print Services, it is also possible to print large PC-based jobs onto host printers with the Upload and Print function.
These products are new entries in the OS/2 Warp Server family, and they bring the ability to provide Internet-based services, such as Web serving and Java application serving. These products are planned for greater discussion in the redbook titled OS/2 Warp Server for e-business, SG24-5393.
Lightweight Directory Access Protocol is a mechanism used for communicating with servers that provide global directory functions, sometimes called Yellow Pages, named after the telephone books that list all business in a particular area in alphabetical order. OS/2 Warp Server for e-business includes an LDAP client, which allows it to send and receive directory information from an LDAP server.
1.4 Prerequisites