Viewpoint Listener Configuration

 

This document will help you install and configure a server to use the new Viewpoint Listener Manager (VLM). The VLM (available in version 11.19.202) works in conjunction with the new Viewpoint Remote Command (VPTRMTCMD) and replaces the Run Remote Command (RUNRMTCMD) process used by a ViewPoint Server to run Client Reports/Tables and scripts from Sequel Web Interface.

Follow the directions in the first two sections below if you are installing Viewpoint for the first time. If you are a current user of Viewpoint and the Viewpoint Server/RUNRMTCMD process, continue with the remaining sections to convert to the new VLM process.

Define Power i Host Systems

For Windows 10, use IBM i Client Access Solutions to define the Power i Host Systems on the PC that will run the VLM.

When defining a new connection be sure you have matching user profiles and passwords on the Viewpoint Server and the Power i host. To do this edit the connection definition and select the Use shared credentials options on the Connection tab.

Viewpoint Listener Configuration

Make sure Sequel (host) has been updated to R11M13 (or greater) and Viewpoint (on the new or current server used as a Viewpoint Server), has be updated to 11.19.202 (or greater) before continuing.

1. The VLM is an executable (VPT_Listener_Manager.exe) file installed in the Viewpoint application folder (typically C:\Program Files (x86)\SEQUEL Viewpoint).

   To run the Listener Manager, right-click and select Run as Administrator.

   The Viewpoint Listener Manager Displays.

   

2. On the Create New Listener tab, fill in all fields, and press Create Service when finished.

   • Sequel Host Name - Select from the list the IBM i where Sequel is installed.
   • Product Library: Specify the product install library. SEQUEL is the default.

   • Data Queue Name: Specify the data queue on the Host that this Listener will listen on (VPTRMTDQ is the default).

     Note: The data queue must exist before the Listener is created. The Sequel install will create VPTRMTDQ, which should be used in most instances. If requests from the Host need be run on multiple, but specific PC/SERVERs, create a new DTAQ on the Host using the following command: CRTDTAQ DTAQ(SEQUEL/CUSTOMDQ) MAXLEN(1024)

   • In Library: Specify a library for the data queue. The product library is the default.
   • Service Name: Enter a descriptive name that includes the name of the PC/Server that the listener resides on. This helps to identify, from the host, which server processed the request.
   • Description: Enter appropriate Description, no spaces (default value is acceptable)
   • User ID: Enter valid Host User ID (The Operational user from Viewpoint Server Setup, if applicable)

   • Password: Enter the host password for selected User ID

   Its recommended that :

   • The Start Service box is checked, so the service starts at the completion of this setup.
   • The Service Startup Type is set to Automatic, so the Listener Service restarts automatically on reboot.

3. Press Create Service.

4. Test the Service by issuing the following from a Host command line:

   VPTRMTCMD CMD('"\program files (x86)\Sequel Viewpoint\ViewPnt.exe"
/v:xxxxxx/SEQUELEX/crorep /d:\\xxxxxx\tmp\crorep.pdf
/F:*PDF /Q ') DATAQ(VPTRMTDQ) WAITTIME(60)

   (where xxxxxx is the IBM i name)

5. Verify the file was created on the IFS.

The Viewpoint Listener is now configured and operational.

Convert Existing RUNRMTCMD Usage

If the Viewpoint Listener is replacing the functionality of an existing Viewpoint Server (currently using the RUNRMTCMD process) a new command--Update Remote Command (UPDRMTCMD) is available to aid in the transition.

Follow the the steps below to us this command to analyze and optionally convert all active (non-commented) occurrences of the RUNRMTCMD used in Sequel Scripts to the new VPTRMTCMD.

1. Run the Host command SEQUEL/UPDRMTCMD SRCHLIB(*ALL) ANALYSIS(*REPORT)

2. Based on the output from step 1, select a library with a small number of scripts with RUNRMTCMD usage, or create a test library to run an initial test on.

3. As with any automated mass update, it is recommended that a backup of the target library be performed prior to running the command. Issue the following at a command line:

   CRTSAVF MYLIB/SFNAME

   SAVOBJ OBJ(*ALL) LIB(SCRIPT_LIB) DEV(*SAVF) OBJTYPE(*USRSPC) SAVF(MYLIB/SFNAME)

4. Convert RUNRMTCMDs in a selected library to VPTRMTCMD by issuing the following command:

   UPDRMTCMD SRCHLIB(SCRIPTLIB) ANALYSIS(*CONVERT)

5. Open script(s) in selected library for design and confirm that the RUNRMTCMD has been converted to VPTRMTCMD, and creates the desired output when executed.

6. When satisfied with the test conversions to VPTRMTCMD, convert all RUNRMTCMDs using:

   UPDRMTCMD SRCHLIB(single library or *ALLUSR) ANALYSIS(*CONVERT)

Important: The UPDRMTCMD will only analyze Sequel Scripts (and ScriptViews). All other RUNRMTCMD usages (CL programs, Robot jobs, for example) will require the normal programming maintenance tools be used to make the required changes.

SWI / SWS Host / REPORT Command

When Client Reports / tables are run using the REPORT command, or are run from SWI or SWS Host mode, a command is built to run the remote request. To control whether the RUNRMTCMD or VPTRMTCMD is used, a parameter has been added to the SEQUELWI/SWIVPDFT command – Communication Method.

• *RMTCMD will use RUNRMTCMD
• *DTAQ will use VPTRMTCMD

If a Viewpoint Listener is configured and functional, use the following command to force these Host jobs to use that Listener rather than the Viewpoint Server:

SEQUELWI/SWIVPDFT COMMTHD(*DTAQ) VPTDTAQ(VPTRMTDQ)

Additional Notes:

1. A Viewpoint Listener and a Viewpoint Server can coexist on the same pc/server, so the listener process can easily be tested without disabling or affecting the current Viewpoint server process.

2. Multiple pc/servers can have Listeners configured for the same host/dtaq. This setup would serve to balance the remote request load across multiple pc/servers.

3. A single pc/server can run requests from multiple Hosts – each would need a separate Listener configured and started for each Host

4. The UPDRMTCMD command will replace occurrences of RUNRMTCMD in Scripts with VPTRMTCMD. If Scripts are run without the product library in the job’s library list, the command would fail.

   Either add the Sequel product library to the jobs library list, or run the following SCHSCRIPT command to add the library qualifier:

   SCHSCRIPT SCRIPT(Scriptlib/*ALL) FIND(VPTRMTCMD) REPLACE('SEQUEL/VPTRMTCMD')