Common questions: Managing connections

BARR/RJE

These common questions are typically associated with managing BARR/RJE connections. If you can't find the answer to your question here, click the Index or Search tab of the Help to search for a specific word or phrase.

• Why is the critical symbol displaying next to my connection?

• How do I automate a single connection?

• How do I set up a host-initiated log on?

• How can I improve my 802.2 network performance?

• How do I improve BARR/RJE performance?

See also:

• BARR/RJE overview

• Getting started

The critical symbol is displaying next to my connection

If a BARR/RJE configuration is saved without an associated link type, the critical symbol will display next to the connection name. This symbol will appear in the RJE Configuration Utility and the RJE Connection Manager. You can select a link type from the RJE Configuration Utility's Communication Link tab.

Automating a single connection

BARR/RJE can be configured to automatically connect to the host when you start your computer.

Only one BARR/RJE connection can be configured to auto-connect at BARR RJE service startup.

1. Configure the BARR RJE service to start automatically.

2. Open the RJE Configuration Utility.

3. From the Connection Control tab, select At RJE service startup. When your computer starts, the BARR RJE service will start automatically and attempt to establish a connection to the host.

4. Click OK and then click Close to close the utility.

5. Restart the BARR RJE service. The BARR RJE service must be restarted after changing auto-connect options.

You can also configure the connection to start at a specific time. From the Connection Control tab, select At time, and then click Configure to specify the time you want the connection to start.

Setting up a host-initiated log on

Complete the following steps to set up a host-initiated log on for BARR/RJE.

1. Open the RJE Configuration Utility.

2. Select the appropriate RJE connection, click Modify. The Connection Properties dialog box displays.

3. Select the RJE Description tab.

   

4. From the Logon type drop-down list, select Host Initiated.

5. Click OK, and then click Close to close the RJE Configuration Utility.

Improving 802.2 network performance

The following factors can affect 802.2 network performance. If the solutions do not improve the connection's performance, ask the network analyst to perform a Sniffer trace on the network with a protocol analyzer and send the trace to Barr Technical Support for further analysis.

Typical performance on an 802.2 connection is 400 to 900 KBps on a 10 MB Ethernet/16 MB token ring.

Overloaded network segment/ring

Ask the analyst to balance the load of network users across multiple segments/rings.

MAXDATA and MAXOUT parameters are not set or tuned for efficiency

Ask the host programmer to verify the settings in VTAM and JES that affect pacing and MAXDATA.

Set all pacing values to 7. Set MAXDATA to 1033 for Ethernet, or 2057 for a token ring. To match these settings in BARR/RJE, from the RJE Configuration Utility's Communication Link tab, under Connection, click Configure. When the 802.2 Connection Configuration dialog box displays, adjust the MAXDATA value.

The CKPTPAGE= and CKPTLINE= parameters are set to low values

When JES2 is the operating system spooler, the CKPTPAGE= and CKPTLINE= parameters in the remote definition need to be tuned for efficiency. A low value setting for these flow control parameters is detrimental to the connection's performance. The remote must constantly ask for a definite response, and JES will not spool any data until it receives the definite response message.

Ask the host programmer to verify the CKPTPAGE parameter is set to at least 10, and the CKPTLINE parameter to at least 100.

Network latency (timing delays)

Ask the network analyst to use a network protocol analyzer trace (for example, Network General Sniffer) to check the network's packet delay times.

Improving BARR/RJE performance

Try one or more of the following to improve performance.

For 802.2 and SDLC links

Ask the host programmer to set the largest value for MAXDATA in JES and VTAM. To match this value in the Barr software, complete the following steps.

1. Open the RJE Configuration Utility.

2. Under the Connection column, select the connection type and click Modify. The Connection Properties dialog box displays.

3. On the Communication Link tab, under Connection, click Configure. Depending on your connection, the 802.2 Connection Configuration dialog box or the SDLC Connection Configuration dialog box displays.

4. From the MAXDATA drop-down list, select 2057.

5. For an SDLC link, in the MAXOUT box, enter 7.

6. Click OK twice and, then click Close.

7. Ask the host programmer to set PACING=7 in JES.

For SDLC links only

1. On the RJE Configuration Utility's Communication Link tab, under Link options, select the SDLC link from the drop-down list and click Modify. The Link tab displays.

   

2. Under Link attributes, select DATMODE=FULL and Constant RTS.

Ask the host programmer to set DATMODE=FULL in VTAM.

Consider a faster circuit line speed. For example, upgrade from a 19.2 KB to a 56 KB speed.