What is IBM i ACS (Access Client Solutions)?
ACS is the official IBM i connection tool from IBM. ACS is a Java based, platform-independent interface that runs on most operating systems that support Java, including Linux, Mac, and Windows™.
ACS gives you a screen emulator, integrated file system tool for upload/download, spool to PDF viewer, and much more.
If you have used older AS400 and Series machines you probably connected using a Windows application called “Client Access”. The latest IBM i ACS application is brand new, running using Java but looks similar enough that moving from the old Client Access to the new Access Client Solutions should be very straightforward.
ACS is faster, has a smaller memory footprint, offers a range of new features, and doesn’t have the clunky bugs that the old software inherited from it’s 1990 roots.
Client Access is DEAD – get over it!
Client Access was much reviled, much loved and mucho mucho confusing for users of AS/400, iSeries and the newer IBM i Power Systems.
As Client Access evolved over the years, it got rebranded as IBM i Access with new releases of the operating system. Many people from the technical end of the spectrum just kept on calling it “Client Access” because all of old grey haired “400” users know what that is.
IBM i Access for Windows delivers TCP/IP connectivity to users running a variety of Microsoft® Windows® operating systems. IBM i Access for Windows offers an all-inclusive client solution for accessing and using resources from your Windows desktop. It includes 5250 emulation, access to DB2 Universal Database® (UDB) for IBM i through its Data Transfer, and utilizes IBM i NetServer for working with the IBM i Integrated File System and printers. It also has a variety of middleware for using and developing client applications to access IBM i resources; and Navigator for i, the i5/OS GUI, for administering your IBM i.
IBM does not plan to support IBM i Access for Windows on operating systems beyond Windows 8.1. The replacement product is IBM i Access Client Solutions
So now Client Access (and iAccess) are officially retired.
Client Access is Dead, Long Live IBM i Access Client Solutions
Welcome to the latest and greatest IBM i Connectivity Application – IBM i Access Client Solutions
IBM has never had any idea about how to name things, what a stupid name IBM i Access Client Solutions is. Why not just call it “IBM i Navigator” or something simple? *sigh*
… don’t be confused by silly people incorrectly calling the IBM i system an AS400, an iSeries or “the four hundred“. I’m sure that same brigade of stubborn people will continue to trick their colleagues into thinking it is the 1990’s and refer to the new ACS as Client Access instead. You can’t fix
stupidsillybrain.Me. Feeling particularly flippant.
Anyway, I’m not going to get distracted by moaning about naming conventions, so, lets dive into the first module and download our very own copy of IBM i ACS
Lets meet the new kid on on the block:
IBM i ACS
At the heart of the IBM i ACS experience is the nicest IBM i connection application yet. ACS includes a sweet 5250 emulator, a smooth little app for uploading/downloading from the IFS, a brilliant little SQL database toolset and more.
The heart of ACS is essentially a direct link to the Java executable called ACSBUNDLE.JAR
When you run ACSBUNDLE you will see the main screen – and everything launches from here:
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