bvstone

Copying Files from the IBM i Integrated File System (IFS) to your PC

Posted:

Copying Files from the IBM i Integrated File System (IFS) to your PC

Often when offering support for customers (or even non-customers) part of the debugging process may involve copying trace and/or debug files from the IFS on the IBM i to your PC in order to be emailed to a support contact.  

Surprisingly, this is often something that the end user needs help with.  So, here are a couple of the methods I use:

FTP - File Transfer Protocol

Yes, good old FTP will do the job just fine!  The only real thing to remember is if you are transferring binary files (such as images, PDF, or anything that's not really plain text) is to make sure to use binary mode.

If you want to use the standard Microsoft FTP client (which works just fine), here is all you need to do:

  • Make sure the FTP server is running on your IBM.  You can do this using the command:
    WRKACTJOB JOB(QTFTP*)

    This should list the active FTP jobs.  If you don't see them, contact your IBM i admin (if needed) to see if you can fire it up using the following command:
    STRTCPSVR SERVER(*FTP)
     
  • Press the Windows key and R to open a command prompt.
  • Type "ftp" in the command prompt that is opened.  This will open a DOS prompt and start the Microsoft Windows FTP client.

The following example is using FTP to download a file named test.json from the /tmp directory to my PC into a directory named c:\temp.  (I always create a temp directory on my PCs so I know I can always download things to this place with an easy to remember name).  The text in red is what you will type.  Of course replace the IP address, user id and password with those values for your system.

ftp> open 192.168.1.xx
Connected to 192.168.1.xx.
220-QTCP at devo.bvstools.com.
220 Connection will close if idle more than 5 minutes.
501 OPTS unsuccessful; specified subcommand not recognized.
User (192.168.1.xx:(none)): yourid
331 Enter password.
Password: yourpassword
230 BVSTONE logged on.
ftp> quote site namefmt 1
250  Now using naming format "1".
ftp> cd /tmp
250 "/tmp" is current directory.
ftp> lcd c:\temp
Local directory now C:\temp.
ftp> get test.json
200 PORT subcommand request successful.
150 Retrieving file /tmp/test.json
226 File transfer completed successfully.
ftp: 315 bytes received in 0.01Seconds 63.00Kbytes/sec.
ftp> quit


The only thing you may need to change is if you are downloading a binary type file be sure to issue the bin command before the get command.   If you need to switch back to text mode to download text files just issue the ascii command.  Super simple!

And don't forget you can use wild cards with FTP.  If you wanted to download all files that start with "mailtool" you could use:

mget mailtool*

Or if you wanted to download all files with an extension of .json you could use:

mget *.json

FTP is still quite a viable option for those that aren't familiar with other options that follow.

Windows Explorer and IBM i NetServer

NetServer, I think, is one of the most underused options on the IBM i system these days.  Setting it up isn't that hard, and once it is it makes copying files from the IFS on your IBM i to your PC as easy as transferring files from a network drive to your PC, or even from directory to directory on your PC.

Here is a great article on Configuring NetServer on your IBM i (from IBM!  I have to say their documentation is getting a lot better!)

Once that is set up you simply need to set up shares for directories on the IFS and they should show up in your Windows Explorer window under Network.

I will add more options when I have time, but these two I feel are the most simple and easy to use (especially FTP!)

 




Latest Posts:

Update for Google WorkSpace Accounts (2024): Google Dropping Support for Update for Google WorkSpace Accounts (2024): Google Dropping Support for "Less Secure Apps" May 30th, 2022. What Does This Mean for Your IBM i Email?
Posted by January 19, 2024
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion >> Email Tools (MAILTOOL) Specific Discussion
Sales By State Report in QuickBooks Online Sales By State Report in QuickBooks Online
Posted by January 13, 2024
QuickBooks >> QuickBooks Online
How to Whitelist GreenTools for G Suite (G4G) For Your Organization How to Whitelist GreenTools for G Suite (G4G) For Your Organization
Posted by November 5, 2023
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion >> GreenTools for G Suite (Google Apps) (G4G) Specific Discussion
QuickBooks Online Releases QuickBooks Online Releases "New Invoices!"... and It's Terrible!
Posted by October 8, 2023
QuickBooks >> QuickBooks Online
Admin/4i - What is it? Admin/4i - What is it?
Posted by September 30, 2023
Vendor Corner >> MSD Information Technology
BVSTools Releases Send Job Log to BVSTools (SNDLOG2BVS) Command BVSTools Releases Send Job Log to BVSTools (SNDLOG2BVS) Command
Posted by August 28, 2023
BVSTools >> BVSTools Announcements
MAILTOOL Now Allows Email Redirection for Development and Testing MAILTOOL Now Allows Email Redirection for Development and Testing
Posted by May 27, 2023
BVSTools >> BVSTools Announcements >> eMail Tool (MAILTOOL) Specific Announcements
GreenTools for Microsoft Apps (G4MS) Now Supports Footers When Sending Email GreenTools for Microsoft Apps (G4MS) Now Supports Footers When Sending Email
Posted by March 29, 2023
BVSTools >> BVSTools Announcements >> GreenTools for Microsoft Apps (G4MS) Specific Announcements
QuickBooks Online - Subtotals and Discounts Frustration QuickBooks Online - Subtotals and Discounts Frustration
Posted by March 16, 2023
QuickBooks >> QuickBooks Online
Making the Switch From QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online - No Picnic Making the Switch From QuickBooks Desktop to QuickBooks Online - No Picnic
Posted by March 16, 2023
QuickBooks >> QuickBooks Online
BVSTools Software Verified on V7R5 and Power10 BVSTools Software Verified on V7R5 and Power10
Posted by December 9, 2022
BVSTools >> BVSTools Announcements
Microsoft Office 365 Servers and Random Errors Issue Microsoft Office 365 Servers and Random Errors Issue
Posted by November 14, 2022
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion >> Email Tools (MAILTOOL) Specific Discussion
Sending/Resending Emails Using a MIME File with MAILTOOL Sending/Resending Emails Using a MIME File with MAILTOOL
Posted by November 8, 2022
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion >> Email Tools (MAILTOOL) Specific Discussion
Sending an HTML Email on Your IBM i Using MAILTOOL Sending an HTML Email on Your IBM i Using MAILTOOL
Posted by November 1, 2022
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion >> Email Tools (MAILTOOL) Specific Discussion
Transferring License Keys from One System to Another Transferring License Keys from One System to Another
Posted by October 31, 2022
BVSTools >> BVSTools Software Discussion

Reply




© Copyright 1983-2020 BVSTools
GreenBoard(v3) Powered by the eRPG SDK, MAILTOOL Plus!, GreenTools for Google Apps, jQuery, jQuery UI, BlockUI, CKEditor and running on the IBM i (AKA AS/400, iSeries, System i).