Line pool

To set the PPP connection to use a line from a line pool, select this line service. When the PPP connection starts, the system selects an unused line from the line pool. For dial on-demand profiles, the system does not select the line until it detects TCP/IP traffic for the remote system.

You can use a line pool instead of defining a particular line description for a connection profile. You can specify one or more line descriptions in a line pool.

A line pool also enables a single connection profile to handle either multiple incoming analog calls or a single outgoing analog call. The line returns to the line pool when the PPP connection ends.

If you use the line pool to handle multiple incoming analog calls simultaneously, you need to indicate the maximum number of incoming connections. You can set this on the Connections tab of the New Point-to-Point Profile Properties dialog when you configure your connection profile. Use the Multilink setting to use line pools for single connections with increased bandwidth.

Advantages of using line pools:

• You do not commit a line resource to a PPP connection until it starts.

  For PPP connections that use a specific line, the connection ends if the line is not available unless the dynamic resource sharing is enabled. For connections that use a line pool, at least one line in the line pool must be available when the profile starts.

  In addition, if the resources are configured as shared (enable dynamic resource sharing), additional resource availability is achieved particularly for outgoing connections.

• You can use dial-on-demand profiles with line pools to use resources more efficiently.

  The system selects a line from the line pool only when using a dial-on-demand connection. Other connections can use the same line at other times.

• You can start more PPP connections with less resources to support.

  For example, if your environment needs four unique connection types but you only need two lines at any given time, you can use a line pool to make this environment work. You can create four dial-on-demand connection profiles and have each profile reference a line pool that contains two line descriptions. Each of the lines will be for use by all four connection profiles, thus allowing two connections to be active at any time. By using a line pool, you do not need to have four separate lines.

  Also, if your environment is a combination between a PPP Client and a PPP Server, lines can be shared (enable dynamic resource sharing) whether they are used as 'single lines' or placed in a 'line pool'. The profile that started first will not commit the resource unless the connection is active. For example, if the PPP Server is started, and is listening for the incoming connections, it will 'lend' a line it uses to the PPP Client that started and 'borrowed' the shared line from the PPP Server.

Configure line pools

Line pools are defined within a connection profile. For basic line pool configuration, follow these steps:

1. In iSeries™ Navigator, select your system and expand Networking > Remote Access Services.

2. Create a connection profile to either dial or receive calls. Select from one of the following options:

   • Right-click Originator Connection Profiles to set the system to initiate a connection to a remote system.

   • Right-click Receiver Connection Profiles to set the system to allow incoming connections from remote systems and users.

3. Select New profile.

4. For an originator profile (dialing out) select: PPP, Switched line, and the Operating mode (typically dial). For link configuration, select Line pool. Click OK and iSeries Navigator will open a properties window for this connection profile.

   You can also select a line pool when you create receiver connection profiles. The Line pool option might or might not be listed, depending on the following field values: protocol type, connection type, and operating mode.

5. On the General page, name the profile and enter a description.

6. On the Connection page, enter a name for the line pool and click New. This will open the New Line Pool Properties dialog which will display all the available lines and modems for this system.

7. Select the lines you want to use, and add them to the pool. You can also click New line to define a new line.

8. Click OK to save this line pool, and return to the New Point-to-Point Profile properties.

9. Complete the necessary information about the other pages (for example, TCP/IP settings and Authentication).

10. The connection profile will go down the list of available lines (within the pool) until a resource is available and use that line for the connection. Use iSeries Navigator help for further assistance.

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