The IBM i provider
built for .NET

License: A single license per IBM i - AS/400 partition, independent of server capacity, with an annual subscription for unlimited use:

• Unlimited users
• No software group concept.
• Access to the NTi data provider, EF Core and Toolbox Extensions.

A 30-day free trial is also available to evaluate NTi and its extensions.

Maintenance: Updates for NTi and its extensions (EF Core and Toolbox NTi) are free and delivered through the NuGet package manager, with guaranteed upward compatibility.

NTi, EF Core and Toolbox do not require any dedicated technical support. These tools rely on universal skills (C#, SQL, HTML) and are installed via NuGet into your .NET projects, with no dependency on third-party software such as ACS or ODBC.

Client side (.NET):

• Required tools: Visual Studio or Visual Studio Code, and the NuGet package manager.
• No additional configuration is required on the .NET side.

IBM i side:

• No installation is required, apart from activating the standard TCP/IP servers (*DATABASE, *RMTCMD, *SIGNON). These services are generally already active on recent IBM i systems.

NTi is ready to use in under 10 minutes.

The license key is renewed exclusively on the IBM i: simply run the SQL script provided by Aumerial on the target partition.

No action is required on the client side (.NET): your existing applications continue to run without recompilation or redeployment.

You can purchase licenses valid for 1, 3 or 5 years, avoiding an annual renewal if you choose the longest term.

Although NTi does not require dedicated technical support, Aumerial remains available to answer your questions or assist you in case of any issue.

In rare specific cases, an anomaly may occur. If this happens, we quickly analyze the situation to identify the root cause. When necessary, we develop and deploy a fix or update via NuGet as quickly as possible to ensure the continuity of your operations.

To support you in using NTi and its extensions, comprehensive and regularly updated documentation is available, or write to us at contact@aumerial.com .

IBM i compatibility: NTi, EF Core and Toolbox NTi work with all AS/400, IBM i and iSeries systems that provide a TCP/IP connection and an RJ45 port. While NTi can interact with older versions, we recommend using versions later than V5R4 (February 2006) for enterprise operations.

.NET compatibility: NTi and its extensions are compatible with:

• .NET 6 and later, including .NET 8.
• Mono.
• All platforms (Windows, Linux, Android, iOS).

NTi is also compatible with containerized environments such as Docker or OpenShift.

NTi provides strong security:

• Authentication: requires a username and password for each session, just like a 5250 interface.
• License key: access is restricted to partitions that hold a valid NTi license key.
• Automatic session cleanup: TCP connections are automatically closed once idle, removing ghost jobs (unnecessary QZDASOINIT processes).

Native to .NET, NTi is built on the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and guarantees full portability and cross-platform compatibility, allowing you to deploy your applications on Windows, Linux, ARM, Docker, etc., with no dependency on native drivers.

• No installation or specific configuration is required on the IBM i side.
• Available on NuGet, NTi and its EF Core and Toolbox NTi extensions install quickly and become operational in under 10 minutes.
• EF Core 8 simplifies access to DB2 for i with standard .NET models, eliminating the need for manual SQL.
• Toolbox NTi automates administrative tasks (spools, jobs, CL commands) directly from .NET, replacing third-party tools.
• NTi optimizes TCP/IP connection management (e.g. QZDASOINIT) by removing unnecessary jobs and supporting SSL/TLS for secure communication.
• Compatible with .NET 6 and later, including .NET 8, Mono, and all platforms (Windows, Linux, Android, iOS).

Yes. NTi is designed to leverage your IBM i assets while facilitating integration with other databases.

• Existing programs: you can directly use your RPG, COBOL (including S/36) programs and stored procedures.
• Multiple databases: NTi also integrates into hybrid environments where DB2 for i coexists with SQL Server, Oracle or PostgreSQL. EF Core provides a unified abstraction layer that simplifies data access.

Absolutely. NTi extends the capabilities of .NET to IBM i:

• Containerization and CI/CD: NTi supports Docker and OpenShift, simplifying modern DevOps and automation practices.
• Artificial Intelligence: with .NET 8, NTi opens access to AI and Machine Learning libraries, such as Azure Machine Learning, to enrich your applications.
• Cloud interoperability: easy access to services such as Microsoft Azure and Office 365.

• Remote deployment: all configurations can be handled remotely, with no on-site intervention required.
• Multi-AS400 management: NTi can interact with several IBM i systems running different versions. For example, a single C# application can read data from a V7R5 system and write to a V5R4 system, as long as the data types are compatible.

NTi, EF Core and Toolbox NTi are designed to work alongside your existing tools (ACS, iNavigator, etc.):

• Their integration is non-intrusive, allowing you to adopt them gradually.
• They modernize your workflows while preserving your existing investments.

NTi supports all DB2 for i data types, including:

• LOB fields (BLOB, CLOB, XML).
• Specific types such as Geospatial.

Yes. NTi allows you to:

• Define custom ports for each service (database, CL commands, programs).
• Use SSL/TLS for secure connections.
• Configure port mapping through the PORT MAPPER service when the standard configuration is not used.