The IBM i connector built for .NET

License: NTi is licensed per IBM i / AS/400 partition, regardless of server capacity, and includes unlimited usage under an annual subscription:

• Unlimited users
• No dependency on software group configurations
• Full access to NTi Data Provider, EF Core Extension, and Toolbox Extensions

A 30-day free trial to evaluate NTi and its features

Maintenance: Updates for NTi and its extensions (EF Core and Toolbox NTi) included at no additional cost.They are delivered through the NuGet package manager and are fully upward compatible.

NTi, EF Core and Toolbox do not require any dedicated technical support. They rely on standard, widely used skills (C#, SQL, HTML) and are installed directly via NuGet, with no need for third-party tools 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

IBM i side:

• No installation is required. You only need to ensure that standard TCP/IP servers (*DATABASE, *RMTCMD, *SIGNON) are active. These services are enabled by default on most recent IBM i systems.

NTi can be fully operational in under ten minutes.

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

No changes are required on the .NET side. Your applications continue to run normally, with no recompilation or redeployment.

Licenses can be purchased for 1, 3 or 5 years, allowing you to reduce renewal frequency if you opt for a longer term.

NTi does not require dedicated technical support, but Aumerial remains available to answer your questions or assist you if an issue arises.

In the rare event of an anomaly, our team investigates immediately to identify the root cause. When needed, we develop and publish a fix or update on NuGet as quickly as possible to ensure your operations continue smoothly.

To help you get the most out of NTi and its extensions, comprehensive and regularly updated documentation is available. You can also contact 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 releases, we recommend using versions V5R4 (February 2006) or later for production workloads.

.NET compatibility: NTi and its extensions support:

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

NTi is also compatible with containerized environments such as Docker

Yes. NTi is built to align fully with IBM i’s native security model:

• User authentication: Each session requires an IBMnbsp;i username and password, just like signing on through a 5250 session.
• License enforcement: Access is restricted to partitions that hold a valid NTi license key.
• Automatic session cleanup: Idle TCP connections are closed automatically, preventing ghost jobs (such as unused QZDASOINIT processes).

Native to .NET, NTi is built on the Common Language Runtime (CLR) and provides full portability and cross-platform support. You can deploy your applications on Windows, Linux, ARM devices, Docker, and more, without relying on native IBM i drivers.

• No installation or special configuration is required on the IBM i side.
• Available on NuGet, NTi and its EF Core and Toolbox extensions install in minutes and are immediately operational.
• EF Core 8 streamlines access to DB2 for i through standard .NET models, eliminating manual SQL.
• Toolbox NTi automates administrative operations (spools, jobs, CL  commands) directly from .NET, removing the need for external tools.
• NTi optimizes TCP/IP connection handling (for example QZDASOINIT) by removing unnecessary jobs and supporting SSL/TLS for secure communication.
• Compatible with .NET 6 and later, including .NET 8 and Mono, across all major platforms (Windows, Linux, Android, iOS).

Yes. NTi is built to take full advantage of your existing IBM i assets while supporting integration with other database systems.

• Existing programs: you can call your RPG, COBOL (including S/36), and stored procedures directly from .NET.
• Multiple databases: NTi also fits naturally into hybrid environments where DB2 for  i runs alongside SQL Server, Oracle, or PostgreSQL. EF Core provides a unified abstraction layer, making cross-database access consistent and straightforward.

Yes. NTi extends the full capabilities of .NET to your IBM i environment, enabling seamless adoption of modern technologies.

• Containerization and CI/CD: NTi works with Docker, making it easy to implement DevOps pipelines and automated deployments.
• Artificial Intelligence: With .NET 8, you can leverage AI and machine learning libraries, including Azure Machine Learning, to enrich your applications.
• Cloud interoperability: NTi enables straightforward interoperability with cloud services.

• All configurations can be handled remotely, with no need for on-site intervention.
• 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 seamlessly alongside your existing IBM i tools, including ACS and iNavigator.

• Non-intrusive integration: you can adopt NTi gradually without disrupting your current setup.
• Modernized workflows: NTi enhances your processes while preserving the value of your existing investments.

NTi supports the full range of DB2 for i data types, including:

• Large objects (BLOB, CLOB, XML)
• Specialized types such as geospatial fields

Yes. NTi gives you full control over connection security:

• Define custom ports for each service (database, CL commands, program calls).
• Enable SSL/TLS for encrypted communication.
• Configure port mapping through the PORT MAPPER service when the default configuration is not used.