Plex C#/WinC/Java/RPG runtime with SSH Tunneling to secure client/server communication

Products

• CA Plex

Issue/Introduction

This KB document outlines the configuration steps required to setup a Plex C#/RPG runtime environment with SSH Tunneling to secure client/server communication 

Environment

CA Plex 7.21 and 7.3

Resolution

Considering all the integration possibilities across different Plex runtimes (C++/Java/RPG) with C# runtime and to avoid any unforeseen regression, Plex Engineering has built an external application (C#) to automate the SSH Tunneling from Windows to SystemI dispatcher server. 

This external application uses SSH.NET (SSH library for .NET) third party to connect to remote server and automate SSH tunneling workflow.

The requirement is to launch/run this newly built application before starting the Plex built C# client that calls Server function on SystemI.

How to use newly built Utility

1. Deploy/copy the shared binaries (SSHTunnelingApp.zip attached to this article) locally
2. Launch the PlexSSHTunnelingUtility.exe binary.
3. Provide the details as per the screen fields
4. Click on "Save Details" button to save the information into a configuration file. This will save the details in the PlexSSHTunnelingUtility.exe.config file.
5. Click on "START - SSH Tunnel for IBMi Dispatcher" button
6. On successful start of SSH Tunnel, the button's label changes to "STOP - SSH Tunnel for IBMi Dispatcher" in red color. Clicking on this same button now will STOP the SSH tunnel.

Note: The application top right X button does not work (to avoid any accidental closure of application). You need to click on "CLOSE (X)" button to exit the application.

 

 

Changes required in Plex generated C# client's configuration file

 

1. Open Plex generated application <app-name>.exe.config file in CA Plex Management Console
2. Update the System & Port fields accordingly as per the details provided in the SSH Tunneling application (Local System and Local Port from above screen as highlighted).
3. Save the configuration.

 

This completes the configuration changes.

So now if PlexSSHTunnelingUtility.exe application is running, then Plex generated C# client application will connect to local port (e.g. 7300 as per the configuration above) which then is forwarded to SystemI dispatcher (e.g. 7211 as per the configuration above) to call the server function.

Additional Information

The aforementioned details are specific to C# client, and similar way Plex WinC/Java client can be configured by updating INI/Properties file accordingly.

The respective changes requires in WinC client application INI file for System and Port values as per the SSH Tunneling application's configuration (refer to the screenshot below). 

WinC application INI file changes required:

[Remote]
;Settings for the default System i server.
System=localhost
Port=7300

Pick the SSH Tunneling application's configured values (i.e. Local System and Local Port) from the below screen as highlighted and update the WinC client application's INI file for System and Port values accordingly.