Automatic Device Name Generation (5250 Only)

The Telnet 5250 client function can generate a new and non-arbitrary DEVice NAME (DEVNAME) for a session without requiring per-session profile (.WS) customization or a user exit.

You can use keywords and special characters in the WorkStationID (WID) field (in the [5250] stanza of the Workstation profile) to cause some or all of the following information to be substituted into the DEVice NAME value that is sent to the TN5250 server:

  • Computer name or user name
  • Short session ID
  • Session type ID
  • Collision avoidance ID

When specified, the Collision Avoidance ID enables the generation of a new DEVice NAME if the Telnet server rejects a submitted name (which can occur when the old name is already in use on the iSeries™, eServer™ i5, or System i5™). The ability to have a variety of names generated allows multiple sessions to the same iSeries™, eServer™ i5, or System i5™ from one or more clients using just one WorkStation Profile (.WS) file. The definition of the existing .WS file parameter WorkStationID in the [5250] stanza is extended to accomplish this.