MULTIPLATEFORMS ACCESS TO IBM i DESIGNED FOR .NET
Connect .NET and your IBM i with NTi for immediate access to data, programs and much more, with no constraints and no limits.
Enjoy complete abstraction of the DB2 for i database with EF CORE, and simplify data and object manipulation with Toolbox Extensions.
Exploit the full potential of your IBM i, AS/400, iSeries and easily deploy modern business applications thanks to containerization, for perfect optimization of your resources, with a lightweight solution accessible to all.
Behind this option,
a revolution
At AUMERIAL, we understand that time and expertise are your priorities. We also understand the challenges associated with using traditional systems such as the AS400. Although it has its own specific features, it remains an important symbol of your know-how and proven technical expertise.
Faced with the challenges of cost, security and training, as well as rapidly evolving technologies, particularly in the field of AI, the urgency of adapting and safeguarding your business is obvious.
That's why we've designed NTi: an innovative solution that modernizes your entire operation, effectively complementing the endurance and reliability of your IBM i, while preparing you for the technological challenges of today and tomorrow.
THE FUTURE OF THE IBM i
IS WRITTEN IN .NET
Anticipate without risk and project yourself into each stage of the evolution of your IBM i platform.
With NTi Data Provider and its extensions, take advantage of gradual, controlled modernisation of your applications with a single annual subscription for unlimited use.
NTi Data Provider
The native .NET data prodider
for accessing data and services on your IBM i.
EF Core 8
Develop without SQL
whether you're starting from scratch or from an existing database.
Toolbox NTi
Administer your IBM i
in just a few lines of code with our methods.
ALL IBM i FROM .NET
NTi Data Provider offers direct, fast and secure access to your IBM i data and services. Available directly from Nuget, it requires no installation on the IBM i side, and no driver on the client side. In less than 10 minutes it is up and running, without interfering with your existing systems.
- No client-side driver, no IBM i installation.
- Platform and version agnostic.
- Access to DB2 for i, program calls, CL, APIs.
- TCP/IP connection with SSL/TLS support.
- Efficient management of QZDASOINIT/QZRCSRVS jobs.
- No dependency on third-party solutions.
- Containerisable and multiplatform.
- Standard ADO.NET.
EF CORE 8
NTI's EF Core extension provides an additional abstraction layer to the DB2 for i database, enabling you to quickly and easily develop rich, high-performance and scalable business applications, whether you're starting from scratch or from an existing database.
- Code First: Tables, columns and CRUD access generated without SQL.
- DB First: Data access layer generated from an existing database.
- EF Core takes care of the entire data access layer.
- Standard .NET: Can be used in the same way as SQL Server, Postgres or Oracle.
- .NET model: Generate your entities directly.
- Automatic migration: Manage schema changes without SQL manipulation.
- Optimised for the IBM i : Performance adjusted to the specificities of DB2 for i.
- One-click installation from NuGet
Toolbox NTi
The essential toolbox for mastering your IBM i. Toolbox extension brings together a set of methods designed to automate and optimise the administration of your IBM i in your .NET projects. Simplify complex operations and gain efficiency on essential tasks.
- Spool files: List and retrieve spool files.
- CL commands: Get command definitions and prompts.
- Program calls: launch service procedures.
- Jobs: List, monitor and lock.
- System messages: Send, receive, reply.
- System values: Access key parameters.
- Network and database : Access to network attributes and DB relationships.
- Extended compatibility: Works on .NET Framework 4.7+, .NET Core, and .NET 5 to 9.
- One-click installation from NuGet
BUILT FOR THE FUTURE
the only limit
is your imagination!
Agility and Collaboration
.NET offers all the tools for CI/CD, integrating DevOps practices to automate workflows, from development to deployment.
NTi extends this capability to the IBM i ecosystem, allowing your teams to focus on innovation and value creation.
See documentationEVOLVE WITHOUT RISK
Even without IBM i expertise, you can now easily exploit this platform in your .NET applications.
Reuse your existing business applications (RPG, SQLRPG) and combine them with new, modern interfaces. NTi and its extensions make it easy to create complete, scalable solutions, drawing on the full power of your IBM i.
See documentationBeyond Data Management
Administer and control your IBM i from within .NET.
NTi lets you automate all system management tasks: command execution, job management, stored procedures, messages, and much more.
Reuse your existing programmes to secure your investments and retain your business logic.
See documentationOPTIMISING RESOURCES
Deploy your .NET/IBM i applications directly on IBM Power thanks to native support for the .NET runtime, and consolidate your operations on a robust, cost-effective platform.
Simplify workload migration, optimise your infrastructure and ensure scalability for your applications.
See documentationsustainability and eco-efficiency
NTi improves energy efficiency by centralizing operations, reducing dependence on multiple servers and systems.
This eco-responsible approach fits in perfectly with a strategy of sustainable development, and is supported by the proven reliability of IBM Power systems, whose roadmap extends to 2037.
See documentationIntegrating guide
FROM IDEA TO ACTION
immediately WITH NTi.
Designed to be intuitive and easy to integrate, NTi is native to .NET.
Simply download NTi and its EF Core and Toolbox extensions from the NuGet package manager and reference them in your project.
Focus on the essentials, NTi takes care of the rest.
Add
Download NTi from NuGet.
Develop
Create your programmes with Visual Studio.
Deploy
Deploy your applications!
Simple. Fast. Efficient.
FREQUENTLY
ASKED QUESTIONS
Do you have any questions about integrating NTi and its extensions into your company? Our FAQs provide clear, useful answers to the questions most frequently asked by our customers.
If you can't find the answer you're looking for, contact us: we're available to help and answer your questions.
-
License: A single license per IBM i partition, regardless of server power, with an annual subscription for unlimited use :
- ✅ Unlimited number of users.
- ✅ No knowledge of software groups.
- ✅ Access to NTi connector, EF Core, and Toolbox Extensions.
-
Cost: The licence costs €3,000 excluding VAT per year, with no additional maintenance costs.
-
Maintenance: Updates for NTi and its extensions (EF Core and Toolbox NTi) are free and available via the NuGet package manager, with guaranteed backwards compatibility.
💡 A free 30-day trial period is also available to test NTi and its extensions.
NTi, EF Core and Toolbox do not require any special technical support. These tools are based on universal skills (C#, SQL, HTML) and are installed via NuGet in your .NET projects, without relying on third-party software such as ACS or ODBC.
-
Client side (.NET) :
- Tools required: 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 activation of the standard TCP/IP servers (*DATABASE, *RMTCMD, *SIGNON). These services are generally already active on recent IBM i computers.
💡 In less than 10 minutes, NTi is ready to use.
Although NTi does not require specific technical support, Aumerial remains at your disposal to answer any questions you may have or to assist you in the event of a problem.
In rare and specific cases, an anomaly may occur. Should this happen, we quickly analyse the situation to identify the cause. If necessary, we develop and deploy a patch or an update via NuGet as quickly as possible, to ensure the continuity of your operations.
To help you use NTi and its extensions, comprehensive and regularly updated documentation is available To help you use NTi and its extensions, comprehensive and regularly updated documentation is available.
-
IBM i compatibility: NTi, EF Core, and Toolbox NTi work with all versions of AS400, IBM i and iSeries with a TCP/IP connection and RJ45 port.
-
.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 containerised environments such as Docker or OpenShift.
NTi offers enhanced security:
-
Authentication: Requires a login and password for each session, as on a 5250 interface.
-
License key: Access is restricted to partitions with a valid NTi license key.
-
Automatic session closure: TCP connections are automatically closed when unused, eliminating ghost jobs (unnecessary QZDASOINIT).
NTi stands out from traditional solutions such as ODBC or OleDB :
-
Native to .NET: Based on the Common Language Runtime (CLR), NTi guarantees total portability and cross-platform compatibility, enabling you to deploy your applications on Windows, Linux, ARM, Docker, etc., without any dependencies on native drivers.
-
- No specific installation or configuration is required on the IBM i side.
- Available via NuGet, NTi and its EF Core and Toolbox NTi extensions can be installed quickly and are operational in less than 10 minutes.
-
Modernisation and Automation
- EF Core 8 simplifies access to DB2 for i with standard .NET templates, eliminating the need for manual SQL.
- Toolbox NTi automates administrative tasks (spools, jobs, CL commands) directly from .NET, replacing third-party tools.
-
Performance and Security: NTi optimises the management of TCP/IP connections (e.g. QZDASOINIT) by eliminating unnecessary jobs and integrating SSL/TLS for secure exchanges.
-
.NET compatibility: NTi and its extensions are compatible with :
- .NET 6 and later, including .NET 8.
- Mono.
- All platforms (Windows, Linux, Android, iOS).
With NTi, you can modernise your IBM i integrations while simplifying your development workflows and reducing your technical constraints.
Yes, NTi has been designed to make the most of your IBM i resources while facilitating integration with other databases.
-
Existing programs : You can use your RPG, COBOL (including S36) and stored procedures directly.
-
Multiple databases: NTi can also be integrated into hybrid environments where DB2 for i coexists with SQL Server, Oracle or PostgreSQL. EF Core provides a unified abstraction layer, simplifying access.
Absolutely, NTi extends the capabilities of .NET to IBM i :
-
Containerisation and CI/CD: NTi supports Docker and OpenShift, simplifying modern DevOps and automation practices.
-
Artificial Intelligence: With .NET 8, NTi opens up access to AI and Machine Learning libraries, such as Azure Machine Learning, to enrich your applications.
-
Cloud interoperability: Easy access to services like Microsoft Azure and Office 365.
-
Remote deployment: All configurations can be managed without the need for physical intervention on site.
-
Multi-AS400 management: NTi can interact with several machines of different versions (for example, read data from a V7R5 and write to a V5R4) in a single C# program, 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 modernise 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 :
-
Specify customised ports for each service (database, CL commands, programs).
-
Use SSL/TLS for secure connections.
-
Configure port mapping via the PORT MAPPER service if the standard configuration is not used.