Configuring ARCAD connections
| Required Roles | n/a |
| Required Rights (by category) |
Applications |
| Perspective |
 Configuration Management |
| Access |
 DROPS Server → Configuration → ( Client →)  ARCAD Configuration |
The ARCAD configuration process allows you to automatically create DROPS elements, which will be pre-populated and linked to one another, successfully creating a streamlined DROPS setup in one quick operation. The elements can then be used to import ARCAD applications and deploy them on IBM i.
The prerequisites for this process are:
- a connection to a predefined development ARCAD Server from which to import the ARCAD application,
- a connection to at least one predefined target ARCAD Server to which to link the infrastructure item to use to deploy is also required if you choose to automatically create the target environment.
DROPS can only import ARCAD applications from one development server. Only one source server can be defined, however multiple target systems, to which to deploy the application, can be defined.
The process to generate ARCAD elements can begin only after these connections are defined.
Connecting to the ARCAD development server
When generating ARCAD elements, you can automatically create the DROPS component which will retrieve versions and import the ARCAD artifacts required to deploy your application.
To automatically populate the source IBM i system in the new component, you must define the connection to the development IBM i system. This connection information will be carried over to the new component's ARCAD extended configuration.
Connecting to the ARCAD development server is required to generate ARCAD elements. This connection will be automatically pre-populated in the ARCAD-type import strategy, from which you will import your ARCAD application, when it is generated.
Follow the subsequent steps to configure or edit the connection to the source development server.
Step 1 Select 
ARCAD Settings from the ARCAD Configuration node in the Configuration Explorer.
If you are in multi-client mode, select the client first.
For more information about managing multiple clients, refer to Multiple clients.
Step 2 Define the connection information.
- Host Name
- Enter the name or IP address of the IBM i partition hosting the server.
- Login/Password
- Enter a valid user login and password. This user must be declared on the server and will be the user that will execute any operations on the IBM i. The password should be encoded in Base64.
- Secured Connection
- Tick this checkbox if the server requires a secured TLS/SSL connection.For more information about ARCAD secure connections, refer to the ARCAD SSL Configuration Guide.
- ARCAD Instance
- Enter the ID of the instance to reach.
- CCSID
- Enter a valid CCSID to connect to the server.
- Language
- Select the language to use on the server (FRA or ENG).
Step 3 Save the changes (
, Ctrl+S or File > Save).
Defining connections to target ARCAD-Servers
Creating connections to target ARCAD-Servers is not required to generate ARCAD elements but it is required if you want to automatically pre-populate the ARCAD-type infrastructure item.
When generating ARCAD elements, you can automatically create the infrastructure item to which the ARCAD application will be distributed.
To automatically populate a target IBM i system in the new infrastructure item, you must define the connection to that system in the 
ARCAD-Server Connections view.
Creating connections to target ARCAD-Servers
There are two ways to create connections to target ARCAD-Servers:
Creating a new connection
Follow the subsequent steps to configure or edit a connection to a target ARCAD server.
Step 1 Select Target ARCAD Servers from the ARCAD Configuration node in the Configuration Explorer.
If you are in multi-client mode, select the client first.
For more information about managing multiple clients, refer to Multiple clients.
Step 2 To access the Create a new ARCAD-Server Connection wizard, either click the 
create icon in the search view or right-click anywhere in the view and select Create a new ARCAD-Server connection.
Step 3 Define the connection information.
- Configuration ID
-
Enter a unique name to identify this connection to the server.
This is the name that will appear when you are selecting the target to which to deploy.
- Host Name
- Enter the name or IP address of the IBM i partition hosting the server.
- Login/Password
- Enter a valid user login and password. This user must be declared on the server and will be the user that will execute any operations on the IBM i. The password should be encoded in Base64.
Step 4 Click Finish.
Result The new connection is created and the editor opens automatically.
It is important to continue editing the new connection right away to complete the configuration.
Step 5 Verify that the connection information is complete.
- Secured Connection
- Tick this checkbox if the server requires a secured TLS/SSL connection.For more information about ARCAD secure connections, refer to the ARCAD SSL Configuration Guide.
- ARCAD Instance
- Enter the ID of the instance to reach.
- CCSID
- Enter a valid CCSID to connect to the server.
- Language
- Select the language to use on the server (FRA or ENG).
Step 6 Save the changes (, Ctrl+S or File > Save).
Result New connections are available in the Target ARCAD-Servers view and can be used to generate new ARCAD elements.
Duplicate a connection
Duplicating a connection to a target ARCAD Server is a quick way to create a new connection to use when generating ARCAD elements with similar properties as the original connection.
Follow the subsequent steps to duplicate an existing connection to a target ARCAD Server.
Step 1 To open the Duplicate an ARCAD Server connection wizard, either select an existing connection in the Target ARCAD-Servers view then click the 
duplicate icon, or right-click on it and select Duplicate.
Step 2 Enter a new Configuration ID for the connection. This ID must be unique.
Step 3 Click Finish.
Result New connections are available in the ARCAD Target Servers view and can be used to generate new ARCAD elements.
Deleting connections to target ARCAD servers
Deleted connections cannot be accessed, recovered, or used to automatically populate new environments created by generating ARCAD applications. Deleting a connection does not effect environments that already used it when they were generated.
To delete a connection, search for it in the search view. Either right-click on it and select 
Delete or select it and click the delete icon. Click OK to confirm or click Cancel to keep the connection.
