PDF Indexer

[Greg Ira]

Just a quick question.
We're migrating to z/OS 9.5 and will need to switch to PDF Indexer MP and I need to select an OS.
Anyone have a preference?  AIX, Linux, Windows?  If you're running PDF Indexer on one of these would you mind sharing good/bad?
Thanks ahead of time.

Greg

[jeffs42885]

I've heard it performs best on a windows box. I've ran it on AIX and it wasn't too bad either.  I am sure JD will chime in more on that

[Greg Ira]

Thanks, fortunately it looks like a windows box is currently the front runner for what's available to us.

[Justin Derrick]

Yup, Windows.  My understanding is that the PDF libraries for non-Windows platforms are managed by a third party that isn't Adobe.  Because these libraries don't have the user base (ie, nowhere near as many dollars) there hadn't been much attention paid to performance. 

I know that performance has gone from 'dismal' to 'acceptable' over the last few years, but I've heard recently that the performance of the PDF Indexer will blow your hair back -- largely due to the new ability of OnDemand to crack open the insides of PDFs and split them into "resources" and "data", just like the way OnDemand deals with AFP.  Load times (and the resulting file sizes) are said to be 'extremely impressive'.

I'll see what we can do to make a PDF Indexer webinar available.

-JD.

[Alessandro Perucchi]

PDF Indexer ... then if you want the maximum of power and throughput, then this component should run in Windows.
The CMOD server can be where you want AIX, Linux, z/OS, ...

[Greg Ira]

JD & Alessandro
Thanks for the info, I appreciate it.   Since I have the choice that'll be the way I go.  A webinar would be helpful if available.

[Nolan]

I am also in the same boat, moving Z/OS PDF indexing offline to a Windows server.  Did you have to download a different module to get the PDF indexer running on the windows server?  I don't see one in Passport Advantage.   

[Alessandro Perucchi]

I am also in the same boat, moving Z/OS PDF indexing offline to a Windows server.  Did you have to download a different module to get the PDF indexer running on the windows server?  I don't see one in Passport Advantage.   

Hello Nolan,

If you have the PDF Indexer option in your registered software, then it should appear in Passport Advantage, otherwise, please contact your IBM representative.

Once you find it, then in the package you will find the binary for AIX, Linux, Windows, Solaris... it is around 500MiB, and after untaring the big file, then you can choose the version you want to install, and run the installer.
Please be aware that you need to install the CMOD server package before installing PDF Indexer. Otherwise it will complain!!!!!!!! :-D

Alessandro

[Greg Ira]

Please be aware that you need to install the CMOD server package before installing PDF Indexer. Otherwise it will complain

I find this interesting.  Are you saying we need to install and configure a CMOD server on the Windows box before we can use the PDF Indexer? 

[Justin Derrick]

I believe you only need to install, but not configure.  I think it's a matter of needing specific libraries from the base CMOD package.

-JD.

[Alessandro Perucchi]

Well, what you need to configure is the remote connection to CMOD on your Windows box to point to the real CMOD server, in order that the "arsload" command can find the application group/application informations for the PDF Indexer. Basically you configure the Windows as a "client" of the MP CMOD you want to install.

But in no way you need to setup a completely new CMOD installation on Windows! It would make no sense!!

[Justin Derrick]

I don't usually work on Windows, but I think if you put the CMOD server's IP address or domain name in the arsload command, you're set.  (That is, if you're running it from the command line.  If you're using a GUI, you might need to run the OnDemand configurator.)

Either way, it's do-able!

-JD.

[Nolan]

Yes you do need to install CMOD server but not configure a local server.  It was a bit of a trick to configure the remote Z/OS server on my 8.5 version but it is now available.   Now if I can just get IBM to find out why my PassPort doesn't have access to the PDF install module. 

[Greg Ira]

Great thanks all.  Encouraging news indeed.  I appreciate it.

[pankaj.puranik]

I have had a real time experience with PDF indexer on AIX.
The arspdoci utility that the PDF indexer internally uses is dead slow on AIX.

IBM's recpmmendation was to run this utility on Windows.