Add a TCP connectivity test tool to IBM DS8000

We request the addition of a TCP connectivity test function to the IBM DS8000 management interface.
 

DS8000 administrators currently need to configure connections to several external services, including LDAP servers, encryption key servers and Syslog servers. However, there is no simple diagnostic option available to verify whether the DS8000 management environment can reach a specific IP address or FQDN on a specific TCP port.
 

We would like IBM to provide a function equivalent to:
 

telnet <destination> <port>

or:

nc -vz <destination> <port>

The requested function does not need to provide an interactive Telnet session. It should only attempt to establish a TCP connection from the appropriate DS8000 management component to the specified destination and port and then return a clear diagnostic result.

The administrator should be able to enter:

- Destination IP address or FQDN

- Destination TCP port

- Source interface or management component, when multiple source interfaces are available

Examples:

LDAP server:

ldap.example.com:636

Syslog server:

syslog.example.com:6514

Encryption key server:

keyserver.example.com:<configured TCP port>
 

The result should clearly indicate whether the connection is successful or, in case of failure, provide the reason when it can be determined, such as:

- Connection successful
 

- Connection timed out
 

- Connection refused
 

- DNS resolution failed
 

- No route to host
 

- Destination unreachable
 

- TLS handshake failed, if an optional TLS test is supported
 

This capability could be provided through the DS8000 graphical management interface, a restricted service command, or both.