Q: We're using your articles on OpenSSH to act as an SFTP server. However, we're having trouble starting the server properly. I can start it manually in QShell and it works OK, but I can't seem to get it to start automatically. Any advice?

A: On IBM i 6.1, IBM has provided the ability to start the OpenSSH server (sshd) via the STRTCPSVR command. If you're on an earlier release (prior to 6.1), however, there's a free utility you can download from IBM to start the OpenSSH server.

The utility is called Start/End SSH Server (STRENDSSHD), and you can learn about it and download a save file containing the command from the IBM Software Knowledgebase document number 504545174. [2]

Once you have this command installed, you can code a batch job (or whatever makes sense to you) to start the server as follows:

STRENDSSHD *STR