IBM i System Configuration

Query system configuration including system values, hardware resources, device status, environment variables, and JVM settings using SQL services from QSYS2 and SYSTOOLS.

Available Tools

The ibmi CLI is the primary tool for executing configuration queries. Set SKILL_DIR to this skill's installed location (the directory containing this SKILL.md file):

# SKILL_DIR = directory containing this SKILL.md
# Examples: ./skills/configuration, ~/.claude/skills/configuration

ibmi tools --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/" --toolset configuration_default
ibmi tool get_system_values --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"
ibmi sql "SELECT * FROM QSYS2.SYSTEM_VALUE_INFO WHERE SYSTEM_VALUE_NAME = 'QSECURITY'"

The ibmi-mcp-server also provides execute_sql and describe_sql_object for MCP-connected agents.

Service Selection Guide

System Values

• QSYS2.SYSTEM_VALUE_INFO -- All system values with current and default settings

Hardware & Devices

• QSYS2.HARDWARE_RESOURCE_INFO -- Processors, storage, communication adapters, etc.
• SYSTOOLS.CONFIGURATION_STATUS -- Controllers, devices, and lines with status

Environment

• QSYS2.ENVIRONMENT_VARIABLE_INFO -- System and job-level environment variables
• QSYS2.JVM_INFO -- Active Java Virtual Machines with heap and GC metrics

Key Capabilities

System Values

• Full Catalog -- Browse all system values by category
• Single Lookup -- Get a specific system value by name
• Security Focus -- Dedicated security system values view (QSECURITY, QAUDCTL, etc.)
• Default Comparison -- Compare current values against shipped defaults

Hardware Inventory

• Resource Listing -- All hardware resources with status and identification
• Status Filtering -- Find operational, failed, or varied-off resources
• Device Types -- Processors, disk, tape, communication, crypto, optical

Configuration Status

• Device Health -- Controllers, devices, and lines with current status
• Type Filtering -- Filter by *CTLD, *DEV, or *LIN
• Timestamp Tracking -- Creation and last-change timestamps

Runtime Environment

• Environment Variables -- System and job-level PASE/ILE settings
• JVM Monitoring -- Active Java runtimes with heap, GC, and thread info

Common Use Cases

1. Security review -- Check security-related system values
2. Configuration audit -- Compare system values against best practices
3. Hardware inventory -- List all system hardware resources
4. Device troubleshooting -- Find failed or varied-off devices
5. JVM monitoring -- Review active Java environments and heap usage
6. Environment check -- Verify PATH, LANG, and other environment settings
7. System value lookup -- Quick lookup of any specific system value

Quick Examples

Security system values

ibmi tool get_security_system_values --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"

Look up a specific system value

ibmi tool get_system_value --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/" --sysval-name QSECURITY

Hardware resources

ibmi tool get_hardware_resources --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"

Configuration object status

ibmi tool get_configuration_status --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"

Pre-built Tools

The tools/configuration.yaml file provides 7 ready-to-use tools:

Tool	Description
get_system_values	System values with category filtering
get_system_value	Single system value lookup by name
get_security_system_values	Security-related system values
get_hardware_resources	Hardware resource inventory with status filter
get_configuration_status	Controller, device, and line status
get_environment_variables	System and job environment variables
get_jvm_info	Active JVM heap, GC, and thread information

ibmi tool <tool_name> --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"          # Execute
ibmi tool <tool_name> --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/" --dry-run # Preview SQL
ibmi tools show <tool_name> --tools "$SKILL_DIR/tools/"     # View details

Reference Documentation

• Configuration Services Catalog -- Available SQL services
• Example SQL Patterns -- Working query examples
• IBM SYSTEM_VALUE_INFO -- View documentation
• IBM HARDWARE_RESOURCE_INFO -- View documentation