Viruses and the OS/400 Operating System
The OS/400 operating system is not susceptible to PC virus attacks, and there are no IBM anti-virus programs available for OS/400. Viruses attack a specific computer architecture, and the architecture of the iSeries 400 makes it highly unlikely than a virus could be written to attack it. PC-based viruses will not infect (or run-on) OS/400.
Although OS/400 cannot be infected by a PC virus, if the Integrated File System (IFS) on OS/400 is used as a file server for PC files, the files stored on the IFS may carry viruses. An infected file that is moved or saved from a PC to the IFS and then redistributed to another PC can transmit a virus to the new PC. Likewise, if a network drive is mapped to the IFS, a virus running on a PC (and which is capable of damaging files on a network drive) can damage any file stored on the IFS.
All PC clients should run anti-virus programs. It is also recommended that you map a drive to the IFS periodically and scan it with a PC anti-virus program. This will prevent infected files from being stored on the IFS and from possibly infecting other PC files on the network.
Which pc’s are using mapped drives:
1. COS/SIMS Central Office pc used to transfer student information to your iSeries.
2. E-Procurement Central Office pc used as Entity Client server.
What to do if a virus is detected on the IFS:
1. Keep users out of the IFS by disconnecting any drives mapped to the IFS.
2. Ensure that your PC anti-virus program file definitions are current on your
mapped drive pc’s.
3. Run your anti-virus program on your mapped drive pc’s.
4. A single user should map a drive to your IFS root directory and run a PC
anti-virus program.
Considerations when running a PC anti-virus program on your IFS root:
1. User running procedure should have network administrator rights.
2. Procedure is lengthy; possibly lasting several hours.
3. Do not schedule procedure during iSeries daily backup time.
Sample procedures shown are for Windows 10 environment:
How to map a network drive to your IFS root directory:
Open File Explorer. Right click on This PC, click on Map network drive.
Map network drive to your iSeries.
Example: Map network drive “Y” to S1018286 root. (or a particular drive-example below is one subdirectory called “messages”)
What to do after network drive is mapped to IFS root directory:
1. Run pc anti-virus program on mapped drive.
2. Identify any infected files and execute pc anti-virus program procedures that will either delete or quarantine these files.
3. If there are any files that you are unable to delete or quarantine, contact CCI.