Ideas to get a serial number

["Pete Helgren" <pete@xxxxxxxxxx>]

If you wanted to return an iSeries serial number to a PC running a VB app
and avoid using any iSeries Access components, how would you do it?

I need to return an iSeries serial number to a PC connected to the iSeries.
I wrote a little RPGLE app that will retrieve the serial number, and a
command to execute it but I am struggling with how best to return this
little bit of info back to the PC.  I am currently using FTP in the PC app
to avoid reliance to on iSeries Access so I guess I could use that, but it
seems like overkill.  I would have to write the serial number to a file in
the IFS, transfer the file to the PC, open the file on the PC, and read the
value.  Seems like a lot of work for just 6 characters of info.

Any tricks that might make getting this info a bit easier?  I'd appreciate
any pointers or ideas.

Pete Helgren
Value Added Software, Inc
801.581.1154 x202