Thanks for your response.
I think the message is trying to tell me that it can't make a connection. If I mess around with the settings the message is the same. Even with the wrong IP. So at least I understand why the error, I guess.
I am trying to get to the AS/400 from Linux, and you can do it as I can do the exact same thing with Windows using the Windows ODBC driver. However...its Windows and I rather get this working on Linux.
I did not install any clients as it looks like I can do it without, unless I am mistaken.
One thing I have not done is create a DSN. I would think I can use the string to get by with out it, however I might be mistaken there too.