Winsurf
MainFrame Access |
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Winsurf
Mainframe Access is the web-to-host connectivity solution
that most effectively integrates Internet, intranet and
extranet technologies into your mainframe environment.
Flexible
and easy to use, Winsurf Mainframe Access provides emulation
of a broad range of IBM 3270 & 5250, DEC/UNIX and Bull
terminals.
Because
it operates in conjunction with Microsoft's Internet Information
Server (IIS), Winsurf Mainframe Access
features central administration
and security to control access
to user groups and communication services. Winsurf Mainframe
Access takes advantage of the Windows NT user rights
management (SAM database) to simplify the task of providing
communication services to users or user groups.
Winsurf
Mainframe Access uses ActiveX and Plug-In technology to
download IBM, DEC, and Unix terminal emulation to client-based
Microsoft Internet Explorer or Netscape Navigator/Communicator
desktops. The user can then select whether to connect to
authorized mainframes in browser- or Windows-based
mode. WMA's performance, functionality, tool bars, graphical
keyboards, file transfers and script language are equivalent
to those provided by the most powerful fat-client emulators
but in a thin client product.
Winsurf
Mainframe Access enables mainframe access through Telnet's
open communication architectures as well as through the
native implmentations of gateways from Microsoft,
Novell, ICOM, Eicon, and IBM.
Browser-based
Host Access 
The
WMA client module runs on any 16-bit (Windows 3.11) or 32-bit (Windows 95, 98, Windows NT) PC equipped
with Microsoft Internet Explorer, Netscape Navigator, or
Communicator.
Click here to view a screenshot of the WMA browser-based
emulation screen
Windows-based
Host Access
WMA
can
be used on any 16-bit (Windows 3.11) or 32-bit (Windows
95, 98, Windows NT) PC in a windows-based mode (without
an Internet browser).
At
run time the user of WMA's centrally configured Windows-based
emulator connects effortlessly to his host-based data.
Windows- based emulation eliminates the need for a browser
at the client station while providing ergonomically sophisticated
terminal emulation to facilitate intuitive, efficient dialogue
with host-based applications.
Terminal
Emulation
Winsurf
Mainframe Access terminal emulation lets you take advantage
of the convenience and simplicity of Microsoft and Netscape
Internet browsers while supporting the toolbars, floating
graphical keyboards, and management of dynamic screen fonts
you've come to expect from leading "fat-client" emulation
products. WMA provides full featured, browser-based
emulation of IBM
(3270, 5250) terminals,
DEC/Unix
(VT320, VT220, VT100),
and Bull (7102,7107,7800) terminals.
Winsurf
Mainframe Access is the web-to-host connectivity solution
that most effectively integrates Internet, intranet and
extranet technologies into your mainframe environment.
Flexible and easy to use, Winsurf Mainframe Access provides
emulation of a broad range of IBM, DEC/Unix and Bull terminals.
IBM
3270 and 5250 emulation
Terminal
emulation :
- IBM
3278 (models 2,3,4 and 5)
- IBM
3279 (models 2A, 2B, 3A and
3B) in standard or "extended data stream" mode
- IBM
3179G, 3192G,
3472G terminal
emulation with graphical and 3D
Mode support
- IBM
5250 terminal
emulation in Telnet mode (5251, 5291, 5292, 3196, 3179,
3180, 3477); screen size 24x80 or 27x132, monochrome or
8 colors
- 3287 printer (LU1 and LU3)
- FTP, IND$FILE file transfers in DFT
mode in CICS, TSO and VM connection
Supported
access :
- Telnet mode TN3270, TN3270E, TN5250
- ICOM
Informatics' Winpass TNServer (TN3270)
- Through
the major communication gateways of the market :
Microsoft SNA Server, IntraNetware
for SAA, Eicon
Technology SNA Gateway from, SAGEM SNA
VT100, VT220, VT320 emulation
Terminal
emulation:
- VT320, VT220 or VT100, 80
and 120 column modes, DRCS mode
- LA
100 printer emulation
- FTP, Kermit in extended mode and
X, Y, Z Modem file transfers
Supported
access :
- Telnet and asynchronous mode
- Through
these communication gateways: ICOM’s Winpass PAD/PAV or local PAD
with X25 SAGEM,
Eicon Technology
or Cirel
redirectors.
Bull - 7102, 7107, 7800 emulation
Terminal
emulation :
- Synchronous
Bull
DKU 7107/7211 in VIP or SDP
mode
- Asynchronous
Bull
DKU 7102/7202 in VIP or SDP
mode
- Asynchronous
HN 7800
- TTU
and PRU printer emulation
- Support
both graphic
and 3D mode
- Synchronous
FTF 7/8 and Microfit 7/8, Asynchronous Microfit 6, FTRAN,
Kermit using the extended mode as well XYZ Modem
Supported
access :
- Telnet
mode (synchronous TNVIP)
- Via
ICOM Informatique’s gateways Winpass TGT, ISO/DSA, PAD/PAV,
SAGEM DSA and ISO/DSA Services, Cirel’s DSA VTI 3
HTML
Conversion and Application Reengineering
As
enhancements in web-to-host technology make it easier to
give a broader range of users browser-based access to host
applications, system administrators must determine how best
to present that host-based data to their users. Users
comfortable working with host-based data may prefer the
utilitarian appearance of a 3270, 5250, or VT100 "green
screen". In fact, such users may have worked with
host data in this manner for so long that enhancements to
data presentation would only slow them down.
Less
sophisticated users who are not as familiar or comfortable
with terminal-like data presentation can benefit from HTML
conversion: having the "green screen" presented in a graphical
rather than pure text format, making the host data presentation
less intimidating and easier to understand. Or, if
the user requires access to and integration of data from
a variety of sources, WMA includes the tools to enable
you to build a new desktop application that presents data
from numerous different environments: application reengineering.
Winsurf Mainframe Access administration console
Before
any user can access any host, the authorized Winsurf Mainframe
Access Administrator must configure emulation parameters
for one or more users and/or groups of users, using WMA's
Administration Console.
The
Administration Console is one of most powerful features
of Winsurf Mainframe Access. Through it the administrator
defines all the connection parameters needed to access the
organization's mainframe applications. The Administrator
uses the Administration Console to define connection parameters,
transport protocols, file transfer parameters, and emulation
session parameters.
The
Administrator can run the Administration Console directly
on the Intranet Server, or from any user workstation (Windows
95 or NT Workstation) equipped with an Internet Explorer
or Netscape 32-bit browser. The administrator must be a
member of the Administrator group on which the NT Intranet
server is installed.
Managing
User Groups
Winsurf Mainframe Access takes
advantage of the security management built into Windows
NT to manage user access rights. The Winsurf Mainframe
Access database is built and updated from the Windows NT
SAM database defining user groups and their access rights.
Managing
Communication Services
WMA defines a communications
service as any connection whose features or characteristics
are entirely pre-set: connection type and parameters, terminal
configuration, connection macros, look and feel characteristics,
etc. All communications service information is stored and
managed in the Winsurf Mainframe Access database.
Assigning
Access Rights to User Groups
The administrator configures all available communication services.
These may be allocated to all users or certain services
may be limited to users belonging to specific groups, thereby
protecting network security. Users can simply access
the communication services available to them depending on
their profile by clicking on the service(s) required.
Winsurf Security Server
The
purpose of the Winsurf Security Server (WSS) is to
ensure that exchanges between the emulator and the host
are secure. In order to maintain the confidentiality of
information exchange on the Internet, WSS operates at different
levels:
Authentication
The exchange of an authentication certificate between the
security
server and the user’s workstation before connecting
to
the host ensures the validity of the link between the client
and
the server.
Digital
signature
Data between the emulator and the host are digitally signed,
ensuring
that received or sent information have not been intercepted
or modified.
Encryption
Encryption (via RSA) protects your data from being read
by anyone
but the intended receiver.
Winsurf
Security Server uses Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) v3.0
for server authentication, MD5 fingerprint algorithm to
ensure data integrity, and RSA RC4 data encryption, 128
bit US and Canada and 40 bit in other countries, allowing
complete security for Telnet-based e-commerce applications.
WSS may be installed on separate NT4 server as mainframe
front-end.
Winsurf Internet Development Toolkit
Winsurf
Mainframe Access ships with the Winsurf Internet Development Kit (WID) made up
of components that can be embedded into ASP or HTML pages.
These components include a programming interface which you
can use to customize the user interface to host data with
programming tools such as Microsoft Visual Basic or Visual
Interdev.
The
Winsurf Intranet Development Kit is an invaluable resource
that enables you to perform on-the-fly HTML conversion or
build entirely new graphical front ends for host-based,
green-screen data. As a broader base of less sophisticated
users (suppliers and customers) gains access to host-resident
data, it becomes more important that this data be presented
as simply and clearly as possible.
W
I D applications
Rework
mainframe apps to support graphic front ends
The Winsurf Intranet Development
Kit lets you build a graphic user interface to mainframe
data to make it easier to use and more accessible for non-technical
users.
Provide
a common means of accessing corporate data
Relying
on Microsoft ASP technology, The Winsurf Intranet Development
kit lets you take advantage of Microsoft Active Server Pages
(ASP) to integrate existing corporate data access with Intranet/Extranet
architecture, enabling the user to transparently access
data from different mainframe applications or information
systems.
Provide
common host access to any browser-equipped client workstation
The
platform independence of HTML and Microsoft and Netscape
browser technology means that a PC running Windows, OS/2,
Macintosh, or Unix can access host data via WMA.
WMA Benefits
Whether
you are an end user,
network administrator,
financial manager
or software developer,
Winsurf Mainframe Access offers advantages to each level
of the organization:
For the user
- Access
to host applications through a user-friendly Web interface
- Simplified
connection to mainframe resources
- Performance,
functionality, tool bars, graphical keyboards, file transfers
and script language are equivalent to those provided by
the most powerful fat-client emulators but in a thin client
product
- Seamless
access to company applications whether they are local
or remote, accessible over the Internet or intranet
For
the network administrator
- Central
administration and security to control access to communication
services
- Control
access of users and user groups to the mainframe
- Simplified
management and centralized control of disparate desktop
environments
- Centralized
maintenance of WMA software versions and updates
- Support
for both Netscape Navigator/Communicator and Microsoft
Internet Explorer browsers
- Centralized
maintenance and control of session license capacity
- Compatible
with existing communications gateways
- Ability
to configure emulation parameters on the web server as
well as client workstations
For
the financial manager
- WMA's
universal compatibilty preserves the organization's investments
in mainframe applications, client workstations and desktop
software environments, and gateway products providing
host connectivity
- Increases
the value of the existing central applications by facilitating
access to host-based information
- Central
administration facility reduces the cost required to update
client workstation emulation software
For
the software developer
- Browser
access to host applications eliminates the need to modify
applications to meet desktop access requirements
- Powerful,
easy to use development tool kit facilitates
full integration of host-based data into Intranet and
Extranet applications.
