PASSPORT Telnet 3270

With HLLAPI, Object API, SSL/SSH security,Visual Basic Scripting and more, PASSPORT represents a comprehensive host access solution. PASSPORT is also extremely cost effective. Zephyr provides a subscription based licensing program that significantly reduces your terminal emulation software acquisition and maintenance costs. This makes switching from older terminal emulators a very attractive proposition.

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There are two versions of the PASSPORT telnet 3270 client. Each product uses a different method of deployment.

PASSPORT PC to Host® is desktop-based 3270 emulation. This product is similar to other desktop Windows programs. PASSPORT is installed with a Windows setup program. It can also be deployed using SMS, MSI, Citrix or Microsoft Terminal Server.

PASSPORT Web to Host® is web-based 3270 emulation deployed from a web server. The software is installed on a web server, generally a Microsoft IIS Server or IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS), and provides an administrator program for centralized configuration and administration. All software and configuration files reside on the web server.

When the emulator is run, an ActiveX applet is downloaded from the web server to the client desktop and run inside of Internet Explorer. For organizations or users with strict IE security settings, PASSPORT Web to Host offers the ability to use MSI to download and install the PASSPORT Web to Host client.

The ActiveX component is only downloaded the first time a session is launched, or whenever the server version of the ActiveX component changes to a newer version. The ActiveX client running inside Internet Explorer makes a direct TN3270 or TN3270E connection to the IBM zSeries (S/390) mainframe.

Host Sessions

PASSPORT telnet 3270 display and host printer sessions are supported. Up to 26 sessions can be active at one time on one workstation. New sessions can be easily created, opened and saved. A layout of multiple sessions can be saved as a desktop icon. When this icon is activated, multiple sessions are started at one time. A menu security feature allows an administrator to decide what 3270 emulation features are allowed and which are not.

TN3270E SSL/TLS Security

The PASSPORT 3270 terminal emulator implements advanced security features using Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) and Transport Layer Security (TLS) authentication and encryption providing secure data access across TCP/IP networks. With the built-in security of SSL/TLS, your 3270 emulation sessions are now protected from eavesdropping, tampering, or message forgery over TCP/IP. This feature can be critical for those organizations that access sensitive data on corporate mainframes remotely, or across the Internet. PASSPORT is FIPS 140-2 compliant.

TN3270 Emulation Display Sessions

PASSPORT supports many IBM 3270 terminal types. Telnet 3270 actually refers to an entire family of IBM mainframe host connectivity devices. Terminal emulation for both the monochrome IBM 3278 and the extended color IBM 3279 terminal are supported with four different screen sizes each. The screen sizes include model 2 (24 rows x 80 columns), model 3 (32 rows x 80 columns), model 4 (43 rows x 80 columns), and model 5 (27 rows x 132 columns).

IBM 3270 mainframe graphics terminal emulation is also provided. IBM 3472G, 3192G, 3179G Model 2 APA (all points addressable) vector graphics is supported in both model 2 and model 3 screen sizes. IBM 3279 S3G programmed symbol set graphics is supported in both model 2 and model 3 screen sizes. The graphics input cursor is supported. Four different graphic input cursor types can be selected.

Extended attributes provide 8-color display, underline and reverse video. Blinking can be configured to appear as reverse video. A subset of the APL character set is provided for line drawing and other special display characters. Colors can be modified for base and extended colors, OIA line, and screen background. Colors can be selected from the Windows color palette.

There are three standard fonts provided: a standard PASSPORT font, a PASSPORT thin font, and a PASSPORT true type font. The first two are fast bit-mapped raster fonts, while the true type font provides increased scalability. The size of the font automatically adjusts to the window size. Any other fixed pitch Windows font may also be used.

Advanced Windows clipboard functions are provided including cut, copy, copy append, copy graph, paste and paste continue. There are three paste modes: block, stream and field. Other clipboard options include automatically moving the cursor to the end of the text when text is pasted into a host screen, automatically copying an area of text to the clipboard when selected, and reversing black and white when copying graphics to the clipboard.

Various cursor styles are supported including underline, block, blinking and non-blinking. A cursor ruler (cross hair guide) is provided also. The cursor can be configured to automatically toggle between an underline and block whenever insert mode is on or off.

Hotspots are designated text strings that appear in the host screen that perform specified functions when they are clicked with the mouse. Hotspot functions can be used to send 3270 keys to the host or run a macro script. When hotspots are configured to be visible, they appear like Windows dialog box buttons.

Mouse buttons can be customized to perform special functions, send keys to the host or run a macro script.

PASSPORT PC to Host® provides toolbar customization as well as a customizable pop-up keypad to send common keys to the host or run macro scripts. The PASSPORT Web to Host® 3270 terminal emulator also provides a toolbar and three customizable button bars to send common keys to the host or run macro scripts.

Macro Scripting

The PASSPORT macro scripting language is based on the Microsoft Visual Basic scripting language. Macro scripts are used to automate common repetitive tasks. A macro script can be assigned to a key on the keyboard, keypad, toolbar, button bar or mouse button. A macro script can be run when hotspot text is clicked on with the mouse. A start-up logon macro can be configured to automatically run after connection when the host session is established.

When a macro command is executed, PASSPORT runs a separate program that is actually a HLLAPI application. This HLLAPI application utilizes both the Microsoft VB Script and the PASSPORT HLLAPI module to run the macro.

Attachmate EXTRA!® Macros Can Be Converted to Work with PASSPORT

To use Zephyr's PASSPORT terminal emulation as an alternative to Attachmate's EXTRA!® terminal emulation, we have created an Attachmate Macro Conversion Tool that automatically converts Attachmate macros into a format that can be used with PASSPORT. Hundreds, or even thousands, of Attachmate macros can now be collected, converted and delivered to Zephyr clients in a manner of days. The Attachmate EXTRA!® Macro Conversion Tool is not sold, but is offered as a free service for Zephyr clients with 500 or more licensed units under an annual Subscription License.

APIs for Screen Scraping Applications

PASSPORT includes 2 APIs for screen-based legacy integration: PASSPORT HLLAPI (High Level Language Application Program Interface) and PASSPORT Object API.

HLLAPI is an older industry standard method for writing PC based programs that need to communicate with an IBM System Z mainframe using a 3270 terminal emulation program. Typical HLLAPI applications can present users with a more friendly user interface to host applications and can be used to automate routine functions such as file transfer. The PASSPORT 3270 emulation program supports 32-bit application programs, but does not support 16-bit HLLAPI or DOS HLLAPI programs.

PASSPORT also provides an Object API (Application Programming Interface) for new screen scraping projects. Both Zephyr PASSPORT PC to Host® and PASSPORT Web to Host® include the Attachmate-compatible Object API that lets you reuse existing screen-scraping applications written for Attachmate EXTRA!®. In most cases, the Attachmate EXTRA! screen-scraping applications can be used 'as-is' with the Zephyr PASSPORT alternative terminal emulation software.

The PASSPORT Object Interface provides compatibility with the Attachmate EXTRA! OLE automation support and exposes terminal emulation objects such as the entire group of sessions, a single session, screen, area, OIA, keypad, etc. Applications that require host access and need to control multiple host sessions can use the Object API.

C++, Visual Basic, VB Script, Java Script or any language that can use the Microsoft COM object interface can be used for development. Developer assistance is provided to customers and opportunities with 100 or more units of the PASSPORT telnet 3270 client. The PASSPORT Object Toolkit, a time-saving developer resource, is available to no charge for customers or prospects with 500 or more units of the PASSPORT software.

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