Host Access Solutions: Terminal Emulation Software and Host Integration

IBM Host on Demand® Replacement

ActiveX PASSPORT an Ideal Replacement for Java-based IBM Host on Demand

IBM Host on Demand Replacement: Trial Download

The mature, feature-rich PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® package is an ideal replacement for incumbent emulators, including IBM Host on Demand and IBM Personal Communications®. With its competitive pricing and licensing options, you can save thousands on the amount of money you would normally spend for host access.

Cost-Effective Subscription Licensing

For less than the cost most users pay for annual maintenance of products like IBM Host on Demand, Zephyr will issue a license of PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® that includes host access, support and upgrades in a single package. As such, there are no extra maintenance costs. No hidden fees, and no surprises. Just fast, reliable emulation at a great price.

PASSPORT Major Features

• Provides access to IBM mainframe, AS/400 and UNIX host applications
• TN3270, TN3270E, TN5250, TN5250E, VT420, VT220, VT100, SCO ANSI and Wyse 60 terminal emulation
• Standalone FTP client and integrated FTP file transfer within terminal emulation session
• PASSPORT PC TO HOST® is certified for Windows Vista®
• Supports Windows XP and 2000
• Advanced SSL security available for each host session
• Advanced SSH security available for each UNIX host session
• Secure FTP file transfer using SSL and SSH security
• IND$FILE file transfer to IBM mainframe
• Supports Citrix Password Manager
• HLLAPI available to reuse existing screen scraping applications
• Attachmate-compatible EXTRA! Objects API to reuse existing EXTRA! screen scraping applications
• VBScript to record, edit and run productivity enhancing macros
• Host printing supported through the TN3270E or TN5250E client
• Pass-through printing available for VT or SCO ANSI client
• Ability to open multiple host sessions, uniquely configure each session
• Customizable keyboard layout, mouse buttons, keypads, toolbars, hotspots, colors, fonts, cursor and more

Advantages of ActiveX over Java

• ActiveX components contain full 32-bit native code as opposed to 8-bit byte code of Java applets, making JavaT significantly slower than ActiveX
• ActiveX components are only downloaded the first time they are accessed and each time a new version of the software is updated, keeping network congestion to a minimum
• ActiveX applets are more stable than Java applets on Microsoft Windows desktops, easing maintenance requirements
• All Windows API functions are available and called directly with an ActiveX applet
• ActiveX has a consistent look and feel between Word, Excel or any ActiveX application

ActiveX, a component architecture developed by Microsoft®, allows applets to be downloaded from a web server and executed within Internet Explorer. JavaT, a programming language and component architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, also allows applets to be downloaded from a web server and executed in a web browser. JavaT applets can be run in various web browsers including both the Microsoft® Internet Explorer and Netscape Navigator.

JavaT Virtual Machine

JavaT applets are compiled into an intermediate code known as byte code, which is then interpreted by a virtual machine. The virtual machine runs within a web browser, and the web browser on top of the operating system. Because JavaT is an interpreted language and there are many layers of software, the compilation and interpretation causes JavaT to be significantly slower than ActiveX. There's more.

Byte Code vs Full 32-bit Code

JavaT applets, once downloaded to the browser, contain 8-bit byte code. ActiveX components on the other hand contain full 32-bit native code. This is one more reason why JavaT is significantly slower than ActiveX components. To correct this, JavaT JIT (just in time) compilers have been introduced that compile the 8-bit code into 32-bit code during the download and execution of a JavaT applet. And while this has increased the speed of JavaT applets, it's not been enough. How does this compare to the Microsoft® solution?

Applet Download

ActiveX components are only downloaded the first time they are accessed and each time a new version of the software is updated. On the other hand, JavaT applets are downloaded every time they are accessed, which has the potential to add to network congestion. There are some configurations for specific JavaT applets that use caching to store the applets locally, but this entails additional administration and may not work on all platforms or with all web browsers.

JavaT Interpretation Issues

Since JavaT virtual machines must interpret JavaT byte code, during the execution of the JavaT applet it must also translate JavaT library calls into Windows operating system calls. From time to time there are no one-on-one mappings between JavaT API and Windows API calls. These discrepancies can result in reliability problems, especially with host printing, user interface automation and advanced terminal emulator functions.

ActiveX - True 32-bit Windows Code

Since ActiveX is tightly integrated with the Microsoft® Windows operating system and Internet Explorer, all Windows API functions are available and called directly. ActiveX provides the same degree of reliability found in thick clients designed for Windows. This consistency makes ActiveX solutions more reliable.

Write Once, Run Anywhere?

Portability is the main advantage of JavaT. The original idea behind JavaT was to be able to "write once, run anywhere", at least this is the idea that Sun and IBM® promote. However, Microsoft® views JavaT as a programming language and has decided to optimize the language for its Windows operating systems.

If a JavaT applet is written to be 100% compliant with the Sun Microsystems JavaT 1.1 specification, the applet will most likely run on a number of various platforms: Internet Explorer, Netscape, Sun, UNIX® and other systems that have JavaT virtual machine. However, if a JavaT application is written using the Microsoft® Visual J++ development software with the Microsoft® extensions, it most likely will not run on a Sun JavaT virtual machine. With the dominance of Windows, its not surprising to find that the majority of web-enabled client applications have been written using Microsoft® Visual J++.

Because the JavaT language has splintered in two directions, the "write once, run anywhere" idea is being tested. Also, Microsoft® is working on the ability to port its ActiveX technology to other platforms other than Windows, including Macintosh and UNIX®. Long term, this issue has yet to be decided.

Security with Java Virtual Machine

The original JavaT 1.0 virtual machine had many restrictions that promoted optimum security. These restrictions prohibited the JavaT applet from writing to the hard disk, accessing the printer and communicating with IP host addresses other than the machine it was downloaded from. For web to host applications, the restrictions would prevent file transfers, host printing, or access a host mainframe using other 3270 servers. With the JavaT 1.1, these restrictions were eliminated.

Security with ActiveX

ActiveX components also have the ability to write to the hard disk, use the printer and communicate with IP host addresses other than the machine it was downloaded from. Because of the fear that a malicious ActiveX JavaT applet from an unknown source could destroy a user's hard disk, Microsoft® instituted digital certificates. A digital certificate guarantees that a downloaded ActiveX or JavaT applet is from a specific company and is certified by a reputable authority such as Verisign. Digital certificates guarantee that the signed applet hasn't been corrupted by a hacker.

Secure Sockets Layer

SSL security is also available for both ActiveX and JavaT web to host solutions. SSL is the de facto Internet security standard originally developed by Netscape and provides both authentication and encryption to prevent eavesdropping and tampering of your 3270 or 5250 host session(s). This feature can be critical for those organizations that remotely access the host across the Internet. PASSPORT supports SSL for the PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® terminal emulator.

SSH Security

PASSPORT also supports Secure Shell (SSH) for VT, SCO ANSI and Wyse 60 terminal emulation sessions, as well as FTP file transfer. In order to use the PASSPORT SSH feature, you must connect to a host system that supports the SSH Secure Shell protocol. Secure Shell provided by PASSPORT is based on the PuTTY implementation of SSH for Win32.

Interface Issues

A benefit of using ActiveX is the consistent look and feel between Word, Excel or any ActiveX application. Applications that adhere to the Sun JavaT specification lose this benefit. PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® actually merges its menus with Internet Explorer and provides identical toolbars and button bars to those found in IE.

Windows and Internet Explorer

Windows is tightly integrated with Internet Explorer. That's because the Internet continues to play a greater role in business and must be integrated throughout applications like Microsoft Office. This single factor could play a key role in determining the web platform of choice for most Fortune 1000 firms as they incorporate the Internet in eCommerce.

If Microsoft® Windows® is a strategic computing platform for your company, an ActiveX web to host solution offers performance, reliability, features and ease of use advantages over JavaT.

PASSPORT's use of the latest Microsoft® development tools for both PC and web to host solutions, including Visual C/C++, the Microsoft® Foundation Class, and Visual Basic Script ensures a seamless migration to Windows Vista. PASSPORT PC TO HOST® is certified for Windows Vista®.

To seamlessly switch IBM Host on Demand software users to PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® for host access, focus must be placed on the following areas:

User Preferences

PASSPORT offers flexible customization options, including an easily customizable keyboard layout, that can be configured and saved as part of a standard session profile for users. It’s very important to duplicate these user interfaces for a successful transition.

HLLAPI

Some IBM Host on Demand software users have internally developed or third party applications that use the industry-standard HLLAPI (High Level Language Application Programming Interface) to extract and pass data using the host session. If you’ve developed HLLAPI applications using Visual C or Visual Basic, in most cases it will work with PASSPORT without any modification.

Scripting and Macros

Some IBM Host on Demand software users have developed scripts to automate routine host access functions. Network administrators have recorded log-on macros to help users launch their host access session(s). If this is a requirement, PASSPORT supports the use of VB Script and Visual Basic for macro development and session-based integration.

Host Printing

For those who use IBM Host on Demand for TN3270 or TN5250 host printing, PASSPORT excels in this area. By simply configuring an LU as a 3287 LU 1 or 3 session, you can route host print data through PASSPORT.

Increased Efficiency, Reliability and Speed

As a rich host access suite, PASSPORT properly handles the IP-based host data stream. So there’s no session lockups, no need to reboot the PC, no problems with cut and paste, etc. And, for many users, there is the added benefit of faster communication with the host – especially if you access the OS/390 system directly. That’s because PASSPORT is a pure 32-bit application that’s designed specifically for Microsoft Windows.

The bottom line is that you can solve persistent maintenance problems and see a noticeable improvement in speed by migrating from IBM Host on Demand to PASSPORT.

Quicktrial or Download Options

There are two ways to evaluate the PASSPORT software: either download a copy of the software or do a QuickTrial of the PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® application. With QuickTrial, there is no server installation, you simply download the client from our web server. This is a fast and easy way to look at the PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® software. For those that want to install the PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® software on their own web server, you can download the full working copy of the software and complete a full evaluation.

Replace IBM Host on Demand

Trademarks

IBM and IBM Host on Demand are trademarks of IBM Corporation. Zephyr, PASSPORT PC TO HOST, PASSPORT WEB TO HOST and PASSPORT Host Integration Objects are trademarks of Zephyr. PASSPORT PC TO HOST® and PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® are registered trademarks of Zephyr. All other trademarks, trade names, or company names referenced herein are used for identification only and are the property of their respective owners.