Which versions of Windows does PASSPORT support?

• We have completed Microsoft's Winqual testing program to ensure full compatibility with Windows 7
• PASSPORT PC TO HOST 2007 is Certified for Windows Vista
• PASSPORT WEB TO HOST 2007 can be used with Windows Vista and has received the "Works with Windows Vista" designation
• Yes, PASSPORT versions 2007 and higher support Windows Vista 64bit.
• PASSPORT does not support any Microsoft operating system that is no longer supported by Microsoft. For more information on Microsoft product support status, see http://support.microsoft.com/lifecycle/.

Is PASSPORT compatible with Attachmate EXTRA!^® and other standard emulators?

All of the major terminal emulation suites, including Attachmate EXTRA!^® and PASSPORT, are very similar in terms of architecture and overall design. This makes sense given that all of the programs are developed for Microsoft Windows and that we all use the same Internet Engineering Task Force (IETF) specifications governing the TN3270E, TN5250E, VT, SCO ANSI, Wyse and other IP-based protocols.

Many of the dialogue boxes, icons, installation programs and more are drawn from the same development resources giving the applications a similar look and feel. The biggest differences are found in the Application Programming Interfaces and scripting. Yet even here, PASSPORT includes both Attachmate-compatible APIs to reuse existing screen-scraping applications 'as-is' and features macro conversion tools to ease the transition to PASSPORT (see below).

Given the extensive compatibility, PASSPORT is the number one choice to replace Attachmate EXTRA! when organizations seek to choose a comparable, but less expensive, host access solution. In the U.S., the large majority of PASSPORT users were former Attachmate clients.

How can Attachmate EXTRA!^® users be easily converted to PASSPORT?

To ease the transition from Attachmate EXTRA!^® to PASSPORT, we have created an Attachmate Macro Conversion Tool that automatically converts the proprietary Attachmate macros, developed using EXTRA! Objects, into standard Visual Basic (for use with PASSPORT). Hundreds, or even thousands, of Attachmate macros can now be collected, converted and delivered to clients in a manner of days.

The Zephyr Attachmate EXTRA!^® Macro Conversion Tool is not sold, but is offered as a free service for clients with 500 or more licensed units under an annual subscription license. For more information, please contact Zephyr Customer Support: http://www.zephyrcorp.com/support.htm

Zephyr is also pleased to offer the PASSPORT Object Toolkit , a time-saving development tool designed to help application and web programmers transition applications written for Attachmate^® EXTRA!^® Personal Client to PASSPORT PC TO HOST^® terminal emulation software. Since the PASSPORT Object Interface is compatible with the Attachmate EXTRA!^® OLE automation support interface, your Attachmate application can be easily re-linked and used with PASSPORT 'as-is'.

The PASSPORT Object Toolkit is available free of charge to customers who license at least 500 units of PASSPORT via an annual subscription license. Learn more about the PASSPORT Object Toolkit .

What is the difference between PASSPORT PC TO HOST^® and PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^®?

PASSPORT PC TO HOST^® provides TN3270, TN5250, VT100, VT220, VT420, SCO ANSI or Wyse 60 terminal emulation, as well as FTP file transfer, from a Microsoft Windows desktop. The Certified for Windows Vista terminal emulation suite can also be published from a Citrix Presentation Server^®, Microsoft Terminal Server^® or VMware^® platform.

PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® provides the same terminal emulation , but runs within the framework of Internet Explorer^® and can be deployed from a standard web server (generally a Microsoft IIS web server or IBM WebSphere^® Application Server). PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® can also be used from a VMware^® platform.

For clients with strong security settings in IE, PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® features the ability to distribute an MSI version of the PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® client.

How does PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® differ from IBM Host on Demand?

PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® was designed specifically for Internet Explorer and Microsoft Windows whereas IBM Host on Demand is Java-based. With PASSPORT, users can continue to use Windows functions like Cut, Copy and Paste with the emulator and have use of the full PC keyboard.

Is PASSPORT published in languages other than English?

All product menus and dialog boxes of PASSPORT PC TO HOST can be viewed in one of six languages including English, German, Spanish, French, Italian and Portuguese (European and Brazilian).

What is the difference between PASSPORT PC TO HOST^® and PASSPORT WEB TO HOST?

The terminal emulation and file transfer featured in both Zephyr terminal emulation suites is identical.

PASSPORT PC TO HOST^® provides desktop-based terminal emulation and file transfer. Most customers use SMS, MSI or a comparable software distribution tool to distribute the application. You can also publish the application from a Citrix server, with or without the use of the Citrix single sign-on solution.

As the name implies, PASSPORT WEB TO HOST is a browser-based terminal emulator that runs within the framework of Internet Explorer. PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® provides the same terminal emulation and file transfer found in PASSPORT PC TO HOST, but is generally deployed from a web server (it can also be deployed using SMS or MSI). The web-based solution can be used to integrate host access through an organizational portal.

What are the advantages of PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^®?

The primary advantages of using a web-based terminal emulator for host access over a desktop-based thick client are portal integration (the ability to launch host sessions from a corporate or organizational intranet) and centralized administration.

With centralized administration, all configuration and management of the application is done on the web server. There is no need to install and configure the client software on each client PC. When a new release of the software becomes available, only the web server needs to be upgraded. The new software will be detected and automatically downloaded to the client PC, eliminating the need to manually install an update on each desktop.

This publishing model can render significant savings for network administrators and is especially helpful if you have lots of remote users. Experts estimate that a 25% savings can be realized for host access simply by migrating to this model.

How does PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® work?

PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® is an ActiveX component that performs 3270, 5250, VT100/VT220/VT420, SCO ANSI and Wyse 60 terminal emulation within Internet Explorer. It also includes FTP file transfer.

A typical scenario under which PASSPORT WEB TO HOST can be used is described here:

The PASSPORT session is launched from the PASSPORT web site. The URL http://Yourwebsite/pec/ is the default URL used to launch a PASSPORT session. The user is prompted for their user name with an option to choose a button to launch a host session directly. Based on the user name, a list of available sessions will appear. The session name is actually the name of an HTML file used to launch the session.

When the session is launched, an ActiveX component is downloaded to the end user's PC from the web server. 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 later version. Once downloaded, the user simply accesses the host by launching a browser session that connects directly to the host.

What is the PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® administrator?

The PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® Administrator consists of three parts: the Administrator web site, the Administrator Configuration Program and the PASSPORT web site The Administrator web site contains information on setup, QuickStart, configuration, deployment, support, help and also starts the Administrator Configuration Program.

The Administrator Configuration Program, which looks and feels like Windows Explorer, Internet Explorer and the Microsoft^® BackOffice product family, is used to configure session profiles, users and groups, keyboard layouts and attribute settings. The PASSPORT web site is what the end user views in Internet Explorer before establishing a session with the host. For a more detailed discussion refer to the PASSPORT WEB TO HOST^® Administrator Setup and General Information.

Does PASSPORT support serial modem connections?

No, PASSPORT does not support serial modem connections. PASSPORT only supports telnet connections over TCP/IP.

Is PASSPORT affected by Daylight Savings Time?

PASSPORT is not affected by Daylight Savings Time because it uses the local PC's Date/Time resource.

Is PASSPORT 508 Compliant?

PASSPORT terminal emulation is compliant with Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of the United States. Section 508 requires that Federal agencies' electronic and information technology is accessible to people with disabilities. For more information on PASSPORT and Section 508 certification, you can download the PASSPORT Section 508 certification document (pdf).