Comms Server Vs Hcon 3270 Connection
ITEM: RS4000003293
Question........:
A customer of mine has heard that 3270 Host Connection for AIX V4
(5765-398) is not being developed any further, and that PTFs will no
longer be released for it after June this year. First off, can you
confirm/deny this.
He is also about to purchase Communications Server (5765-652) and
wants to know if HCON is now bundled within this, or he still does
actually have to buy HCON seperately to get the 3270 connection.
Answer..........:
====> THIS TEXT HAS BEEN ENTERED BY IBM IN UK
(1) It's possible there's some confusion here because 3270 Host
Connection for AIX V4 (5765-398) replaced 3270 Emulation for
X-Windows systems (5765-011). This latter product is indeed
being withdrawn from marketing in May and so will "not be
developed any further" although the announcement letter
explicitly said that service would continue and so PTFs
WILL continue to "be released for it".
(2) The announcement letter for Communications Server (5765-652)
states that single session 3270 emulation is provided so
if that is sufficient then no extra product will be
required.
Question........:
Can you additionally explain what the single user session on the
Comms Server product actually involves. Is it literally that only
one user can connect, or lot's of users can connect and have one
emulator session each.
Also does Hcon allow as many 3270 sessions on as many users as
possible?
Answer..........:
====> THIS TEXT HAS BEEN ENTERED BY IBM IN UK
From the original Announcement,
ZP96-0239 IBM Communications Server for AIX, Version 4,
"3270 EMULATION
Included with the Communications Server for AIX is a single-user
license
for IBM 3270 Host Connections Program. This single-user license is
provid
at no additional charge. The total 3270 Host Connection Program is
shippe
as an integrated part of the media for the Communications Server but
authorization is limited to a single-user and it can be installed only
on
one machine. To extend to the full multi-user version of Host
Connection
Program (5765-398), place an additional order for this licensed program
using the ordering information provided for that product. The Terms and
Conditions associated with the Host Connection Program will apply to
this
order".
I believe this is intended to be both single user and single
session. Definitely NOT lots of users with one session each.
Regarding HCON's session and user support (your last question) :
HCON can have up to 26 session profiles per userid.
We will get back to you on the "future of HCON" query and, perhaps
more importantly, with some comments on alternative solutions.
Please do not consider this query finally Closed until you hear from
us again.
Answer..........:
====> THIS TEXT HAS BEEN ENTERED BY IBM IN UK
There are three ways that the AIX users could get 3270 sessions :
1. The TN3270 solution - Comms Server for AIX together with
SNA Client Access for AIX (separate product) provides Telnet 3270E
server functions to TN3270E/TN3270 clients.
The "clients" will need a TN3270 program - options include PCOM.
2. The "Host on Demand" solution - otherwise known as accessing SNA
computers directly from Web Browsers! This is another TN3270
solution.
Suitable for occasional access. You don't need to install an
emulation
program on the clients. You need an Internet Connection Server and
a Comms Server and, on the client, a Java-enabled browser.
When the client requires 3270 access it goes to a URL and downloads
a 3270 Jave applet (TN3270-like) which then runs in the client and
"points to" a server running Comms Server.
This also requires SNA Client Access for AIX on the Comms Server.
Host on Demand for Comms Server for AIX is currently available at
no additional charge from the WWW.
3. The HCON solution - In this solution, the session runs in HCON on
the AIX box rather than on the "client". The client Telnets into
the AIX box then runs HCON. The code required on the client is
Telnet.
Any and every self-respecting TCP/IP implementation includes Telnet.
The "future of HCON" query has gone to the US and we'll let you
know when we hear something.
Answer..........:
====> THIS TEXT HAS BEEN ENTERED BY IBM IN UK
Response from the Comms Server for AIX Brand Mgr in the US :
Please think carefully before relaying this to your customer - I
suggest a "need to know" approach.
It is my understanding that we do not have any plans to enhance our
current AIX emulator products.This includes HCON as well as X3270.
TN3270 and Host On-Demand would be a good alternative to look at.
We are currently working on closing a software cooperative marketing
agreement with CNT/Brixton to resell their 3270 clients. These clients
are TN3270 emulators that run on several different platforms including
AIX. The functions of these emulators will be more than what HCON
provides, more similar to what our PCOM provides.
WWQA: ITEM: RS4000003293 ITEM: RS4000003293
Dated: 02/1997 Category: TECAIXSW
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