Neon light shines on mainframe connectivity

These days, if you're faced with the task of providing browser-based connectivity to an S/390 mainframe, the only problem you won't have is choice. There is a plethora of terminal emulation products offered by an ever-growing number of vendors. Unfortunately, all of these vendors claim to have the fastest, most secure and most cost-effective solution, with support for Java, Active Server Pages for Microsoft IIS, ActiveX and more besides.

Most of the products available also require software to be installed on the desktop and/or server. This makes management and security a problem when compared to the controlled mainframe environment.

On the other hand, programmers and application developers are eager to embrace these new technologies and use them to extend the functionality of the mainframe for users.

Neon Systems has taken a different approach to mainframe connectivity by developing a suite of middleware products that all run as MVS programs on the mainframe itself. Neon believes that a key strength of its Shadow Server suite is that MVS programmers and developers will have little trouble implementing web-based applications with it, because the environment is completely familiar to them.

"Our customers run the majority of their mission-critical systems on the mainframe. Therefore, they have stringent requirements when it comes to the reliability, performance, scalability and security of their applications," said Mark Cresswell, MD for Neon Systems UK.

"Neon's Shadow Direct product - upon which Shadow Web Server is built - is deployed in over 200 of the largest sites worldwide, supporting mission-critical systems with user bases frequently in the thousands. There is no better testament to the ability of Neon solutions to deliver the 'production class' qualities our customers demand for their new web applications," he said.

Shadow Direct offers more than a simple screen scraping replacement for the venerable 3270 terminal. The Shadow Direct Server provides monitoring and logging services on behalf of all server, database and transaction modules.

Two server modules are currently available - Shadow ODBC Server and Shadow Web Server. A third, the Shadow Object Server, is close to release. These modules run on the Shadow Direct Server, which in turn supports the database server modules for DB2, IMS/DB and ADABAS as well as transaction server modules for CICS and IMS/TM.

Modules can be purchased to specific requirements, and an activation key is provided for each module. When the software is delivered the tape cartridge contains all currently available modules. You then enter the activation codes for the modules you have purchased.

If at a later stage you decide to implement other modules, it is possible to pay for them, receive the code and install them from the same tape.

Client-side software, which allows you to run off-host data manipulation applications on a PC or server, is supplied on CD-ROM and is included in the basic purchase price.

In MVS-speak Shadow Direct is an MVS Started Task (STC) with its own highly scalable address space. An MVS thread is established for each client request, which ensures that mainframe resources are tightly controlled.

Shadow Web Server provides an HTML conversion function that enables applications to be accessed with any browser package. This allows users to access mainframe-hosted databases and transaction services with a familiar browser.

An additional level of security can be implemented by making use of Shadow Web Server's support for Secure Sockets Layer (SSL).

For business users, there is a choice of CICS or IMS/TM transaction and database server modules.

Both of these modules use a data mapping facility to ensure that all data types are correctly presented to the client support modules.

Finally, a database server is available with support for DB2, ADABAS and IMS/DB-based applications.

FAST FACTS What is it?: Neon Systems Shadow Direct Server

What does it do?: Middleware solution for IBM mainframe connectivity.

PROS: Software hosted on mainframe itself, provides a familiar environment for MVS developers, more than a simple screen-scraping replacement for 3270 terminals.

CONS: Specifically for S/390 systems

AVAILABILITY: Neon Systems (0181) 607 9911, www.neonsys.com

PRICE: Starting from #18,000.