IBM Unveils Industry’s Most Complete Portfolio of Products For Web-to-Host Computing
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RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC (June 23, 1998) – ..For the first time, companies with multi-faceted computer networks can turn to a single vendor for all the software needed to access data and applications across the entire enterprise — including via the Web.
IBM today announced a wide array of new products and enhancements to its eNetwork* Software family of host integration products, which will create competitive advantage for customers who want to integrate existing applications with the Web. New functions such as Host Publisher — available with Version 6.0 of IBM eNetwork Communications Server for Windows NT — maximize the value of a company’s computing assets and extend business reach by providing the most complete web-to-host solution in the industry. The single, integrated solution allows easy access for employees, suppliers, business partners and customers.
“Connecting legacy applications to the Internet is not accomplished by simply gluing a Web interface on current applications,” said Tim Sloane, director of Internet Infrastructure Research, The Aberdeen Group, a Boston-based research firm. ” One of the prime goals for Web-enabling existing applications is to allow customers and partners to obtain more accurate information by eliminating the need and expense for a staff intermediary. With these multiple advantages, it should be no surprise that Web-based self-service solutions are the fastest growing use of the Internet today.”
Many companies face challenges in integrating their large, heterogeneous networks so that any machine can securely reach applications and data on any host or server, regardless of differing computing architectures. IBM’s solution for host integration provides a simple way to access that data without having to manage a variety of software packages from multiple vendors, or rewrite applications.
“Used together, these products enable secure access — from anywhere — to critical business information and applications for all of a company’s employees, customers and partners,” said Ed Harbour, director, business line management, IBM eNetwork Software. “It’s a competitive advantage for companies that want to extend their sales channels, provide new services and make product information available real-time on the Web.”
An array of new products and offerings is being announced today, including:
The IBM eNetwork Host Integration Solution — which, in a comprehensive software package, gives users secure access to mission-critical business systems, regardless of platform or network environment. Priced at $159** USD per user, the flexible client/server software offers a simple, fixed-price-per-user pricing structure, along with associated services. It consists of IBM eNetwork Communications Server for Windows NT, version 6.0 (or Communications Server for OS/2* or AIX*), IBM eNetwork Personal Communications (for OS/2, DOS and Windows 3.1/Windows 95/Windows NT), and IBM eNetwork Host On-Demand.
IBM Communications Server for Windows NT, version 6.0 — featuring Host Publisher, which provides a Web-to-host solution specifically designed to address the unique characteristics of the Internet. World-class security features and scalability make Host Publisher a premier tool for integrating existing applications with the Web. Going beyond traditional terminal emulation and screen scraping, Host Publisher provides easy-to-use access to multiple a broad range of existing systems using Java, ActiveX and ODBC interfaces;
In addition to Host Publisher, other enhancements to Communications Server for Windows NT include:
TN5250 Server, which gives TCP/IP users running industry-standard TN5250 clients easy access to AS/400* applications — including shared folders — with the option of using Secure Sockets Layer for session transport;
LDAP Support, which provides access to configurations for easier network implementation;
Tivoli TME 10 Support, which allows simple installation and distribution of Communications Server;
Enterprise Extender, which provides SNA-like reliability, scalability and control to intranets and other IP-based environments;
Load Balancing, which allows greater efficiency of servers by evenly distributing data across parallel or multiple Communications Servers;
Hot Standby, which ensures that configured connections to a host will still function when a critical server fails by activating a backup server connection; and
Branch Extender, which improves scalability and lowers costs for APPN customers with numerous branch offices.
IBM eNetwork Communications Server for UnixWare 7 — which runs on Intel processor-based servers using the latest version of UnixWare 7. It extends the powerful Communications Server capabilities — such as SNA gateway, integrated TN3270E server, high performance routing and APPN support — to the UnixWare 7 enterprise environment. A graphical user interface simplifies configuration and management, increasing the productivity of administrators and technical staff, and high performance routing automatically re-directs traffic around network congestion without disrupting a user’s session
Source: IBM