Cisco WebAccess for S/390

Product Overview

Cisco WebAccess for S/390 is a product family designed to allow users with a web browser and Java capable network computers to securely and efficiently access legacy, mainframe-based applications and data. The two initial products in the family are OpenConnect Systems' OC://WebConnect and OpenVista. New WebAccess for S/390 products and enhancements will be produced to allow even more efficient use of network resources, unbeatable end-to-end security, and extension of Cisco IOS technologies from the desktop to the mainframe.

OC://WebConnect

OC://WebConnect resides on a network-based server, and downloads Java applets to web browsers, providing a secure, persistent connection between browsers and legacy hosts. Instead of requiring each desktop system or network computer to install specialized emulation software, OC://WebConnect provides the green-screen interface to legacy systems through a standard web browser. Users can access mainframe or midrange-based applications and data because OC://WebConnect supports multiple legacy datastreams: TN3270, TN5250, and VT220.

When accessing mainframe applications, OC://WebConnect interoperates with the Cisco Channel Interface Processor (CIP) running the TN3270 server or with Cisco IOS for S/390. Using patent-pending technology, OC://WebConnect establishes a persistent SNA connection from the user's browser to the IBM mainframe. This communication model is based on the traditional IBM SNA communication model. It guarantees that when a user logs off or is disconnected, the user's session is not left in an open state. This SNA security is coupled with industry-standard RSA encryption technology, ensuring that every packet of information between the web browser and the OC://WebConnect server is secure. In addition, OC://WebConnect fully supports IBM mainframe authentication programs such as RACF, ACF2, and TopSecret.

OpenVista

OpenVista is a tool that operates with OC://WebConnect to allow the traditional host green-screen interface to be rejuvenated to the familiar browser-style interface. An integrated development environment, OpenVista allows corporate developers to rapidly rejuvenate these user interfaces without reprogramming the legacy applications. OpenVista enables on-the-fly development of TN3270 and TN5250 front-end Java applets, without any prior Java knowledge or Java programming experience. OpenVista's unique visual interface allows developers to create simplified user screens, or to automate processes normally associated with multiple mainframe views such as logging on and finding, accessing, manipulating, and viewing information located within traditional legacy data applications and repositories.

Standard Features

Cisco WebAccess for S/390 includes the following features:

• TN3270, TN5250, and VT220 support

• RSA RC4/2 40-bit exportable encryption

• Persistent SNA connection

• Java-based implementation

• Ability to rejuvenate character-based applications

• Keyboard and color remapping

• Reduced software distribution costs

• Full support for RACF, ACF2, TopSecret

• Support for Cisco CIP TN3270 server, Cisco IOS for S/390, and other TN3270/TN5250/VT220 gateways

• Integrated help desk function displays: number of users, connect time by user, IP address/port number, gateway connection, and logical unit (LU) name and address

Prerequisite Software

OC://WebConnect server component requires one of the following operating systems:

• Sun Solaris

• Sun Netra

• HP-UX

• IBM AIX

• Windows NT

It also requires a web browser, which can be any Java-capable web browser, including Netscape Navigator, Microsoft Explorer, and Sun HotJava.

OpenVista requires:

• Windows NT workstation 4.0, Windows 95, Sun Solaris

• 32 MB of RAM, Pentium-class processor

Product Numbers

Table 12-16 lists the product numbers for all Cisco WebAccess for S/390 licenses.

Table 12-16: Cisco WebAccess for S/390 Product Numbers

Description	Product Number
OC://WebConnect, English	SW-OCS-WC-EN
OC://WebConnect, German	SW-OCS-WC-GE
OC://WebConnect, Spanish	SW-OCS-WC-SP
OC://WebConnect, French	SW-OCS-WC-FR
OC://WebConnect Pro, 1 concurrent user	SW-OCS-WC-1S
OC://WebConnect Pro (w/OpenVista), English	SW-OCS-WCPRO-EN
OC://WebConnect Pro (w/OpenVista), German	SW-OCS-WCPRO-GE
OC://WebConnect Pro (w/OpenVista), Spanish	SW-OCS-WCPRO-SP
OC://WebConnect Pro (w/OpenVista), French	SW-OCS-WCPRO-FR
OC://WebConnect Pro (w/OpenVista), 1 concurrent user	SW-OCS-WCPRO-1S
OC://WebConnect, No encryption, French	SW-OCS-WC-NO-FR
OC://WebConnect Pro (w/OpenVista), No encryption, French	SW-OCS-WCPRO-NO-FR