Windows Server Products - Host Integration Server
[Posted by: Darran Tompkins]
Microsoft Host Integration Server 2000 extends Windows to other systems by providing application, data, and network integration. Host Integration Server lets you quickly adapt to new business opportunities while preserving existing infrastructure investments.
Host Integration Server 2000 enables you to embrace Internet, intranet, and client/server technologies while preserving investments in existing systems. This document lets you to learn what makes Host Integration Server the easiest, most affordable application integration platform for an enterprise company.
Host Integration Server 2000, the follow-up release to Microsoft's highly successful SNA Server, extends Microsoft Windows® to other systems by providing application, data, and network integration. Host Integration Server lets you quickly adapt to new business opportunities while preserving existing infrastructure investments. With its enterprise-class scalability, performance, and reliability, Host Integration Server can support the most demanding business needs.
Host Integration Server 2000 is Microsoft Corp.’s new SNA gateway for the end-user to Internet, intranet or client-server environments, permitting the integration of existing mainframe application and database information into new Windows applications.
The platform is the Windows 2000 upgrade of the SNA Server that performed the same function for the BackOffice Suite on Windows NT systems – plus features unique to Windows 2000 that are geared toward high-end use.
Applications are integrated using COM+, XML and SOAP technologies. The new product makes it possible to make multiple data copies and move them to varying locations while automatically synchronizing data. It permits a two-way relationship between Oracle and SQL Server databases and also is designed to integrate with SQL Server 2000, BizTalk Server 2000 and Commerce Server 2000.
In March/2000, Microsoft entered into an agreement with Software AG (www.softwareag.com) to use its COM Transaction Integrator (COMTI) on Host Integration Server in order to covert Customer Information Control System (CICS) 3270 applications on IBM mainframes into running on a Windows 2000 or Windows NT Server.
This is a high-level overview that explains the features and functionality offered with Host Integration Server for comprehensive and flexible managed host access, and as an application integration tool that is an adaptable, easy, and affordable solution.
Where can you use Host Integration Server
An estimated 70 percent of all corporate data is stored on host systems, such as IBM mainframe and AS/400 computers. Yet, increasingly, organizations rely on personal computers together with Web-based and Windows®-based applications for everyday productivity and line-of-business solutions. Companies have discovered that Web and Windows solutions often are easier to learn and quicker to implement than comparable host-based applications. To preserve their time and capital investments in host technology, organizations must either migrate all of their host-based resources to the Windows platforms, which can be expensive and time-consuming, or integrate their host-based resources with more efficient Windows-based and Web-based solutions.
Integrating host-based data and applications with Web-based and Windows-based applications offers significant benefits, including:
- Preserves investment in currently deployed host and PC technology while taking advantage of new architectures and products being offered for the PC platform.
- Allows rapid deployment of custom, high-performance solutions, using a choice of Windows-based development tools and leveraging a large pool of qualified developers who do not need to know or learn host programming.
- Lowers administrative resources and reduces hardware expenses, thereby reducing the total cost of ownership (TCO).
Whether companies want to create data warehouses to improve decision-making, develop Web-based applications that perform transactions using host-based data, or allow users to include archived data in reports, Microsoft Host Integration Server 2000 offers integration components that make it easy to achieve those goals.
To help its customers achieve these benefits, Microsoft has offered a host integration solution since 1990, when it introduced Communication Server 1.0 in partnership with Digital Communications Associates. Microsoft SNA Server 2.0, which followed in 1992, allowed system administrators to send local area network (LAN) and SNA networking traffic across the same network infrastructure.
Since then, Microsoft has continued to improve SNA Server based on customers' needs, developing it into a complex and feature-rich product. Host Integration Server 2000 builds on the strengths of SNA Server 4.0 and offers a range of mature technologies that help companies solve their host integration challenges.
This is a high-level overview that explains the features and functionality offered with Host Integration Server for comprehensive and flexible managed host access, and as an application integration tool that is an adaptable, easy, and affordable solution.
Host Integration Server Features
Host Integration Server 2000 is the next version of Microsoft’s SNA Server 4.0 and is a comprehensive gateway and application integration platform that provides an organisation with the best way to embrace Internet, intranet, and client/server technologies while preserving investments in existing host based systems. HIS 2000 is the first product to extend the definition of a host-to-Web gateway to include a state-of-the art applications integration platform in one affordable, manageable product. Host Integration Server 2000 provides comprehensive bi-directional services for integrating Windows with legacy systems. Host Integration Server 2000 extends Windows to other platforms by providing interoperability in three areas:
- Application Integration Services
- Data Integration Services
- Network Integration Services
Microsoft changed the name from SNA Server to Host Integration Server. The name change reflects the full scope of functionality offered by this product and highlights Microsoft’s commitment to providing support and integration possibilities for back-end and host systems through increased performance and ease of configuration for DB2 access, COM+ support for integrated CICS/IMS transactions, and support for Microsoft Message Queue Server 2.0 and IBM’s MQSeries 5.1 for messaging-oriented middleware integration. These features allow users to build more scalable and reliable integrated solutions while maintaining transactional integrity. In addition, this product has been updated to take advantage of features inherent to the Windows 2000 platform.
How does HIS 2000 fit in with BizTalk?
The solutions are complementary. The BizTalk Initiative and associated BizTalk Server 2000 product, along with Host Integration Server 2000, provide essential integration frameworks and technologies for a complete end-to-end solution for customers. The BizTalk Framework helps create standardized formats that make it easier for business-to-business process integration. BizTalk Server 2000 will provide the necessary routing, transformation and business process integration tools and services. Host Integration Server 2000 provides the enterprise technology adapters that will allow new applications the ability to seamlessly "plug-in" to existing systems. The use of these three aspects together provides Microsoft's complete application integration solution.
Also, Host Integration Server 2000 does take advantage of new Windows 2000 features such as Active Directory, but you will also be able to take advantage of other new Host Integration Server 2000 features if you’re running on Windows NT.
Services for the Mainframe Environment
Host Integration Server 2000 offers a comprehensive host integration solution that provides the best way to embrace Internet, Intranet, and client/server technologies while preserving investments in existing enterprise computing platforms and technologies. Host Integration Server 2000 allows you to connect, integrate, and Web-enable heterogeneous legacy applications, data, and transaction environments for a variety of Microsoft products and technologies.
Systems Network Architecture (SNA) is a proprietary networking architecture developed by IBM that defines a set of communication protocols and message formats for managing network data. SNA defines methods for terminal access to mainframe computers, file transfer, printing, and peer-to-peer communications that allow applications to exchange data over a network.
Services for the AS/400 Environment
Host Integration Server 2000 offers a comprehensive integration solution that provides the best way to embrace Internet, Intranet, and client-server technologies, while preserving investments in existing enterprise computing platforms. Host Integration Server 2000 allows you to connect, integrate, and Web-enable heterogeneous legacy applications, data, and transaction environments in conjunction with a variety of Microsoft products and technologies.
In the AS/400 environment, all components on the network can communicate with each other. Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) is an IBM-developed network architecture that supports distributed processing. APPN defines how peer-oriented components communicate with each other, along with the level of network related services (e.g., routing services) that are supplied by each computer in the network. As shown in the following figure, Host Integration Server 2000 appears as a PU 2.1 Low-Entry Networking (LEN) node in an AS/400 environment.
Benefits and Features
Benefits
- Leverage investment in existing host systems
- Easiest, most affordable integration solutions
- Fastest time to market
- Mission-critical reliability
- Enterprise-class scalability and performance
Features and Functionality
Host Integration Server 2000 enables companies to respond quickly to rapidly evolving business and technology demands while preserving their investments in existing host technology. Host Integration Server 2000 includes a comprehensive set of integration components for connecting host-based data and transactions with new applications, allowing companies to design flexible solutions that meet their integration challenges.
Other Data Interoperability:
- COM+ support
- Dynamic routing to configured host region based on program selection
- IMS access via TCP/IP through OTMA
- Improved performance tuning and monitoring
MSMQ-MQSeries Bridge:
- Support for Microsoft Message Queue Server (MSMQ) version 2.0 and IBM MQSeries version 5.1
- Integrated setup with the rest of the product
- Encryption between MSMQ clients and the bridge
- Configuration wizard for easy installation
SNA Gateway:
- Multiple sessions for 3270 clients
- Better Web deployment of 3270 and 5250 clients
- Improved scalability of host print server
- Load balancing and hot backup for LU6.2 2PC applications
Host Security:
- One-way password synchronization with RACF, ACF/2, and Top Secret
- Better reliability and supportability using host security database based on Microsoft Data Engine (MSDE)
Administrative Enhancements:
- Scriptable SNA gateway and MSMQ-MQSeries Bridge configure/management based on Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI)
- Remote Microsoft Management Console (MMC) based, multiserver administration of all functions
- Scriptable, modular setup based on Microsoft Installer
- Direct TCP/IP setup option for data access providers at desktop
- Greatly improved documentation
Why move to Host Integration Server?
With Host Integration Server, you can quickly and seamlessly connect the worlds of legacy host systems with client/server and Web networks.
- Unbeaten support. Host Integration works with an unbeaten variety of network protocols and network service types for maximum networking flexibility. Utilize the included Microsoft ActiveX®–enabled, Web-deployable, 3270 and 5250 clients. You can also choose from an industry standard list of clients to access and use host resources quickly and easily.
- Seamless Access from Clients to Host Files, Printing, and Applications. Host Integration offers an easy client/server user experience when printing or accessing host-based files.
- Enterprise Scalability and Performance. Support up to 30,000 simultaneous host sessions per server, and utilize Microsoft Windows® 2000 enhancements such as Microsoft Message Queue (MSMQ), Component Object Model (COM)+, and Microsoft Application Center services.
- Mission-Critical Reliability—Load Balancing and Hot Fail-Over. Rely on Host Integration Server, even for the most demanding situations with AS/400 or mainframe systems.
Client/server and Web-to-host developers now have new and flexible ways to leverage existing AS/400, mainframe systems data and applications.
- Extended Gateway. Organizations require not only connectivity, but also comprehensive Windows application integration. Host Integration Server 2000 provides gateway host-to-Internet or host-to-intranet application development capabilities out-of-the-box.
- Secure and Easy Access to Data. Get object-oriented and programmatic access to relational Microsoft SQL Server™, DB2, and flat-file data on mainframes, AS/400, UNIX, Windows 2000, and Microsoft Windows NT® Server systems. This also extends distributed data access through two-phase commit service support.
- Transaction and E-Commerce Solution Support. Integrate Microsoft Transaction Server and COM+ with IBM's CICS or IMS transaction environments for drag-and-drop simplicity. This includes support for two-phased commit between platforms.
- Object-Oriented Programming Model. Programmers derive the benefits of object-oriented, distributed applications, including rapid development, code re-use, and simpler maintenance.
Host Integration Server provides rapid, flexible deployment with lower cost of ownership.
- Single User Log-on. Streamline and reduces management burden by automatically and simultaneously authenticating a user on both the Windows NT domain and on the host system.
- Automatic Synchronization with Password. Map the user ID and password from Windows NT Server Directory Service to the host system user ID and password, without requiring changes in the current host security environment.
- Microsoft Management Console (MMC). With MMC snap-in support, you get local and remote administration for selected Host Integration Server 2000 features, including transaction services and host-based, record-level application development features.
- Virtual Private Network (VPN). With Host Integration Server, you have secure, low-cost tunneled connectivity through the Internet for client-to-server and network-to-network VPN features.
Top 10 reasons to Use Host Integration Server 2000
With Host Integration Server 2000, you get a faster, more cost-effective way to manage application, data, network, and security integration. Host Integration Server 2000 simplifies creating your data and transaction pipelines and network integration between the Microsoft Windows® platform and IBM mainframe and mid-range systems. In addition, with the Host Integration Server 2000 integrated security, you can enhance the security of your applications at a fraction of the cost.
- Improved performance and scalability. Host Integration Server 2000 can help your businesses achieve significant cost savings because of the increased number of 3270 print sessions. Host Integration Server 2000 can support 15,000 per server print sessions, whereas SNA Server 4.0 was only able to provide 1,024 print sessions. We also provide programmatic invocation of legacy Customer Information Control System (CICS) and Information Management System (IMS) programs that can attain 30–100 percent better performance for mainframe transaction processing.
- Simplified administration. Servers and clients running Host Integration Server 2000 can be deployed into a network by using a centralized administrative model that takes advantage of deploying gateway servers in an enterprise network using a centralized, branch, or distributed deployment model that matches your company’s geographic distribution and alignment of applications.
- Expanded host data access. You can support existing IT investments through data integration that takes advantage of the: New Open Database Connectivity (ODBC) driver for Database 2 (DB2); OLE database provider for DB2; Better performance (30–100%); Distributed Transaction Coordinator-driven two-phase-commit access to DB2 for OS/390 and DB2/400 by using the Systems Network Architecture (SNA) protocol; Graphical user interface-based data link definition and DB2 package creation; Component Object Model (COM) automation controls that allow easy reading and writing to AS/400 data queues and file transfer for AS/400, AS/36, and virtual storage access method (VSAM)
- Ability to extend legacy assets to the Internet. You can quickly connect your Windows operating systems to mainframe and mid-range applications, initiate transactions up to these environments, and expose transactions and repositories as components or XML Web services while achieving lower cost combined with the higher productivity of the Windows environment.
- Superior DB2 database access and synchronization. Take advantage of the built-in support for Distributed Relational Databases Architecture (DRDA) as a common means to access data across systems on remote DB2-enabled computers. DRDA offers both Remote Unit of Work (RUW) access and Distributed Unit of Work (DUW) access to host data. Host integration Server 2000 provides support for both concepts so that your IT professionals can quickly create links between mainframe and mid-range DB2 databases and Microsoft SQL Server™ databases in the Windows environment.
- Unrivalled SQL Server to DB2 integration. Improve corporate decision making by centralizing data that is stored in a variety of formats and in a number of different places. Your database administrator can use Data Transformation Services (DTS), a feature of SQL Server 2000 and SQL Server 7.0, to import and export data between DB2 databases and SQL Server along with various other heterogeneous data sources by using the OLE DB Provider for DB2. Using this tool, administrators can create a data warehouse using SQL Server 2000 to front-end the DB2 database on IBM mainframe or mid-range systems, as well as integrate most other data sources accessible through an OLE database provider or the ODBC driver.
- Mainframe application and database consolidation. Host Integration Server 2000 supports easy integration with IBM mainframes and mid-range DB2 databases so IT professionals can build centralized data warehouses that present a unified view of multiple back-end databases by using SQL Server administration tools and DTS.
- Easy-to-build business solutions with enhanced asynchronous transport and delivery. With the MSMQ-MQSeries Bridge, your IT professionals can rapidly link applications that use inter-platform message queuing improvements of up to 20 percent better message transport and delivery times in multi-computer scenarios, integrated setup, encryption, and support for MSMQ 2.0 and MQSeries 5.1.
- Enhanced host security features. Administrators can now synchronize the account information of the host with the Windows domain. Synchronized accounts allow for single sign-on, meaning that users only have to maintain a single user account and password to log on to Windows and the host system.
- For AS/400, password synchronization works in both directions. For mainframes, a third-party tool is necessary for complete bi-directional synchronization with mainframe security systems such as Resource Access Control Facility (RACF), ACF/2, and Top Secret.
- Microsoft SNA Server mainstream support has ended in June 30, 2003. Extended, fee-based support was available to customers until March 31, 2008. Microsoft Corporation has established reasonable and consistent software life-cycle support policies and procedures.