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HOST SYSTEMS HOLD the majority of critical business data. Thus, accessing that data in a manageable fashion is key for most organizations. Luckily, IT departments now have a wide array of host-access solutions from which to choose.
The cost per user is still an important element of choosing the best host-access solution. But further developments in this arena have given IT departments more options to consider, such as manageability, security, customization features, network infrastructure, client types, and more. In addition, each solution takes a slightly different approach to host access, so finding the right match for your site is easier than before.
I tested four host-access solutions: IBM eNetwork Host OnDemand 3.02, IBM eNetwork Personal Communications 4.3, the beta version of Novell NetWare for SAA 4, and WRQ Reflection EnterView 2.0. Of these solutions, the IBM Host On-Demand and WRQ Reflection EnterView are excellent choices for sites that want to implement Web-to-host connectivity.
By contrast, IBM Personal Communications offers an easy-to-- implement solution for Windows clients. This version has expanded options for creating custom application access to host systems. And Novell NetWare for SAA (System Application Architecture) takes a gateway approach, providing an ideal solution for NetWare sites that want manageable integration between the network OS and host systems.
The face of host access has changed from the days of the terminal - providing browser access today and custom application access tomorrow (see related article, page 74). Weighing today's solutions against likely changes around the corner should also be a part of your evaluation.
IBM HOST ON-DEMAND
As a Web-to-host solution, IBM Host On-Demand 3.02 offers some stiff competition for rivals such as WRQ Reflection EnterView. Like most thin-client solutions, Host On-Demand integrates neatly with your Web server. Users can access hosts by launching a Java applet that the administrator has pre-configured and deployed on the Web server.
Like its rivals, Host OnDemand delivers mainframe, AS/400, and virtual terminal (VT) sessions to the browser. But IBM goes a step further with Linux support.
I installed and configured Host On-Demand on several platforms, including Linux, and had no trouble getting things up and running.
The Host On-Demand administration facilities are well-though-out and easy to understand. I especially liked the manageability afforded by the group feature...