Re: UKNM: Middleware

[Jon Miller]

At 01:04 PM 7/24/98 -0700, you wrote:

>Does anyone have an idea of the cheapest way to connect an AS400 to Microsoft

>IIS?

>

>We have been asked to suggest an option as a favour to a non-member.

>Basically, the AS400 holds important data, but only a small amount of it (ie. sales order

>processing figures).

>

>The client knows they will eventually downsize the AS400 to PCs, so are

>reluctant to spend a lot of money at this time on:

>

>a)      IBM middleware

>b)      Bespoke middleware programming

>c)      Reproduction of the AS400 data on another system

>

>Can anyone suggest a short term fix?

>

>Cheers

>Neil 


We have been using a really rapid web application development environment

called DESL, which enables full website integration with mainframe or

midrange (IBM AS400) database systems. Because DESL allows fast builds it

isn't too budget hungry, so it might be the solution you are looking for.  


DESL is compatible with most popular web servers such as IIS, Netscape and

O'Reilly's Website and supports Javascript, VBscript and Java.

Some of the major design principles underlying the product have been

inherited from the robust server environment of the AS400. For example

'Session Logs' which enable DESL to provide true user demographics and 'Hot

Swapping' which guarantees 24x7 availability of web applications.


There are two options for your non-member: Firstly, DESL could talk to an

AS400 directly using SQL or Stored Procedures via any ODBC driver (Netsoft,

IBM Client Access, StarSQL or ShowCase). The other technique is to use

server-side ActiveX,components to encapsulate business or data access

logic. These components could be written in any ActiveX aware programming

language such as Visual C++, Visual Basic, Java or Delphi.


DESL is developed by a company called Q4, and you can get downloads etc at


http://www.q4.com. Naturally, we'd be happy to talk to your non-member

about their requirements in more detail ! 


Yours,


Jon Miller


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