PC-to-Host Connectivity

Host Integration

Microsoft SNA Server makes legacy data and applications accessible to heterogeneous collections of PCs and networks without sacrificing the capabilities of IBM host systems or PC systems during the migration process.

PCs and client/server technologies such as graphical user interfaces (GUIs), rapid development tools, and greater integration with off-the-shelf productivity applications offer many benefits over mainframe and midrange systems. However, the vast majority of organizations will continue to run their mission-critical applications on IBM hosts , not LAN-connected PCs.

These organizations will go through a long period during which they have multiple systems in use simultaneously . During this period of coexistence between host-based systems and client/server-based systems, workers will require information that is stored on multiple systems. For example, a human resources analyst may access payroll information residing on the host, and integrate that information with data from a client/server based human resources system using an off-the-shelf spreadsheet application to determine pay scales for the upcoming year. Another worker, for example a manager in operations, may need to send e-mail to workers in many different departments, some of whom may be running a host-based e-mail system, such as IBM PROFS, and some of whom may be running a client/server-based e-mail solution, such as Microsoft Exchange Server. This manager will require the services of an SNA gateway to integrate these two disparate messaging systems.