RE: 400 & RPG to the Net -- MIDRANGE-L

Karl:
A few idea here:
1.  We have done a prototype of using Webfacing under a Websphere
server.  While we were able to make it work, the process was very
tedious and the tool generated GUI was not the best.  Webfacing is
available under 4.5 or 5.1.  I understand that the basic websphere
server, that is free, is going to be discontinued soon.  Your options
will be to use Apache/Tomcat, or pay a license for the Advanced Edition
of Websphere.  This solution would satisfy one of your criteria of only
having one set of code to maintain.

2.  You do not state, but is your goal to have a GUI interface (browser
based)?  Or would a 5250 application that could be accessed via the
internet OK?  There are several ways you can have a web page, with a
link that would load a java or active- code applet that would load into
a browser and allow you access to 5250 apps over the internet.

3.  We have successfully used net.data for browser based apps.  Net.data
is a macro level scripting language that is written on the 400.  It
allows you to format web pages and to access the data base
(read/write/update via a SQL structure).  We have done several client
projects this way with a high degree of success.

4.  You also mention connectivity to the internet, there are many ways
to do this.  You will want to look at a firewall, or possibly your
router can take care of your needs.  With the 400 we have also used a
proxy server (WinProxy) to filter HTTP access to the AS400.

cjg

Carl J. Galgano
EDI Consulting Services, Inc.
550 Kennesaw Avenue, Suite 800
Marietta, GA  30060
(770) 422-2995 - voice
(419) 730-8212 - fax
mailto:cgalgano@ediconsulting.com
http://www.ediconsulting.com
AS400 EDI, Networking, E-Commerce and Communications Consulting and
Implementation
http://www.icecreamovernight.com
Premium Ice Cream Brands shipped Overnight
FREE AS/400 Timesharing Service -
http://www.ediconsulting.com/timeshare.html
"You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know" - rw


-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-admin@midrange.com
[mailto:midrange-l-admin@midrange.com] On Behalf Of Lauritzen, Karl
Sent: Tuesday, April 23, 2002 3:19 PM
To: 'midrange-l@midrange.com'
Subject: 400 & RPG to the Net






I have been given the task to "get on the Internet now".
We have a 720 at V4R4 and going to V5 this year at some point. All
applications are written in RPG and home grown.

I have a programming staff of 1 junior pgmr and 1 beginner pgmr plus
myself.,1 network guy and 2 operators.

We would like to start with inquiry and then be able to allow our agency
force to quote/app direct to our 400. In other words live real time data
access to our 400 database files. Read and write.

I have investigated many ways to do this. I have been given a modest
budget to accomplish this. Security from management's side is not an
issue until it happens. I believe the opposite and want to be smart.

I am toying with putting 400 on Internet with a Sonic Wall box as my
firewall on network. Either develop applications with E-RPG or use some
product that transforms RPG into GUI code as you develop so it can be
used either green screen (in house) or GUI (net).

I do not want to maintain same program 2X. (1 in house 1 on net).

IBM came in a gave us a proposal to add a 170 as an Internet box.
Management immediately threw this out as too costly.

Has anyone had any experience with these so called Internet tools and if
so good or bad idea?





Karl Lauritzen Jr.
National Lloyds Insurance
American Summit Insurance
*klauritzen@natlloyds.com
*klauritzen@american-summit.com

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