USoft Transport
Capabilities Overview
USoft, the Server/Client Software Company, supplies open software technology for planning, building and managing enterprise computing. The Server/Client approach leverages object architecture with transparent deployment across heterogeneous, distributed computing environments. USoft goes beyond the limitations of the client/server paradigm to enable true enterprise computing. USoft's Server/Client approach provides the predictability, scalability and adaptability required to make information technology a strategic business resource.
USoft Transport
USoft Transport extends USoft Server/Client interoperability between open systems and mainframe proprietary systems. USoft Transport is a family of gateway connectivity products that provide transparent interoperability between heterogeneous systems such as USoft Online, IBM IMS & CICS, TUXEDO, Unisys Open/ OLTP and any OSI-TP compliant environment. USoft Transport is part of the USoft Online Environment which extends the USoft Development Environment to enterprise computing.
What is USoft Transport?
USoft Transport is part of the USoft Online Environment and is based on an enhanced Server/Client model, surpassing first generation client/ server tools by leveraging and enhancing the inherent power of the server.
USoft Transport ensures ready, transparent access to critical information across the network. Applications access remote application services via industry-standard communications between USoft Online and mainframe or other remote-host environments, regardless of where those remote services are located. USoft Transport automatically load-balances server requests to the servers that can handle the requests most efficiently, offers management and administrative capabilities that minimize down time and provide automatic mechanisms for starting, stopping and administering an application. With USoft Transport, networking is transparent to the application, providing applications with complete interoperability between open systems and mainframe proprietary systems. USoft Transport comprises two product lines:
- USoft Transport TPS
- USoft Transport XAP
USoft Transport TPS
Via USoft Transport, client/server applications can access, utilize, and (if authorized) update mainframe information through standard MVS application services. Applications gain immediate access to any information available through mainframe services, whether it resides in DB2, IMS/DB, a proprietary DBMS, or VSAM. Users can maintain the integrity of all "high asset value" information, yet make it available to new client/server applications and avoid redundant downloads.
USoft Online applications consist of a set of client and server programs operating over a network of computers. Any program can request services offered by any server running on any computer in the application. The services directory maps services to the location of the server program enabling servers to be completely transparent. USoft Transport extends this transparent access by routing service requests from the USoft Online application to a remote system.
MVS services are posted on the USoft Online's internal bulletin board. Applications then invoke the MVS service through the system's global directory, identical to native service request calls. The request is routed directly to the USoft Transport TPS for USoft Online gateway, where the mainframe transaction is formulated from the transaction.
Features
- Function in pairs to connect systems and mediate between formats, with one gateway operating in each connected environment.
- Access remote application services via TCP/IP communications protocol.
- Make the mainframe's "super-server" characteristics transparently accessible from anywhere within the network or application.
USoft Transport TPS for USoft Online
USoft Transport TPS for USoft Online provides transparent access to remote services from within the application. To connect to a particular remote system, the application administrator simply configures the USoft Transport TPS for USoft Online gateway as an ordinary server group, listing names and record layouts of the remote services utilized by USoft Online applications.
The gateway is an ordinary server group that routes service requests to a remote system. It accepts standard USoft Online service requests and returns standard replies. The application is not aware of the remote system. Open Transport TPS also utilizes USoft Online's administrative features designed for remote access. The use of TCP/IP eliminates the need for proprietary communications software or hardware.
A companion gateway on the remote system will accept service requests from the USoft Transport TPS for USoft Online gateway, route such requests to the native transaction processor, capture reply data, and return the results to the USoft Transport TPS for USoft Online gateway. For example, USoft offers the USoft Transport TPS for MVS/IMS gateway for access to IMS on IBM MVS systems.
Features
- Allows clients to execute most existing IMS or CICS services without code changes.
- Is user transparent; allowing multiple clients on multiple machines to simultaneously send requests for MVS services provided by the mainframe TP monitor, for faster, more efficient network operations.
- Utilizes native TCP/IP in its operation, requiring no special installation, software or hardware integration.
- Is bi-directional; can function as a client gateway, through which a local service request is routed to a remote service provider, as well as routing remote requests to a local server.
USoft Transport TPS for MVS/IMS
USoft Transport TPS for MVS/IMS enables interoperability between IMS and remote USoft Online systems running as an ordinary Batch Message Processing (BMP) program in its own MVS region. It listens to the TCP/IP network for service requests from its counterpart on a remote system, and forwards these requests to the IMS message queue. Service requests are enqueued on IMS queues in native data format; replies are, likewise, retrieved from the IMS queues and returned over TCP/IP to the remote system.
Features
- Supports the request/response communications paradigm.
- Allows clients to initiate IMS transactions from within USoft Online applications over TCP/IP, when utilized in conjunction with its companion gateway (USoft Transport TPS for USoft Online).
- Is transparent to the user, and allows multiple clients on multiple machines to simultaneously send requests for IMS services.
- Utilizes IBM TCP/IP in its operation.
USoft Transport TPS for MVS/CICS
USoft Transport TPS for MVS/CICS enables interoperability between CICS and remote USoft Online systems. Used in conjunction with its companion gateway, USoft Transport TPS for Usoft Online, USoft Transport TPS for MVS/CICS enables USoft Online applications to immediately access any information available through mainframe services, whether it resides on DB2, a proprietary DBMS, or VSAM. The USoft Transport TPS for MVS/CICS gateway consists of several native CICS programs using standard CICS sockets mechanisms. USoft Transport TPS for MVS/CICS receives service requests over IBM TCP/ IP and executes the CICS user program requested. In addition, CICS user programs can make calls to the USoft Transport TPS for MVS/CICS gateway, requesting services provided by a USoft Online application.
Features
- Allows clients to initiate CICS transactions from within USoft Online applications.
- Allows service requests to be initiated locally by the CICS TP monitor, and sent for service by USoft Online Servers.
- Is transparent to the user, and allows multiple clients on multiple machines to simultaneously send requests for MVS services from the mainframe, for faster, more efficient network operations.
- Utilizes IBM TCP/IP in its operation.
USoft Transport XAP
Delivers standardized heterogeneous interoperability between USoft Online applications and other transaction processing environments. USoft Transport XAP supports OSI-TP environments, coupling key remote TP systems with the flexibility of the systems. The OSI-TP protocol as defined by ISO, is a standard transaction processing protocol for interoperation among diverse systems, therefore is a natural fit for USoft Transport XAP.
OSI-TP and X/Open Compliance
USoft Transport XAP is an X/Open Communication Manager that implements the XATMI API, XATMI ASE bindings, and OSI-TP protocol. The implementation of X/Open standards for inter-operation among TP systems provides the customer with investment protection. USoft Transport XAP will interoperate with all other products that conform to X/Open and ISO TP standards, providing customers with a single source for OLTP integration products.
Features
- Access to remote application services via the OSI-TP protocol.
- X/Open conformance: USoft Transport XAP's process architecture adheres to the X/Open DTP (distributed transaction processing)model by separating communications from transaction management utilizing both communications managers and resource managers.
- Support for distributed transactions.
- Support both request/response and conversational paradigms.
- Bi-directional: USoft Transport gateway, through which a (locally originated) service request is routed to a remote service provider (server), can also route service requests (originated by a remote TP monitor client) to a local server.
USoft Transport XAP for USoft Online
USoft Transport XAP for USoft Online provides transparent access to remote services from within a USoft Online application, as well as transparent access to services from within a remote application. The USoft Transport XAP for USoft Online gateway is an ordinary server group that routes service requests to a remote system. It accepts standard USoft Online service requests and returns standard replies. The application is not aware of the remote system. Similarly, remote systems may send XATMI service requests to the application without any USoft Online-specific knowledge. USoft Transport distributed transaction processing support guarantees the integrity of data, while maintaining high performance and throughput. Moreover, USoft Transport XAP utilizes the USoft Online Environment's administrative features designed for remote access. The use of OSI-TP eliminates the need for proprietary communications software or hardware.
Features
- Supports industry-standard TCP/IP communications using the OSI-TP protocol between open, distributed client/server applications and remote TP applications
- Allows USoft Online clients to execute remote TP monitor services without code changes.
- Allows USoft Online services to be invoked by remote TP monitor clients without code changes.
- Is transparent to the user, and allows multiple clients on multiple machines to simultaneously send requests for remote services via OSI-TP protocol.
USoft Transport Feature Summary
- Assures transparent interoperability among popular OLTP Systems: USoft Online, IBM IMS and CICS, TUXEDO, Unisys Open OLTP and any OSI-TP compliant environment. All hardware and software investments remain protected, and are easily leveraged into a UNIX-based server/client environment. In particular, USoft Transport XAP, by virtue of utilizing OSI-TP protocol, offers customers increasing vendor independence as industry standard products become available.
- Provide TP monitor-to-TP monitor interoperability.
- Are transparent to the user or the application programmer.
- Reflect the native look and feel of the different TP environments to administrators.
- Do not require their own API; but utilize the API belonging to their respective TP monitor.
Usoft Transport Benefits
Online Integration of Business Operations
- Transparent client/server communications among heterogeneous systems.
Throughput
- TCP/IP for high bandwidth.
- On-line request/response to minimize network traffic.
- Encapsulation for processing at the source.
- Automatic data compression for reduced network traffic (future release).
Availability
- Automatic failure recovery.
- Diagnosis and repair via native administration.
Ease of Integration
- Modular architecture for flexible on-schedule migration.
Lower Hardware, Facility and Software Costs
- Reuse existing platforms to utilize current capital investment.
- Modular services for optimal resource utilization/deployment.
- On-line access eliminates data redundancy, file transfers.
Lower Development Costs
- Reuse of existing applications, transparent access to remote services, and automatic data conversion.
Lower Administrative Costs
- Installation and operations native to platform.
- Automatic recovery.
USoft: The Server/Client Software Company
USoft is headquartered in Silicon Valley, California, and provides a proven Server/Client approach to plan, build and manage enterprise computing.
For more information on USoft Server/Client enterprise computing, call toll-free 1-800-For-USoft, or call one of our offices.
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