Virtel serves legacy applications transactions (such as CIC, IMS, and Natural) to thin-client web browsers as modern and user-friendly web pages, to create a genuine web portal (GUI) experience.
It is an attractive modernization alternative for legacy applications that still rely on TN3270 screen interfaces. It allows extending selected transactions in self-service mode to partners, clients, and untrained staff.
Virtel makes it fast and easy to serve CICS, IMS, Natural and other legacy transactions as modern and user-friendly web pages that create a genuine web portal (GUI) experience through:
The same transaction can be served concurrently to different users with different device-specific presentations and ergonomics; for example:
Virtel extends the relevance of - and investment in - legacy applications for years to come.
Typical Virtel Web Modernization applications include:
Developing a new Virtel-based web portal (GUI) doesn't require changing the underlying 3270 application code, because Virtel interfaces by default with the TN3270 data coming off VTAM:
Virtel can interface with the transaction programs through COMMAREAs and channels if/when legacy screens are no longer used and must be removed. The changes can be implemented one program at a time, i.e. Virtel can concurrently interface with transaction programs using screens, COMMAREAs, and channels.
To generate the HTML/JavaScript pages (GUI) that it serves to application users, Virtel relies on scenarios and templates.
Scenarios define the GUI’s internal logic; for example whether to generate a web page from one or several 3270 screens, or what template to use to generate a given web page. Scenarios are developed using Virtel Studio: an Eclipse-based IDE.
Templates define the presentation and ergonomics of the web page, and where to insert host application data into the web page. Templates are developed using Virtel Screen Redesigner - a host-based IDE with web user interface.
Virtel Screen Redesigner allows developers to:
Being a browser-based solution, Virtel Web Modernization:
Mainframe authorizations control - Virtel supports RACF (default), TSS, or ACF2 logon authentication. Its application selection menu restricts users to applications for which they have been authorized at logon. Even if/when the transaction server (CICS, IMS, etc) abends, Virtel users are never allowed to roam free.
Secure HTTP connections - Virtel relies on end-to-end encrypted HTTP connections:
Exchange-level security - Throughout the session:
Mainframe protection - Virtel runs on the mainframe where its code is protected from Internet attacks. The usage of unencrypted 3270 data is limited to the VTAM-Virtel connection, on the mainframe where it is protected from Internet attacks. Virtel’s HTTP-to-SNA protocol conversion “brakes and redirects” the mainframe-client connections on the mainframe: an indirection that provides additional protection against Internet attacks.
Data-less clients - Virtel clears the browser’s cache when the session ends: no host data exposure in case the clients (e.g. mobile devices) are lost or stolen.
Industry standard and custom security - Virtel is compatible with PROXY, SSO, jump boxes, VPN, and any other IP security technology. It can be customized to support terminal-transaction-printer control, biometrics and multi-criteria authentication, field-level security filters (no display, browse only, or update), and more.
No VPN required - Virtel doesn’t require a VPN to provide secure access to mainframe applications from web browsers. Virtel customers can drop their VPN.