Integration of BackOffice-based Applications
with Host Data

Based on the Windows NT Server operating system platform, a channel-attached SNA Server computer can also be shared with other functions, such as file and print server, e-mail server, database server, systems management server, and Internet or intranet server. Because SNA Server is an integrated part of Microsoft BackOffice, it acts as glue to bond BackOffice applications and services with host systems and data.

Multiple SNA Server computers linked using SNA Remote Access Service allow Windows NT Server computers to share files and security validation information.

SNA Server supports Windows NT Server in another way through its NetView services, which allow host administrators to execute any Windows NT command line from an IBM NetView console. Other capabilities of this feature set make it possible to forward any Windows NT Event Log message to NetView and permit LAN administrators to view NetView performance data on any Windows NT Performance Monitor. NetView services allow organizations to integrate Windows NT Server-solutions, such as SNA Server, into their existing NetView centralized network management systems.

SNA Server ships with a copy of a StarSQL ODBC-to-DRDA™ driver. This driver allows the SNA Server Manager to integrate host data (DB2® for MVS, DB2 for VM, DB2/400 for OS/400) with Microsoft SQL Server™. Organizations no longer need to license and deploy expensive, single-purpose SQL-to-host database gateways to connect host databases with desktops and servers. Using ODBC-enabled tools such as Microsoft Query, data manipulation and presentation can be performed on the desktop with popular applications such as Microsoft Excel.

For truly mission-critical solutions, Microsoft's Host Data Replicator (HDR) provides DB2-to-SQL Server and SQL Server-to-DB2 data replication. Future versions of HDR will provide support for Oracle data replication.

SNA Remote Access Service supports all functions of Microsoft Systems Management Server (SMS). This allows a network manager to use the SMS software distribution, remote control, and other management capabilities across an enterprise using only SNA host links, such as dedicated leased-line SDLC connections.

SNA Remote Access Service enables post-office-to-post-office connectivity over SNA networks. This allows organizations to deploy Microsoft Exchange in sites that would otherwise be cutoff from server-based corporate e-mail.

PROFS and SNADS gateways, specifically designed to function with SNA Server, link host e-mail and scheduling to Microsoft Exchange Server. This provides organizations with the capability to migrate legacy e-mail and scheduling users to the latest server-based messaging technologies.

The Microsoft Internet Information Server includes an Internet Database Connector that, when teamed with the StarSQL ODBC/DRDA driver, can be used to create forms-oriented data links between IBM DB2 databases and the Internet or intranet. This allows organizations to publish secure, host-based data directly to their Web servers. Additionally, publishers can provide hyperlinks from Web pages to files that reside on IBM mainframes or AS/400s using SNA Server’s FTP-to-AFTP gateway.