Host systems are ideal platforms on which to provide large-scale database services for enterprises. Using SNA Server, web technology can extend host database access to a broader range of users.
A common way to integrate web technology with host databases is to use the rich-text capabilities of HTML to create visually appealing, user-friendly interfaces for character-based host database systems.
As an example, a web browser could be used to collect database queries by means of an HTML form. The queries could then be transferred via ISAPI or some other common gateway interface from the web server to a service that can communicate with host database system. The results of the query could then be formatted into HTML and viewed through the user’s browser.
SNA Server is an ideal tool for deploying web-to-host data access solutions because it can provide host database access without the need for host code or a modified database system. Using a feature such as OLE DB Provider for AS/400 and VSAM, you can extend a wide range of services to web users. Figure 14.1 illustrates how different data access components integrate with SNA Server and other services to provide access to host databases from a browser.
Figure 14.1 Browser access to host database system.
Using a browser, the user loads an Active Server Page (ASP) hosted by the web server (IIS). The ASP contains programming that collects input data from a user, then sends the data through the ADO interface to the OLE DB Provider feature of SNA Server by means of IIS. At this point, the host database interaction proceeds.