Web Enabling Your HP 3000

3
“Webify” Existing Applications
In earlier days, a well-designed web site using multimedia elements and having visual appeal
impressed people. Today’s businesses expect interactive, instant, bi-directional access to infor-
mation, and full Web-based applications that directly support key business processes. These
web applications transform Web sites from collections of static HTML pages into strategic appli-
cations capable of exploiting underlying data base capabilities. These applications will include
both Intranet and Internet dynamic database connectivity.
The HP e3000 has long enabled customers to take advantage of Web technologies without
having to throw away their investments. This section will discuss how to leverage your existing
applications accessing databases on the HP e3000, and make them available to the web.
Front-end Tools and Graphical User Interface Tools
While wanting to “webify” their existing 3000 applications, many customers are accustomed to
the GUI and the information access tools available in the Windows environment. Various tools
have emerged to address the need for quicker and easier software development.
• HP Samba/iX is a suite of programs that allow the HP e3000 to provide services using the
Microsoft Networking protocol SMB. Samba/iX allows MPE to act as a file and print server to
PC client running on the Windows environments. The byte stream files and printers on MPE
can be accessed directly from Windows and NT. The remote file system becomes transparent
to the user. Samba/iX is available since 6.0 release.
• GUI3000 from OmniSolutions, Inc is a graphical front end for HP e3000, which is similar to
the Windows “Explorer” or “File Manager” products. GUI3000 manages files, groups and
accounts, provides information about your Turbo/IMAGE databases, and establishes an inter-
face to the HP e3000 for carrying out commands.
• Qedit for Windows from Robelle is a client/server editor, which edits host HP files from a
Windows-based GUI environment.
• The MPE Command Center is a powerful Windows-based graphical user interface that pro-
vides IT Administrators a true Windows look and feel. Terminals or terminal emulation pro-
grams are no longer required to open the MPE file system, and manage accounts, groups,
users and files under MPE on the HP e3000 system.
Vplus/
Cobol
Apps
Web
GUI
Tool
Web
Server
IMAGE/SQL
ALLBASE/SQL
Web
Browser
Intranet/
Internet
HP e3000
NT
Web Front End Tools with Existing Vplus/Cobol Applications
Many existing applications are written in COBOL using the HP e3000
VPLUS screen form management package. The original block mode feel
and look of VPLUS is certainly the area where the newer web-based GUI
can make many improvements. Several third parties provide tools for web
enabling these applications with new GUI interfaces.