Help for web 3270 application

The web 3270 application allows you to access legacy 3270 panels from the browser without using a terminal emulator. The mainframe 3270 panels are converted to html at z/OS NetView and sent down to the browser. The 3270 application is added to the z/OS NetView portfolio by uncommenting its section in the FKXWPORF member in DSIPARM on z/OS NetView. When the link is present on the portfolio, clicking on it brings up several introductory panels. One is informational, saying the application is unsupported at this time and asking if the user wishes to continue. If the user responds affirmatively, a logon parameters panel is presented. This panel allows you to override default values for the HCLOG, INTCMD and PROFILE logon parameters used for the z/OS NetView operator. When this panel is processed, NetView logs on to the operator initially used to connect to NetView from the browser.

Setup

Configuration for the 3270 application requires setting up initialization parameters in web.xml at the application server level, some of which need to be synchronized with configuration values in z/OS NetView configuration members. For the Jetty application server, changes are made in web.xml in usr/lpp/netview/v5r1/www/webapps/netview/web-inf. The entry to be changed is the cnm01_3270Screen servlet entry. For Websphere, the changes are made via the application assembly GUI tool provided by Websphere. There are number of initialization parameters for the servlet, some of which are optional and may be picked up from the cnm01_zNVAccessServlet.

The ZNV_DOMAIN parameter must be filled in. It is the z/OS NetView domain name, and should match the ZNV_DOMAIN name specified for the access servlet. The ZNV_DOMAIN value is not the TCP host value. ZNV_DOMAIN should match the substituted value for DOMAIN in the CNMSTYLE file on z/OS NetView.

The PORT parameter specifies the port number that the NetView DSITCPIP task listens on for connection requests. This is different that the port that the NetView web task listens on. The 3270 screen servlet's PORT value should match the MCON.PORT value specified in CNMSTYLE.

The HOST parameter specifies the TCP hostname supporting z/OS NetView. In may be specified as a fully or partially-qualified hostname, or as an IP address. This parameter is optional. If omitted, the 3270 application servlet will share the HOST value specified for the access servlet.

The INKEY and OUTKEY parameters specify encryption keys for incoming and outgoing data. These must match the keys specified in the DSITCPRF member of z/OS NetView for the operator being used to log on to the 3270 application. These parameters can be omitted if the same encryption keys are being used for the WEB_SERVER entry in DSITCPRF. The 3270 servlet will pick them up from the access servlet. Tivoli ships the web application with the keys set to "default".

The HCLOG, INTCMD and PROFILE parameters are used to specify logon parameters for z/OS NetView. They are normally not filled in, causing z/OS NetView to take defaults. Whatever value they have will be displayed on the second logon panel, where they can be overriden prior to the logon attempt to z/OS NetView.

In addition to setting the parameters, the servlet mapping in web.xml for the sample 3270 servlet must be updated.

Logging onto NetView

The 3270 console is driven by selecting it's link from the portfolio frame of the web browser interface. This brings up a page in the main web browser panel informing you that this application is unsupported at this time. If ACCEPT is selected a second page is presented whch allows you to specify values for HCLOG, INTCMD and PROFILE. These will be used in the logon to the z/OS operator. A NEW PASSWORD field is also displayed. You may specify a new password for the z/OS operator. You will then see a second page asking you to reenter the new password. If this is done and LOGON is selected, the z/OS operator password will be changed if z/OS NetView is configured to allow changing passwords at logon. If it is not, or the password change fails for some reason, you may need to sign off the web browser and reenter the userid and the old password (which is still valid) before accessing NetView over the web. It is recommended that you check on the configuration of z/OS NetView before attempting to use this function.

If QUIT is selected from the logon pages, you will need to select the 3270 link from the portfolio to access the 3270 application. You will also need to reenter the userid and password.

Operational notes

Internet explorer is the recommended browser for use with the 3270 application.

If the MAX function is used on the application, the entire browser window will be used. Clicking MIN restores the portfolio, but you must click on the 3270 Console entry to return to the 3270 application.

3270 colors generated by z/OS NetView applications can be mapped to different colors on the SETCLR dialogue. After changing the colors, ENTER must be pressed in order for the changes to take effect.

The keyboard is only supported for the ENTER key. PF keys and special keys such as CLEAR and PA keys must be entered via the GUI buttons supplied by the application.