Host Access Solutions: Terminal Emulation Software and Host Integration

Time to Replace Attachmate EXTRA!®?

Zephyr's PASSPORT is an Easy, Affordable Alternative to Attachmate EXTRA!®

Replace Attachmate EXTRA!® Terminal Emulation with Zephyr's PASSPORT - Free Trial

With the merger of Attachmate® and WRQ®, customers and analysts alike have speculated about what this means for their respective customers. One thing on which everyone agrees: there’s a virtual duplication of products between Attachmate and WRQ. And if history is any guide, product consolidation seems inevitable.

This is not the first major merger in the host access market. In fact, there have been many. The most notable was the acquisition of market leader DCA® (Digital Communications Associates) by Attachmate some years ago. In fairly short order, the IRMA® products disappeared from the market and were replaced by EXTRA!.

Same story with the Novell® terminal emulation software. Attachmate acquired the distribution rights for the Novell software, only to displace the application later with EXTRA!. Similarly, the NetManage® portfolio of Wall Data®, NetSoft®, Chameleon®, Simware® and other host access products eventually thinned to Rumba® as the company’s featured terminal emulator.

According to the Attachmate web site, Attachmate EXTRA!® X-treme version 9 will be the last version of EXTRA! to be released. Users will then be required to upgrade to Reflection® 2007. Given Zephyr’s lengthy experience in successfully transitioning Attachmate users to PASSPORT, now may be the time to consider a move.

To ease the transition from Attachmate EXTRA!® to Zephyr’s PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® or PASSPORT PC TO HOST® software, we’ve eliminated the most difficult technical roadblocks: API compatibility, macro conversion, keyboard mapping conversion and other UI configuration items.

For example, any application that interfaces with Attachmate® for screen-based integration can be used as-is with Zephyr's PASSPORT and EXTRA! Objects®-compatible APIs. We also provide macro conversion at no additional charge for clients securing a Zephyr
subscription license with 500 or more licensed units. Further, we feature compatible keyboard layouts, color schemes, keypads.

In terms of comparing licensing, maintenance (upgrades) and support costs, all find Zephyr’s licensing policies more customer-friendly and certainly much less expensive than Attachmate.

Our experience has made transitioning a very manageable process - even with tens of thousands of users. A long list of references are available should you want to visit with former Attachmate® customers who’ve made the switch. If you’re an Attachmate® customer and want to compare pricing and licensing terms, contact Zephyr well in advance of upgrading your EXTRA!® software or renewing your annual maintenance and we can share with you how we can successfully replace your Attachmate® products with Zephyr host access solutions.

Cost-Effective Subscription Licensing

For less than the cost most users pay for annual maintenance of products like Attachmate®'s EXTRA!®, Zephyr will issue a license of PASSPORT that includes both TN3270, TN5250, SCO ANSI, VT100/VT220/VT420 and Wyse 60 emulation software, and support in a single package. All software upgrades are included. No extra maintenance costs. No hidden fees, and no surprises. Just fast, reliable emulation at a great price.

Terminal Emulator Options

There are two versions of the PASSPORT terminal emulation and each product uses a different method of deployment.

PASSPORT PC TO HOST® is desktop-based terminal emulator and is similar to other desktop Windows programs. PASSPORT is installed with a Windows setup program. It can also be deployed using SMS, MSI, Citrix or Microsoft Terminal Server.

PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® is web-based terminal emulation deployed from a web server. The application is installed on a web server, generally a Microsoft IIS Server or IBM WebSphere Application Server (WAS), and provides an administrator program for centralized configuration and administration. All software and configuration files reside on the web server.

When the emulation is run, an ActiveX applet is downloaded from the web server to the client desktop and run inside of Internet Explorer. For organizations or users with strict IE security settings, PASSPORT WEB TO HOST offers the ability to use MSI to download and install the PASSPORT WEB TO HOST client.

The ActiveX component is only downloaded the first time a session is launched, or whenever the server version of the ActiveX component changes to a newer version. The ActiveX terminal emulator running inside Internet Explorer makes a direct host connection.

PASSPORT Major Features

• Provides access to IBM mainframe, AS/400 and UNIX host applications
• TN3270, TN3270E, TN5250, TN5250E, VT420, VT220, VT100, SCO ANSI and Wyse 60 terminal emulation
• Standalone FTP client and integrated FTP file transfer within terminal emulation session
• PASSPORT PC TO HOST® is certified for Windows Vista®
• Supports Windows XP and 2000
• Advanced SSL security available for each host session
• Advanced SSH security available for each UNIX host session
• Secure FTP file transfer using SSL and SSH security
• IND$FILE file transfer to IBM mainframe
• Supports Citrix Password Manager
• HLLAPI available to reuse existing screen scraping applications
• Attachmate-compatible EXTRA! Objects API to reuse existing EXTRA! screen scraping applications
• VBScript to record, edit and run productivity enhancing macros
• Host printing supported through the TN3270E or TN5250E client
• Pass-through printing available for VT or SCO ANSI client
• Ability to open multiple host sessions, uniquely configure each session
• Customizable keyboard layout, mouse buttons, keypads, toolbars, hotspots, colors, fonts, cursor and more

Seamless Migration to Windows Vista

PASSPORT's use of the latest Microsoft® development tools for both PC and web to host solutions, including Visual C/C++, the Microsoft® Foundation Class, and Visual Basic Script ensures a seamless migration to Windows Vista. PASSPORT PC TO HOST® is certified for Windows Vista®.

Quicktrial or Download Options

There are two ways to evaluate the PASSPORT software: either download a copy of the software or do a QuickTrial of the PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® application. With QuickTrial, there is no server installation, you simply download the client from our web server. This is a fast and easy way to look at the PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® software. For those that want to install the PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® software on their own web server, you can download the full working copy of the software and complete a full evaluation.

Replace Attachmate EXTRA!® Terminal Emulation with Zephyr's PASSPORT - Free Trial

Trademarks

WRQ, Reflection, Attachmate, EXTRA! and Attachmate EXTRA!® Objects are registered trademarks of Attachmate-WRQ, Inc. Zephyr is in no way affiliated with Attachmate-WRQ, Inc. Zephyr, PASSPORT PC TO HOST, PASSPORT WEB TO HOST and PASSPORT Host Integration Objects are trademarks of Zephyr. PASSPORT PC TO HOST® and PASSPORT WEB TO HOST® are registered trademarks of Zephyr. All other trademarks, trade names, or company names referenced herein are used for identification only and are the property of their respective owners.