# Quick Beginnings

# Welcome to Personal Communications

Personal Communications brings the power of personal networking to your workstation by exploiting networking capabilities to provide a variety of connectivity options supporting local area network (LAN) and wide area network (WAN) environments. Whether it is for host terminal emulation, client/server applications, or connectivity, Personal Communications offers a robust set of communication, networking, and administrative features.

Personal Communications is a full-function emulator. In addition to host terminal emulation, it provides these useful features:

- File transfer
- Dynamic configuration
- An easy-to-use graphical interface
- Emulator APIs such as Emulator High-Level Language Programming Interface (EHLLAPI), Host Access Class Library (HACL), and PCSAPI. For example, EHLLAPI is often used for automated operator applications which read host screens and enter keystrokes without direct user intervention. Refer to Emulator Programming and Host Access Class Library for details.

Personal Communications is a key client component of the IBM Host Integration portfolio for LAN, WAN, and remote access and connectivity. Personal Communications provides access to applications and data that resides on either midrange or enterprise servers. Additionally, it can give you the optimal platform for traditional access to data and applications on the host. Personal Communications includes new tools to help transform your traditional business into an e-business.

Through the use of Enterprise Extender in Personal Communications, you can maintain the integrity of SNA LU6.2/CPIC/APPC applications over IP. This capability is an IBM exclusive, both on desktops and in the communications servers that provide the gateway back into the SNA environment. You have the only solution that can solve the problem of transporting these SNA applications over an IP network.

Enterprise Extender allows you to extend the reach of SNA applications and data to include IP networks and IP-attached clients with similar levels of reliability, scalability, and control as SNA users. Personal Communications supports the Enterprise Extender (EE) DLC.

Personal Communications supports a variety of SNA-based client application programming interfaces (APIs). You can create applications that use the peer-to-peer client APIs, which are based on LU 6.2 and provided by Personal Communications. These APIs let you simultaneously access and process information on peer workstations.

Personal Communications supports Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking(R) (APPN(R)) as an end node, and uses the advanced network features: high-performance routing (HPR) and dependent LU requester (DLUR).

AnyNet(R) SNA over TCP/IP is a feature of Personal Communications which allows emulator and client/server SNA applications to communicate over a TCP/IP network.

## What's New in Personal Communications Version 5.9

Personal Communications Version 5.9 is based on the popular Personal Communications Version 5.8. If you are familiar with Personal Communications Version 5.8, you might want to review the following new functions and enhancements.

Emulator session enhancements

  Windows x64 platform support
    Personal Communications Version 5.9 provides non-SNA platform support for Windows XP Professional x64 Edition and Windows Server 2003 Standard x64 Edition and Enterprise x64 Edition.

  Page Header and Footer
    You can add a header or footer to printed pages on print screen and print screen collection jobs.

    Refer to Emulator User's Reference for details about this feature.

  Windows print driver for VT host printing
    You can use the Windows print driver for VT host printing. This functionality adds to the existing PDT printing capability.

  Concurrent IPv4 and IPv6 connections for EEDLC
    For EEDLC, you can configure and run IPv4 and IPv6 connections concurrently.

  Policy enhancements to modify session view
    By editing the Windows group policy, you can hide the session window tool bar, menu bar, and expanded OIA.

    Refer to the Administrator's Guide and Reference for more information about modifying the View policy.

  Policy enhancements to restrict control of session window
    By editing the Windows group policy, you can restrict the user's ability to maximize, minimize, or close session windows.

    Refer to Administrator's Guide and Reference for more information about modifying the Execution policy.

  Collect print jobs for 5250 printer sessions
    This feature enables you to collect print jobs and print them as a single job or in a group. Functions associated with this feature can be mapped to the keyboard, popup keypad, mouse button, or toolbar button.

    Refer to Emulator User's Reference for details about this feature.

  Enhanced trace buffers
    Additional CSTrace buffers are provided, so that all trace records are captured during heavy trace loads.

  Best Fit option in Page Setup
    You can enable Best Fit print scaling using a check box in the Page Setup dialog. This feature is enabled for the following sessions:
    - 3270 display and printer
    - VT display, including Printer Controller Mode

    Refer to Emulator User's Reference for details about this feature.

Security and authentication enhancements

  Kerberos-based logon automation
    For 5250 display sessions, this feature provides automatic signon capability to hosts, using logged-on user credentials. For the Data Transfer utility, you can use Kerberos authentication to bypass the signon step.

    Refer to Administrator's Guide and Reference for details about this feature.

  Telnet-negotiated security
    TLS security can be negotiated between the host and Personal Communication, as part of the Telnet negotiation process.

    Refer to Administrator's Guide and Reference for details about this feature.

Support and administration enhancements

  IBM Support Assistant
    The IBM Support Assistant enables you to easily resolve software questions. The Support Assistant provides the following components:
    - Search

      Enable search of the software information database.

    - Service

      Assists customers who choose to submit a PMR by providing access to the Electronic Service Request Web site.

    - Support Links

      A consolidated list of IBM web links, organized by brand and product.

    Help desk personnel and Personal Communications administrators might want to install Support Assistant in order to better support end users. The Support Assistant can be downloaded from the following address:
    http://www.ibm.com/software/support/isa/index.html

  ITLM Readiness
    This feature enables installation and usage detection of Personal Communications using the IBM Tivoli(R) License Manager.

## Personal Communications Program Icons

When you have installed Personal Communications, the main functions that you can use are displayed as icons. Icons are grouped in subfolders of the IBM Personal Communications program folder.

A brief explanation of each function follows:

Start or Configure Sessions
  Use this icon to bring up the Session Manager. This dialog allows you to start or configure sessions. During configuration, you can specify the session type, screen size, LU number, graphics support, the type of communication link and its parameters, as well as other information. You can save all this information in a workstation profile. After saving, you can start the session by just clicking the session icon. Authorized users can also create new batch files from this dialog.

SNA Node Configuration
  Use this icon to configure an SNA node and associated resources or to change advanced configuration parameters. Although most emulator sessions can be configured without the use of this utility, you will need to create an SNA node configuration to enable client/server and peer communication. This can also be run from an active session by selecting Actions -> Launch -> SNA Node Configuration.

### Administrative and Problem Determination (PD) Aids

Certificate Migration
  Use this icon to migrate security certificates from GSKit to Microsoft CryptoAPI (MSCAPI). Refer to Administrator's Guide and Reference for details about enabling and using session security.

Display SNA Sense Data
  Use this icon to display SNA sense data and associated explanations. Sense data is SNA error information located in internal SNA flows, error logs, error messages, and traces. Some Personal Communications error messages include sense data.

Information Bundler
  Use this icon to gather system files and specific trace and log files, as well as registry information, such as the software installed or running on a machine. This can also be run from an active session by clicking Actions -> Launch -> Information Bundler.

Internet Service
  Use this icon to send system and diagnostic data collected by the Information Bundler to an FTP server. This can also be run from an active session by selecting Actions -> Launch -> Internet Service.

Log Viewer
  Use this icon to view, merge, and sort the Personal Communications message and trace logs. Personal Communications logs errors and informational messages during initialization and operation. This can also be run from an active session by selecting Actions -> Launch -> Log Viewer.

Migration Utility
  Use this icon to migrate your user-class and system-class files and desktop icons to Personal Communications Version 5.9.

Product Update Tool
  Use this icon to access WebUpdate and check for Authorized Program Analysis Reports (APARs) and manufacturing refreshes.

SNA Node Configuration Verification
  Use this icon to verify that the ASCII editing changes that you have manually made to the SNA node configuration data are valid.

SNA Node Operations
  Use this icon to perform SNA node operations, such as starting or stopping resources or displaying resource information. This can also be run from an active session by selecting Actions -> Launch -> SNA Node Operations.

Trace Facility
  Use this icon to turn trace functions on and off and to capture communication protocol information that passes between your workstation and other host systems. You can use traces to resolve communication problems. This can also be run from an active session by selecting Actions -> Launch -> Trace Facility.

### Utilities

The APING and AFTP utilities are available in U.S. English only.

Note
`These programs are provided on an as-is basis without any warranty of any kind, including the warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose which are expressly disclaimed.`

iSeries Connection Configuration
  Use this icon if you want to define connections to each iSeries, eServer i5, or System i5 host that will use the data transfer function.

Certificate Management
  Use this icon to enable Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) communication between your communication server and client. Refer to Administrator's Guide and Reference for details on how to use this utility.

Check Connection APING
  Use this sample CPI-C program to verify network connections. You can use APING to establish network connections, diagnose problems, and take simple performance measurements. APING exchanges data packets with a partner computer and measures how long the data transfer takes.

CM Mouse
  Use this icon to define mouse buttons to perform any sequence of host keystrokes, including PF keys and special emulator control keys. You can also build popup menus to control host applications without making any changes to those host programs.
  Note:
    CM Mouse is a sample application that has been provided for use as a utility. It is only available in English and only runs on SBCS systems.

    This utility can only be installed using the Custom Installation option. Refer to CD-ROM Guide to Installation for more information.

CM Mouse Configuration
  Use this icon to configure the CM Mouse Scripting utility.

Convert Macro
  Use this icon to convert an existing Personal Communications macro to an XML or VBScript file.

Data Transfer (iSeries only)
  Use this icon to transfer data between a workstation and an iSeries, eServer i5, or System i5 database.

Database Access
  Use this icon to start the Database Access utility that lets you retrieve data from a database, such as an SQL server, Microsoft Excel, Lotus(R) 1-2-3(R), or dBASE database (that complies with Microsoft ODBC standards, Level 1). You can then pass the retrieved data directly to Excel, Lotus 1-2-3, and other applications.

DOS EHLLAPI
  Use this icon to enable or disable DOS-based EHLLAPI programs that communicate with the 32-bit Personal Communications emulator.

Menu Bar Customization
  Use this icon to customize the menu bar in the session window.

Multiple Sessions
  Use this icon to create batch files (.BCH), which can specify multiple emulator sessions (workstation profiles) or other supported Windows programs that you want to start concurrently. You can create an icon for each batch file and start the programs just by clicking the icon.

Transfer File AFTP
  Use this program to provide a fast and efficient transfer of text and binary files.

User Preferences
  Use this icon if you want to set up or change the user preferences, such as changing the user interface language.

ZipPrint (3270 only)
  Use this icon to start the ZipPrint program, which allows you to print host system files or screens, PROFS(R) or OfficeVision(R) notes, calendars, and documents, CMS files, and XEDIT workspaces. When started, ZipPrint adds an item to the menu bar of the session window.

## Personal Communications Sessions

The sessions that Personal Communications provides are logical connections enabling communication between your workstation and a host system. The following session types are available:

Display session
  Use your workstation as a display terminal connected to the host system.
Printer session
  Use your workstation printer as a host system printer.
Client/server session
  Establish connections that allow peer communications using CPI-C and APPC (LU 6.2).

## Personal Communications Connections

Personal Communications supports a variety of connections to the following host systems. Following are the icons you will encounter when you begin to configure an emulator session:

zSeries

iSeries

ASCII

S/3X

### zSeries Emulator Connections

Table 1. zSeries Emulator Connection Icons

Interface | Attachment
--- | ---
LAN |

  LAN via IEEE 802.2
  3270 via Communications Server for Windows
  Telnet3270
  3270 via iSeries (passthru)
  APPC 3270 via LAN
  Microsoft SNA client over FMI
  Microsoft SNA client (using the LUA interface)
  Microsoft SNA client (using the APPC interface)
  Dependent LU Requester (DLUR)
  3174 Peer Communications
  VT-over-Telnet (TCP/IP)

COAX |

  SNA Distributed Function Terminal
  Non-SNA Distributed Function Terminal

COM port |

  SNA-over-Async
  IBM Global Network(R) (not in Japan)
  Home3270
  IBM Global Network - SNA-over-Async
  Dependent LU Requester (DLUR) via
    SNA-over-Async
    Hayes AutoSync
  Hayes AutoSync
  APPC 3270 via:
    SNA-over-Async
    Hayes AutoSync
  VT over Async
  Telnet 3270
  VT over Telnet (TCP/IP)
  X.25 Hayes AutoSync
  X.25 DLUR via Hayes AutoSync
  X.25 APPC 3270 via Hayes AutoSync

5250 |

  3270 via iSeries
  Dependent LU Requester (DLUR)

SDLC |

  Synchronous Data Link Control
  3270 via iSeries (passthrough)
  APPC 3270 via SDLC
  Dependent LU Requester (DLUR)

SNA/IP |

  LU 0, 1, 2, 3
  APPC 3270
  LU 0,1,2,3 via DLUR

IBM ISA/MCA WAC |

  Synchronous Data Link Control
  3270 via iSeries (passthrough)
  APPC 3270 via SDLC
  Dependent LU Requester (DLUR)
  X.25 Qualified Logical Link Control
  X.25 3270 via iSeries
  APPC 3270 via X.25
  X.25 DLUR

API Client |

  Communications Server client
  Communications Server

IBM-EEDLC |

  LU (0, 1, 2, 3) via DLUR
  APPC 3270

OEM |

  LU (0, 1, 2, 3)
  3270 via iSeries (passthrough)
  APPC 3270
  Dependent LU Requester (DLUR)

### iSeries Emulator Connections

Table 2. iSeries Emulator Connection Icons

Interface | Attachment
--- | ---
LAN |

  LAN via IEEE 802.2
  Telnet5250 over TCP/IP
  Telnet5250 over IPX/SPX
  VT over Telnet

5250 |

  Twinaxial Data Link Control (APPC)
  Twinaxial Data Link Control (Console)

COM port |

  SNA-over-Async
  Hayes AutoSync
  SNA-over-Async (Console)
  VT over Async
  VT over Telnet
  Telnet 5250
  X.25 Hayes AutoSync

SDLC |

  Synchronous Data Link Control

SNA/IP |

  5250

IBM ISA/MCA WAC |

  Synchronous Data Link Control (WAC)
  X.25 Qualified Logical Link Control

IBM-EEDLC |

  5250

OEM |

  APPC 5250

### ASCII Emulator Connections (SBCS only)

Table 3. ASCII Emulator Connection Icons

Interface | Attachment
--- | ---
LAN |

  VT over Telnet (TCP/IP)

COM port |

  VT over Async
  VT over Telnet (TCP/IP)

### S/3X Emulator Connections

Table 4. S/3X Emulator Connection Icons

Interface | Attachment
--- | ---
5250 |

  Twinaxial Data Link Control (Console)

### Client/Server (Peer) Connections

Personal Communications provides APPN end node support for workstations, allowing them to communicate more flexibly with other systems in the network.

When your workstation is defined as an APPN end node, an APPN network node server provides the following directory and routing services for your workstation:

- Intermediate session routing
- Directory services
- Topology and route selection services

Using Personal Communications, you can establish client/server connections to a variety of computers and to workstations running Windows 2000 or Windows XP. Another option is to connect the computers to a workstation running Communications Server. Available SNA client/server connection types are:

- LAN via IEEE 802.2
- Synchronous Data Link Control
- SNA-over-Async
- AnyNet SNA over TCP/IP
- Hayes AutoSync
- IBM Global Network - SNA over Async
- Twinaxial Data Link Control (APPC)
- X.25
- OEM Deep adapter
- WAC
- Enterprise Extender

### APPN Networking

Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) is the underlying networking protocol that routes APPC traffic through intermediate nodes in the network. For instance, when Program A uses APPC to talk to Program B, APPN finds the node where Program B is located and directs the APPC traffic through the network.

APPN includes several features that help reduce the amount of configuration required to set up and maintain a network. These features automate many tasks that are time consuming, complicated, and error prone. For example, if you're installing a new workstation that uses APPN, you don't have to set up configuration information for every workstation you want to communicate with. You simply provide the name of the computer and the address of the intermediate node that handles your traffic. APPN takes care of the rest of the information needed to route APPC traffic to and from your workstation.

If you connect to an APPN network, you simplify your own configuration and make it easier for other computers in the network to find you.

For more information about SNA Client/Server concepts, refer to Administrator's Guide and Reference.

#### APPC

Advanced program-to-program communication (APPC), also known as LU 6.2, is software that enables high-speed communications between programs on different computers, from portables and workstations to midrange and host computers. APPC software is available for many different operating systems, either as part of the operating system or as a separate software package.

APPC is a communications protocol that enables programs on different computers to "talk to" each other. APPC provides the interface between the programs and the networking hardware and software and defines the rules that programs use to exchange information.

APPC serves as an interface between application programs and the network. When the communications application on your workstation passes information to the APPC software, APPC takes the information and sends it on to a network interface, such as a Token-Ring adapter card. The information travels across the network to another computer, where the APPC software receives the information from the network interface. APPC puts the information back into its original format and passes it to the corresponding communications application.

Refer to Emulator User's Reference for more information.

#### APPN Network

By participating in an APPN network, Personal Communications workstations can also take advantage of two additional functions:

- High-performance routing
- Dependent LU requester

##### High-Performance Routing (HPR)

Personal Communications supports high-performance routing (HPR) over token-ring and Ethernet connections, which increases data routing performance and reliability. HPR supports the rapid transport protocol to provide nondisruptive rerouting around network outages, efficient selective retransmission, and end-to-end data integrity and congestion control.

##### Dependent LU Requester (DLUR)

DLUR allows dependent LUs (LU 0, 1, 2, 3, and dependent LU 6.2) to benefit from an APPN network. It supports dynamic and multiple paths through the network and eliminates the need for dependent LUs (or their gateway) to be adjacent to the VTAM(R) host.

A DLUR is an APPN end node or network node that owns dependent LUs, but requests that a dependent LU server (DLUS) provide the system services control point (SSCP) for those dependent LUs. A DLUS controls conversion from a subarea environment to an APPN environment, allowing you to maintain central management of remote dependent LUs while benefiting from an APPN network.

Personal Communications uses the support in VTAM V4R2 for dependent LUs through APPN networks and combined subarea and APPN networks. The dependent LU server function (in VTAM) provides dependent secondary logical unit (SLU) support by establishing an LU 6.2 session between a dependent LU requester node (DLUR), and a dependent LU server node (DLUS).

Refer to the information about SNA Client/Server concepts in Emulator User's Reference for more information.

### AnyNet

Personal Communications includes AnyNet SNA over TCP/IP support, which allows SNA emulator and client/server applications to communicate over a TCP/IP network. Using the AnyNet function, you can reduce the number of installed network protocols and reduce operational complexity without modifying your existing applications or hardware.

Refer to Emulator User's Reference for more basic information about AnyNet.

Refer to Administrator's Guide and Reference for examples of how to set up AnyNet connections.

### Enterprise Extender (HPR over IP)

Enterprise Extender allows you to extend the reach of SNA applications and data to include IP networks and IP-attached clients with similar levels of reliability, scalability, and control as SNA users. Enterprise Extender integration uses standard IP technology and does not require new hardware or software in the IP backbone.

Enterprise Extender is a simple set of extensions to the existing HPR technology, and provides the following:

- Nondisruptive backup from desktop to host
- SNA transport over native IP network
- End-to-end failure protection
- End-to-end data prioritization
- Scalable and cost-effective connectivity

## ActiveX/OLE 2.0 Support

Personal Communications sessions can be included as part of a compound document. A compound document is a document that appears to be a single unit, but which is in fact made up of information from more than one program. For example, a compound document could include data that allows Personal Communications to execute within the context of the spreadsheet program.

When included as part of another program, Personal Communications is known as an embedded or linked object and the program is known as a container. Personal Communications supports ActiveX/OLE 2.0-compliant containers such as Lotus Notes(R), Lotus WordPro, and Microsoft Word. For most containers you can embed an object by using a menu sequence (for example, in Microsoft Word, use Insert, then Object), or by dragging and dropping a workstation profile into the document.

As an embedded object, Personal Communications can change its appearance to be part of the container program, providing the container program allows this change to occur. Or, Personal Communications can be started so that it runs in its own separate window utilizing its own profile and screen displays.

There is a variety of ways that Personal Communications can be activated as an embedded object. For example, Personal Communications can be shown as an icon within another program, and be activated by double-clicking. Another way Personal Communications can be activated is through a script; Visual Basic or LotusScript are examples of scripting languages supported by Personal Communications, but any ActiveX/OLE automation scripting language can be used.

The use of scripts allows Personal Communications to be activated as a part of an automation request. For example, a script can be written to automatically start Personal Communications every time the container object is started, or a script can be used to automatically put data on host entry screens.

The Personal Communications session ends when the container is closed or when you close the Personal Communications window. If Personal Communications was actuated as a linked object, it must be closed separately.

## Object-Oriented API

Personal Communications provides a new language-independent object-oriented API. There are seven objects that can be used in conjunction with Visual Basic, Lotus Script, or any ActiveX/OLE automation scripting language to produce compound documents where Personal Communications is an embedded object within another program.

If you are interested in writing an application that includes Personal Communications as an object within your ActiveX/OLE 2.0 compliant program, refer to the Host Access Class Library (HACL) programming manual. This manual describes the objects that Personal Communications provides and describes what you need to do to access the Personal Communications data. Information is provided for programmers using Visual Basic scripts, Lotus scripts, and the C++ programming language. Samples of Visual Basic and Lotus scripts are provided on the Personal Communications CD-ROM.

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