Host Connectivity News and Articles (9/28)
When you hear terms such as 'IBM 3270 emulation' or 'Stratus emulation', you may balk. You know they have something to do with computers, but you probably haven't the foggiest idea beyond that. Well, allow us to explain. These are examples of terminal emulation software. It may sound obvious but, to put that simply, this software mimics or 'emulates' terminals.
One of the most amazing thing about the short history of computers is that the early mainframes of the 1960s and ‘70s – supercomputers that took up entire rooms and required their own air conditioning systems just to keep them at the optimum temperature – were less powerful than the handheld smartphone that most of you are probably carrying in your pocket even as you read this. It’s even more amazing when you consider that the technology required to access these mainframes can now be emulated on smartphones. From 3270 emulation to Wyse and Stratus emulation, it’s all available from your handheld device. In a way, it's all come full circle.
Terminal emulation refers to a type of software that allows end users to access a host computer or mainframe. The original terminals of the 1960s and '70s were crude pieces of hardware that performed a single function: accessing their host. Because of these limited capabilities, terminals did not survive in the multi-functional modern computing environment. Instead, terminal emulation software was introduced to mimic the original terminal hardware on a modern PC.
The business world is full of buzzwords but none seem to be gaining more traction in recent times than "cloud computing". But what exactly is cloud computing? There seem to be so many different definitions of what it entails that pinning down an exact definition is extremely difficult. In this article, we'll help demystify the concept of cloud computing by looking at how it is implemented in practical situations: what types of cloud services are being offered and who is using them? We'll also discuss how cloud computing is in many ways, an extension of the mainframe terminals of the 1970s, as well as the role that 3270 emulation and other emulators still play today.