Host Access and Mobile Devices

  • 7021286
  • 06-Mar-2013
  • 24-Feb-2020

Environment

Host Access for the Cloud (formerly Reflection ZFE)
Verastream Host Integrator version 7.x
Reflection for TN3270 and TN5250 (iOS)
Reflection for UNIX (iOS app)
Reflection Mobile (iOS app)
Reflection Desktop
Reflection Desktop for IBM
Reflection Desktop for UNIX and OpenVMS
Reflection 2014
Reflection for IBM 2014
Reflection for UNIX and OpenVMS 2014
Reflection for IBM 2011
Reflection for UNIX and OpenVMS 2011
Reflection Standard Suite 2011
Extra! X-treme version 9.x
Reflection for IBM version 14.x
Reflection for HP version 14.x
Reflection for UNIX and OpenVMS version 14.x
Reflection for the Web (All Editions)
Reflection for the Web 2014 (All Editions)
Reflection for the Web 2011 (All Editions)

Situation

This technical note briefly discusses the considerations for accessing your host(s) from a mobile device and the Attachmate products that offer this capability.

Resolution

You can connect to your host(s) from mobile devices by using web-based HTML emulation, native iOS or Android apps, Windows-based applications, or web-based Java emulation.

When choosing a host access solution, consider the device's screen size, aspect ratio, and whether HTML 5, Java, or Windows is supported. Also consider the types of terminal emulation supported by Attachmate products.

HTML Web-based Terminal Emulation

Host Access for the Cloud and Verastream Host Integrator provide "zero footprint" solutions since no Java or client software needs to be installed on the mobile device. These products provide wide compatibility with HTML5-capable web browsers on smart phones, tablets, and mobile devices including iPhone, iPad, Android, Windows Phone, and BlackBerry.

The terminal pages feature:

  • Modern look and feel.
  • Responsive display using the full browser width, or resize the window as desired.
  • Easy entry of host function keys in terminal pages with a transparent on-screen keyboard. To use the keyboard, tap or click the "Fn" graphic in the upper right.

Host Access for the Cloud (formerly Reflection ZFE)

Host Access for the Cloud provides terminal emulation for 3270, 5250 and VT host terminal types with centralized control.

Beginning in version 1.1 (October 2015), mobile touch support, macro functionality, and on-screen function key support (Quick Keys) is provided for mobile devices without full keyboards. You can also map colors and host keys for a more user-friendly experience. For more information about Host Access for the Cloud, see https://support.microfocus.com/product/?prod=RZFE.

View Full Size
Figure 1. Sample Reflection ZFE session. The upper right shows 3 active sessions to different hosts. Displayed in Google Chrome. Figure 1. Sample Reflection ZFE session. The upper right shows 3 active sessions to different hosts. Displayed in Google Chrome.
View Full Size
Figure 1. Sample Reflection ZFE session. The upper right shows 3 active sessions to different hosts. Displayed in Google Chrome. Figure 2. Reflection ZFE 1.1 session to UNIX host (VT emulation) with Quick Keys displayed.

Verastream Host Integrator

In Verastream Host Integrator (VHI) version 7.5 or higher, you can quickly and conveniently connect to your IBM hosts in a web browser—without configuring a model in Design Tool or generating a Web Builder project. To access the Terminal3270 or Terminal5250 web applications, do one of the following:

  • On Windows, "3270 Terminal Session" and "5250 Terminal Session" shortcuts are installed in Start > All Programs > Attachmate Verastream > Host Integrator.
  • From any system, you can open the URL http://vhiservername:8081/Terminal3270/ or http://vhiservername:8081/Terminal5250/.
View Full Size
Figure 3.  Sample Terminal3270 web application. Host screen has clickable hot spots and drop-down function keys. Displayed on Apple iPad. Figure 3. Sample Terminal3270 web application. Host screen has clickable hot spots and drop-down function keys. Displayed on Apple iPad.

Furthermore, to improve usability of your host application on mobile devices, you can model it and generate an "HTML5 Web Application" project in Web Builder. This enables displaying of form pages with drop-down procedure selection.

View Full Size
Figure 4. Sample form-based web application generated by Web Builder, with procedure drop-down list. Displayed on Apple iPad. Figure 4. Sample form-based web application generated by Web Builder, with procedure drop-down list. Displayed on Apple iPad.

Native iOS Apps

The following apps are available for mobile devices running Apple iOS on iPad or iPhone:

  • Reflection for UNIX is a free mobile app that provides Telnet and SSH access to UNIX/Linux and OpenVMS hosts (VT terminal emulation). For more information, see KB 7022072.
  • Reflection for TN3270 and TN5250 is a paid mobile app that provides access to IBM systems. For more information, see KB 7022074.
  • Reflection Mobile is a special enterprise mobile app offering that combines the capabilities of both the Telnet/SSH/VT and TN3270/TN5250 apps above. For more information, see KB 7024231.
View Full Size
Figure 5. Reflection for UNIX running on iPad Figure 5. Reflection for UNIX running on iPad

Windows-based Terminal Emulation

You can run full-featured Reflection Desktop, Reflection 2014, Reflection 2011, Reflection 14.x, or EXTRA! X-treme on mobile/touch devices as follows:

  • Windows 8 Pro: Windows-based products run natively.
  • Apple iOS, Android, and others: Windows-based products run in a virtualization environment (for example, Citrix Receiver client installed on mobile device.

For additional information on Windows 8 support and virtualization platform support, refer to the appropriate technical note for your product:

Attachmate Product
Supported Platform Information
Reflection Desktop products
KB 7021413
Reflection 2014 products
KB 7021449
Reflection 2011 products
KB 7021521
Reflection version 14.1 products
KB 7021763
EXTRA! X-treme
KB 7021280
View Full Size
Figure 4. Reflection 2011 running on a Windows 8 tablet. Figure 4. Reflection 2011 running on a Windows 8 tablet.

Beginning in Reflection 2011 R3 SP1, additional features are available to enhance touch screen user experiences (see KB 7021453):

  • TouchUx features (available on Windows 8, or iOS or Android through Citrix XenApp) include split-pane menus, a transparent on-screen host keyboard, easy session switching, and touch gesture navigation.
View Full Size
Figure 5. Reflection 2011 R3 SP1 TouchUx transparent host keyboard. Figure 5. Reflection 2011 R3 SP1 TouchUx transparent host keyboard.
View Full Size
Figure 5. Reflection 2011 R3 SP1 TouchUx transparent host keyboard. Figure 6. Reflection 2011 R3 SP1 TouchUx menu pane.
  • SmartUx features (for IBM 3270 and 5250 sessions only) enable developers to modernize the host application user experience with field highlights, drop-down selection lists, graphical calendar date-pickers, required field indicators, and more. For more information about using SmartUx features, see KB 7021450.
View Full Size
Figure 7. Reflection 2011 R3 SP1 SmartUx examples. Figure 7. Reflection 2011 R3 SP1 SmartUx examples.

Java Web-based Terminal Emulation

Reflection for the Web can run on devices that support Java.

If you are running an iOS device, mobile access is available via virtualization technologies or Windows Remote Desktop (see Windows-based Terminal Emulation above). If you attempt to run Reflection for the Web on iOS devices, you may see a message similar to the following:

View Full Size
Figure 3. Error Message: The Java applet could not load…. Figure 3. Error Message: The Java applet could not load….

On older Windows CE devices, success has been reported running Reflection for the Web when NSIcom CrE-ME Java is installed.

Additional Information

Legacy KB ID

This document was originally published as Attachmate Technical Note 2630.