Earlier this week, Microsoft announced the beta availability of its Host Integration Server (HIS) 2004. The server is the latest member to join the Windows Server System, and includes support for XML Web services, Visual Studio .NET and the Microsoft .NET Framework.

One of the product's main goals is to link mid-range systems to IBM mainframes in a cost effective manner. To achieve this objective, HIS includes features to secure cross-platform access, and improve application and data integration capabilities.

The beta marks the first new release of HIS since the launch of Host Integration Server 2000. The inclusion of Visual Studio development tools and support for .NET catches the product up with other members of the Microsoft server family.

Along with finding its way back onto the current Microsoft technology roadmap, the HIS beta adds several other enhancements.

Perhaps most significantly, new support for secure sockets layer (SSL) and transport layer security (TLS) will bolster network security in interacting with mainframes that pre-date global environment of the Internet. In addition to enhancing connectivity, the server features an IP-DLC link service jointly developed by Microsoft and Data Connection Ltd.

With the beta release, line-of-business solutions will be brought into the world of the Windows platform. Microsoft integrated Visual Studio with the .NET framework to essentially wrap existing mainframe applications as .NET client components. A featured called "Transaction Integrator" offers host-initiated processing that allow Windows Servers to function as peers to IBM mainframes and AS/400 computers.

Data sources are pulled from mainframes and AS/400 machines using ODBC, Microsoft's COM-based OLE DB, or the .NET Framework-enabled Data Providers for IBM's DB2. Microsoft claims support for two phase commit distribution transactions over TCP/IP to DB2 running on what it deems the "most popular computing platforms."

A new data access tool is geared toward allowing both administrators and developers to create and manage connection between Windows-based servers, DB2, and some host file systems. This brings data from mainframes into Web service environments.

"Host Integration Server is Microsoft's way of bridging the past with the future, assuming you see Windows as your future. The software provides the means of integrating 'legacy' systems, such as AS/400 or mainframes, with Windows client-server systems," Jupiter Research senior analyst Joe Wilcox told BetaNews.

"For example, one of Microsoft's goals for Office 2003 is to have businesses use the product as a front end to back end data. Businesses would take advantage of Office's XML capabilities," said Wilcox.

More information on Host Integration Server 2004 can be found on Microsoft's Server System Web site.