Now you can create a webpage for your agency or office group using Secure Internet-LinKed (SILK) Web technology on the NIH Computer Center’s MVS North system. SILK Web pages are an efficient way to send information to large, geographically scattered groups—or to provide a web interface for your mainframe applications.

Create a Webpage Easily

You don’t need to be an expert in Unix and NT to create a webpage. All you need are a few simple lines of html code stored—with text, graphics and motion—in the safety of the North system mainframe.

Look at the webpage at http://silkad.nih.gov/public/pcc.sqn.@www.inter208.htm. It was created entirely on the MVS North system mainframe using TSO as a command facility. You can examine the html code that created this page through TSO, if you have a North system account. You can also view the code from your Internet browser—just use the View menu’s "page source" option.

The html code for the webpage above is stored as a mainframe data set, PCC.SQN.@WWW.INTER208.HTM. You will notice that the naming convention for web-accessible data sets requires .@WWW as the third level qualifier. Examples of web-enabled North system data sets are:

The suffix HTM indicates HTML code. The suffix DSNCC indicates mainframe format with printer control characters in column 1.

Data sets can be viewed using either the public server, or the secure server via the North system home page http://silkad.nih.gov. The public server is accessible by anyone with a web browser, while the secure server uses RACF to control access to data by requiring an ID and password before viewing data.

For more information concerning SILK Web technology on the North system, call TASC. Interface articles on the SILK Web technology are available on the web at http://datacenter.cit.nih.gov/interface/.

Web Interfaces for Applications

Creating a web interface for your mainframe applications makes them accessible with the easy-to-use features of a web browser. Reports can be stored on the mainframe in web-enabled formats, and appropriate accounts can access them. Queries can also be initiated from the web, run against mainframe databases, and results returned to the initiator on the web. The mainframe’s RACF facility provides complete security for your data, and only authorized accounts will be allowed to see your web data.

SILK Web is a great tool for enhancing your mainframe applications. Try it, you’ll like it.