System and method for automatically configuring and launching telnet 3270 client applications in a windows environment

摘要

A system and method for automatically configuring and launching Telnet "TN" 3270 client applications on a workstation operating in a Windows environment includes a Web application navigator located remotely from the workstation and an SNA application navigator installed on the workstation. The Web application navigator accessed via a Web browser provides session configuration information associated with various SNA target applications to the workstation. When a user selects one of the SNA target applications, the Web application navigator sends session configuration information to the workstation. This session configuration information includes a location and/or an identity of a TN3270 server associated with the SNA target application and necessary configuration parameters to be used by a TN3270 client to access it. In one embodiment of the present invention, the session configuration information is included in a session configuration file having a file extension that will invoke the SNA application navigator when received by the Web browser at the workstation. Once invoked, the SNA application navigator retrieves information associated with TN3270 clients installed on the workstation. With this retrieved information and the session configuration information, the SNA application navigator configures an appropriate TN3270 client and launches it thereby providing the user with access to the SNA target application.