TPF Web Server Demo

At the Spring 1997 TPF Users Group meeting that was held last April in San Francisco, IBM demonstrated basic HTTP 1.0 capability on TPF. This provides the ability to serve up HTML pages, GIF files (or any graphic), and Java applets (not demonstrated, but the support is there). At that time, IBM indicated that we would make the underlying software for this demonstration available to those who were interested.

The demo code will be available on the next program update tape (PUT) for TPF 4.1 in the ACP.SAMPLIB file. (See John Killian's "Free Samples" article in this newsletter.)

Although we are still working on plans for the implementation of Web server support into the TPF product, we know one thing: support will not be based on the demo code. As a result, we cannot ensure compatibility between any interim use of the demo code and whatever support may eventually be provided in the future. In spite of this, however, there is value to at least experimenting with the demo code for the following reasons:

• The content of any newly created static Web pages would be useful on any Web server (HTML is HTML).
• One of the areas that will be fairly unique per TPF account is the interface and relationship between Web-based clients and existin g user/terminal support structures (for example, AAAs or RCBs). Any work done here will be very useful in any eventual Web enablement of existing applications.
• Similarly, decisions must be made on how to treat existing text data flows. For example, one decision is whether text should be dy namically converted to HTML or sent "as is" to an applet (served up by TPF) that can interpret the data at the client end.

http://www.ibm.com/software/htp/tpf/tpf/pages/hvtp.html

If you would like additional information about TPF as a Web server or assistance with the demo code, contact Sue Zee Wolfsie through one of the following:

* swolfsie@vnet.ibm.com
* USIB5GZX at IBMMAIL
* WOLFSIE at KGNVMC
* Phone: (914/845) 433-2395.