What is 3270 emulators?

A 3270 emulator is a program that simulates the behavior of an IBM 3270 terminal on a computer or mobile device. The IBM 3270 is a type of terminal that was commonly used in the past to connect to mainframe computers and access applications such as those running on the IBM mainframe operating systems like MVS, VM and VSE.

3270 emulators are typically used to provide a way for users to access these older applications from newer computers or devices that do not have built-in 3270 compatibility. The emulator allows the user to connect to the mainframe as if they were using an actual 3270 terminal, and it translates the mainframe’s 3270 terminal protocol into something that can be displayed on the user’s screen.
This allows users to continue using legacy applications that are still running on mainframes, while still taking advantage of the features and capabilities of modern computers and devices. 3270 emulators are also used for testing and development of mainframe applications, as they can be used to emulate different types of 3270 terminals, and to record and replay terminal sessions.

Examples of current 3270 emulators:

There are several examples of current 3270 emulators available, including:

1. IBM Personal Communications: This is an emulator developed by IBM that provides a full-featured 3270 emulation, along with support for other mainframe terminal types such as TN3270E and TN5250. It is widely used in mainframe environments and is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
2. Micro Focus Rumba: This is a 3270 emulator developed by Micro Focus that provides advanced features such as support for SSL and SSH, as well as a customizable user interface. It is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
3. Mocha TN3270: This is a 3270 emulator that is designed for connecting to IBM mainframes running TN3270E. It is available for Windows and Linux.
4. Zephyr: This is a lightweight, open-source 3270 emulator that is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS. It supports TN3270, TN3270E, and TN5250 protocols, and can be easily integrated with other tools and scripts.
5. BlueZone: This is a 3270 emulator developed by Rocket Software that provides robust security features and support for various terminal types. It is available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.
6. Attachmate Extra! : This is a 3270 emulator developed by Attachmate, it provides advanced features such as support for multiple sessions, scripting, and automation. It is available for Windows and has been widely used for many years.
7. Hummingbird: This is a 3270 emulator developed by OpenText that provides support for multiple terminal types, including 3270, 5250, VT100/220 and more. It also includes a rich set of security features and is available for Windows, Linux and macOS.
8. Reflection: This is another emulator developed by Micro Focus that provides support for 3270, 5250, VT100/220 and more. It also includes features like session recording and macro automation. It is available for Windows, Linux and macOS.
9. SRA: This is a 3270 emulator developed by SRA International that provides a secure, web-based access to mainframe applications. It uses Java applet technology to connect to mainframes and supports multiple terminal types.
10. TELNET3270: This is a 3270 emulator that provides support for TN3270, TN3270E, and TN5250 protocols, it also provides a Telnet-based solution for connecting to mainframe systems. It is available for Windows, Linux and macOS.

 

All of these emulators provide a way to connect to mainframe systems, emulate 3270 terminals and allow users to access mainframe applications from their local systems. They also provide different levels of security, customization options, and level of integration with different operating systems and environments.

Further, these examples are just a few of the many 3270 emulators available on the market. The choice of the right emulator will depend on the specific needs of your organization, including the level of security, automation and integration with existing systems, as well as the platform where the emulator will be running.

A brief history about the 3270 emulators

The IBM 3270 terminal was first introduced in 1971 as a way for businesses to access mainframe computers and their applications. As the use of mainframes and 3270 terminals decreased over the years with the rise of client-server computing, there was a need for a way to access the legacy applications that were still running on mainframes. This led to the development of 3270 emulators, which would simulate the behavior of a 3270 terminal on a computer or mobile device.

Here is a rough timeline of the evolution of 3270 emulators:

• 1971: IBM introduces the 3270 terminal as a way to access mainframe computers and applications.
• 1980s: 3270 emulators start to be developed as a way to access legacy mainframe applications from newer computers.
• 1990s: 3270 emulators become more advanced, with support for more terminal types and more features such as session recording and macro automation.
• 2000s: 3270 emulators become more widely used as businesses continue to rely on legacy mainframe applications.
• 2010s: 3270 emulators continue to evolve, with the introduction of web-based emulators, support for mobile devices, and improved security features.
• 2020s: 3270 emulators are widely used to access mainframe applications, with many companies using them to support their digital transformation initiatives and preserve legacy applications. The emulators also have been integrated with AI and automation features, to improve the user experience and make the access to mainframe applications more efficient.

It’s worth noting that, even though the use of mainframe systems is decreasing, there are still many businesses that rely on them for mission-critical applications and data, so 3270 emulators are still widely used today. The development of the emulators continues to advance, adding more features and capabilities, making them more secure and improving the user experience.