What Is Host On-Demand?

IBM's Host On-Demand(HOD) software provides secure TN3270 terminal access and FTP(File Transfer Protocol) access to the ITS z/OS Mainframe. HOD is a java application that runs in the familiar environment of a web browser(Internet Explorer, Firefox, or Safari). It can also run in a non-browser mode, when the HOD Java Web Start client is used.

HOD requires Java software at a supported level on your PC.
A quick test to determine if you have Java installed on your PC is to
go to the web address: www.java.com

Click on the link: Do I have Java?

Next, click the "Verify Java Version" button.
If the message, "No working Java was detected on your system", install
Java by clicking the "Free Java Download" button, and then repeat the
"Verify Java Version" test again to verify your Java is working.
Further debugging tests are also provided on this web page.

HOD is a big step forward over earlier TN3270 software in which communications were passed in clear text and were not secure. HOD is configured to provide a secure connection using Transport Layer Security(TLS), which is the successor to Secure Sockets Layer(SSL). TLS is a protocol that ensures privacy between communicating applications and their users on the internet. TLS ensures that no third party may eavesdrop or tamper with any message.

HOD's browser-based access allows users to click on a hyperlink that launches a TN3270 or FTP session with the host. HOD launches its own window(HOD desktop), so the user can continue to access web-based data with their browser while connected to the host.