2.1 How it works

2.1.1 Components

Familiarize yourself with the three components:

  • Host Access Management and Security Server

    The Host Access Management and Security Server (MSS) provides an Administrative Console, a web-based centralized location where you can add, edit, and delete terminal sessions. MSS is part of the broader Micro Focus story and is compatible with other Micro Focus products.

  • Session Server

    The session server is an NT service or UNIX daemon that provides the engine that runs host sessions. Multiple session servers can serve up tens of thousands of sessions and provide efficient and rapid access to your host data.

  • Web Client

    The web client is the web-based terminal emulator where your users can easily access authorized sessions from any platform and from any location.

    The Web client provides macros, keyboard and color mapping, on-screen keyboard, copy/paste functionality, host-initiated screen updates, and file transfer capabilities.

Administrator and end user roles

Both administrator and end user roles are represented in the documentation and work flow. The administrator creates sessions, assigns users to those sessions, and sets user preferences. The end user accesses his assigned sessions, interacts with the web client to connect to the host, and accomplishes his tasks.

2.1.2 Browser and operating system support

Host Access for the Cloud is a 64-bit based product and supports Google Chrome, Mozilla Firefox, and Microsoft Internet Explorer and Edge browsers. The use of Docker containers makes vertical and horizontal scaling possible and supports cloud-based technologies. A complete list of supported platforms and other installation requirements is available in Evaluation system requirements.

2.1.3 Security considerations

When you open up your legacy hosts to users outside the corporate firewall - business partners, remote users, mobile sales personnel, and others - you need to shield your information from known security threats. With Host Access for the Cloud, you can provide secure web-to-host access to all your users, whether they’re around the corner or around the world. Host Access for the Cloud, along with the MSS, provides HTTPS connections and a variety of authorization and authentication options.

Host Access for the Cloud supports the TLS and SSH protocols to protect mission-critical data. To secure your passwords and other sensitive data, use the HTTPS protocol, which provides TLS encryption.

Host Access for the Cloud can be connected securely to the browser, the host, and the management server. See Securing connections for information on securing those connections.