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Web Services · Legacy Modernization

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Ahead of the REST.
No JVM. No Stack Tax. AI enabled.Connect/Web

< 100 MB

Resident
Memory

~50 ms

3270 Connect
Time

25

AI Capabilities
Day One

4

CGI Scripting
Languages

SAF

Access
Control

TLS

IBM System SSL
Encryption

z/OS Native Web Server

Empowering the AI-Ready Mainframe.

In an era where mainframes are evolving from systems of record into strategic platforms for real-time AI innovation, performance and simplicity are paramount. Connect/Web delivers a native z/OS web foundation purpose-built for the speed, efficiency, and reliability that modern AI-driven workloads demand.

Lightweight and dependency-free, it delivers ultra low-latency API access, browser-based 3270 sessions, and a real-time, browser-based interactive AI workspace for agentic inference — without the overhead traditional web infrastructure carries. Whether securely connecting z/OS resources to generative AI models and intelligent agents or modernizing legacy applications, Connect/Web removes the traditional tax on latency, memory, and operational complexity.

This is mainframe web infrastructure, reimagined for the AI era: fast, lightweight, secure, and immediately productive.

Features

Everything your team needs — one binary

Connect/Web is the heart that powers Connect/MP’s mainframe AI and modernization capabilities. It hosts multiple components and capabilities under a single configurable webroot — delivering unified, high-performance access through one TLS endpoint, one process, and one simple installation.

AI Inference for z/OS

Connect/AI

AI inference for z/OS in two modes: scheduled batch JCL inference and a real-time interactive AI workspace — all powered by Connect/Web, connecting to the inference model of your choice (mainframe, local, or cloud). Connect/AI calls 3270, JES, and Files natively, with no added latency.

  • Batch inference as a native JCL job step — fits your existing schedule
  • Interactive AI workspace with multi-step agentic workflows, streamed to the browser
  • Direct, native access to Connect/3270, Connect/JES, and Files — nothing to bolt on
  • Runs as part of Connect/Web — no separate middleware stack to install or manage

Web 3270 Access · Agentic Unlocked by Connect/AI

Connect/3270

Native z/OS 3270 access — browser-based sessions with no emulator, Java, plug-ins, or middleware required, plus a REST API for scriptable 3270 automation. Agentic, natural-language-driven automation is unlocked when paired with Connect/AI.

  • Web browser access with ~110 ms screen updates, no polling
  • REST API & scripting for 3270 automation — no AI required
  • Agentic 3270 — natural-language automation, unlocked with Connect/AI

z/OS Agentic AI workspace

Interactive AI Workspace

A browser-based, real-time interactive AI workspace hosted natively on z/OS by Connect/Web’s HTTP engine. Run agentic, real-time inference against live z/OS data — the interactive companion to Connect/AI’s scheduled batch JCL inference.

  • Powered by Connect/Web’s native z/OS HTTP engine
  • Real-time, agentic inference — not just batch
  • Accessible from any browser — no install

Datasets and USS files

Connect/Files

z/OSMF-compatible access to sequential datasets, PDS members, and USS files, direct and fast. Fully SAF-gated throughout.

  • Read, write, delete datasets and PDS members
  • Full USS path access — read, write, delete
  • Drop-in compatible with your existing z/OSMF tooling

Jobs and spool

Connect/JES

z/OSMF-compatible access to JES, gated by the calling user’s own SAF authority — every request reflects live job status, with nothing cached or out of date.

  • List, submit, delete jobs and read spool files
  • Drop-in compatible with your existing z/OSMF tooling
  • Live spool tail phase 2
  • Job event push — state transitions phase 2

Web content and scripting

Static Serving + CGI

Connect/Web is a full-featured z/OS web server — it serves static HTML, CSS, JS, and images, and supports CGI scripting in four languages including the mainframe-native REXX.

  • Static file serving from any configured webroot
  • CGI: REXX, Java, Python, PHP
  • Existing REXX tooling runs unmodified
  • Customisable landing page and product UIs

Web Server Capabilities

A complete z/OS web server — static, scripted, and dynamic

Connect/Web is a full-featured web server, not just a REST gateway. It serves static content, processes Server-Side Includes, and executes CGI scripts in four languages — giving teams a range of options from lightweight page assembly to full application logic, all without a separate server process.

HTML, CSS, JS, images

Static file serving

Each site has its own configurable webroot. HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and images are served directly — no middleware, no build step required. Product UIs and the landing page are plain static files, fully replaceable with customer branding.

  • Per-site webroot — fully customer-controlled
  • Customisable landing page linking to enabled products
  • All Connect product UIs are plain HTML/CSS/JS
  • Replace or skin any page without touching code

SSI directives in HTML

Server-Side Includes

SSI lets pages include dynamic fragments without a CGI script. Common headers, footers, navigation, and runtime values are assembled server-side before delivery — keeping static pages DRY without the overhead of full scripting.

  • Standard SSI directives: include, echo, if, set
  • Include shared headers, footers, and nav fragments
  • Echo server variables and environment values inline
  • Conditional output — show content by context
  • Combine with CGI output for mixed-mode pages

REXX · Java · Python · PHP

CGI scripting

Full CGI support for application logic — form processing, z/OS data queries, job submission, and dynamic data output. Scripts run as the authenticated user under SAF. Existing REXX execs run without modification.

  • Four languages — including mainframe-native REXX
  • SAF-gated: scripts execute as the calling user
  • Existing REXX tooling runs unmodified
  • Python and PHP for new development
  • Java CGI without a full application server
REXXMainframe-native — runs unmodified
JavaNo application server required
PythonModern scripting and data processing
PHPWeb-native development on z/OS

Compatibility

Drop-in z/OSMF compatibility

Connect/Web understands IBM z/OSMF's REST interface natively. Existing tooling keeps working with a single base-URL change — no code changes, no migration project.

Tool What changes Result
Zowe CLI Base URL only Works immediately
Jenkins z/OSMF plugin Base URL only Works immediately
In-house Python/Java clients Base URL only Works immediately
Custom REST scripts Base URL only Works immediately

Streaming and push endpoints are purely additive — existing calls are unaffected.

“We pointed Zowe CLI at Connect/Web on a Friday afternoon. Everything worked before we left for the weekend.”

— z/OS platform architect

Why it's safe to switch

Your existing tools, scripts, and pipelines keep pointing at the same paths they always have — nothing to rewrite, nothing to duplicate, no migration project.

Performance

Lightweight vs the Java stack

z/OSMF runs on WebSphere Liberty — a genuinely good engineering choice within the Java ecosystem. Connect/Web takes a different path, built specifically to minimize footprint and latency on z/OS.

Metric z/OSMF on Liberty Connect/Web
Cold start Seconds to a minute Milliseconds
Resident memory 1–2 GB (IBM recommends REGION=4G) < 100 MB
Latency variance Subject to periodic pauses under load Sub-millisecond, consistent

AI Integration

First-class AI agent access to z/OS

Connect/Web exposes its full surface to AI agents through an open, industry-standard integration layer. A broad set of ready-made capabilities across JES, Files, and Connect/3270 are available to any compatible AI agent or tool.

Connect/AI z/OS native

Calls every capability in-process, with no added latency. Runs batch JCL inference on a schedule or drives the real-time interactive AI workspace, both powered directly by Connect/Web.

Claude Code

Connect once — tools available in every project session. Ask in natural language; the agent calls the right tools automatically.

Claude.ai enterprise

Add Connect/Web as a Custom Integration. Every capability appears in every team member’s browser session — no separate install required.

Set up in minutes

Point your AI tool of choice at Connect/Web and you’re done — no custom integration code, no separate connector to build or maintain.

Then ask naturally:

“What JES jobs are currently running?”

“Open a 3270 session and get me to SDSF DA.”

“Read SYS1.PARMLIB(EASY500) and summarise the key settings.”

Who It's For

Built for every team that touches z/OS

From operators running batch, to analysts working live AI in the Web AI Workspace, to developers building CGI applications — Connect/Web reduces friction at every layer of the z/OS stack.

Operators

Browser 3270 access from any device. No emulator install, no firewall rule for raw TN3270 ports.

Systems programmers

Read and write PARMLIB members, datasets, and USS files remotely. Expose tooling as CGI with existing REXX.

DevOps teams

Submit JCL, stream spool output, and handle job events. Zowe CLI and Jenkins keep working unchanged.

Web developers

Build z/OS-integrated web apps in Python, PHP, Java, or REXX — without standing up a separate application server.

AI engineers

A broad set of ready-made capabilities let AI agents reason over z/OS data and drive 3270 sessions — no custom integration code.

Platform architects

Replace z/OSMF's 1–2 GB footprint with tens of MB. No JVM to license, patch, or operate.

Deployment

Simple by design

No install wizard, no application server, no Java runtime. A single binary, a config file, and a webroot.

Single binary

Installs directly on z/OS USS and starts with a single command — no separate install process.

TLS included

Handled natively, end to end. No reverse proxy required.

Multi-site

Dev and prod from one process — separate webroots, ports, and TLS certs per site.

Flexible CGI

REXX, Java, Python, and PHP CGI configured per site. Existing scripts run without modification.

Complete Web Infrastructure

Connect/Web consolidates your z/OS web infrastructure into one supported solution — delivering the low-latency web foundation that hosts Connect/AI’s real-time interactive AI workspace and powers Connect/3270 agentic automation. Browser-based 3270 sessions, z/OSMF-compatible access, static file serving, and CGI scripting in REXX, Java, Python, and PHP — all without the overhead of a Java application server or extra dependencies. One solution. One vendor. One point of support.

Resources

Learn more about features

Use cases

Mainframe AI Platform

Connect/MP › Connect/Web

Use Cases

Operations

Operator — JES admin on any device

Remote access without a desktop emulator

A team member needs to check a TSO session from a laptop that has no 3270 emulator installed. They open a browser, navigate to Connect/3270, and are at an ISPF panel in under a second.

  1. Open Connect/3270 from any browser
  2. Select host, enter credentials
  3. Full TN3270E session — PF keys, PA keys, hidden fields
  4. Multiple tabs = multiple concurrent sessions
Connect/3270 no install live session

Batch operations team

Monitor and triage batch jobs

An operator needs to check whether overnight batch completed, read JESYSMSG for a failed job, and purge it — all without opening z/OSMF or an ISPF session.

  1. Pull up every batch job by owner and status in one call
  2. Drill into failed job — read spool files
  3. Purge the job once it's been reviewed
  4. Coming soon: tail live spool output as the job runs
Connect/JES z/OSMF compatible

Systems programmer

Edit a JCL procedure or config dataset

A sysprog needs to quickly update a PARMLIB member during an incident. They pull the content, edit it, and write it straight back — no ISPF, no FTP, no file transfer tool.

  1. Read the PARMLIB member directly
  2. Edit content locally or in a script
  3. Write the update straight back
Connect/Files PDS member

Automation & CI/CD

DevOps / pipeline engineer

Migrate existing z/OSMF automation

A team running Zowe CLI or a Jenkins z/OSMF plugin wants to move off z/OSMF without rewriting pipelines. They change one base URL — everything else keeps working.

  1. Point Zowe CLI or Jenkins at Connect/Web
  2. Existing job and file operations resolve automatically
  3. No code changes, no new client libraries
  4. Gain live streaming and push updates as an additive bonus
z/OSMF drop-in Zowe CLI Jenkins

CI/CD pipeline

Submit JCL and stream output in one round trip

A deployment pipeline submits a JCL job and needs to know immediately when it completes — without polling. One request submits and streams JESYSMSG back as the job runs.

  1. Submit the job with JCL in the request — get the job ID back immediately
  2. Job output streams live as it runs
  3. Stream closes on job completion — pipeline continues
Connect/JES streamed submit phase 2

Automation / AI engineer

Automate a 3270 logon flow

A team has a legacy application only accessible through ISPF panels. They build a simple macro to log on, navigate to the app, extract data, and log off — no screen-scraping library needed.

  1. Use a bundled logon macro as a starting point
  2. Add find-by-label steps for panel navigation
  3. Variable substitution keeps credentials out of the script
  4. Run it from any AI agent or automation tool
Connect/3270 macros

AI-Assisted Mainframe Work

Developer using Claude Code

Ask an AI agent to investigate a failed job

A developer types a natural-language question. Claude Code investigates automatically and returns a plain-English summary with the relevant spool output.

  1. “Why did job PAYROLL1 fail last night?”
  2. Agent looks up the job and pulls its output
  3. Summarises JESYSMSG and pinpoints the abend
Connect/AI Claude Code JES

Developer unfamiliar with ISPF

Navigate ISPF via natural language

A developer new to z/OS needs to reach SDSF but doesn’t know ISPF panel navigation. They describe what they want; the agent drives the 3270 session using the bundled macro library.

  1. “Open a TN3270 session and get me to SDSF DA”
  2. Agent logs on using the bundled TSO macro
  3. Agent reads the screen and returns the panel
Connect/AI Connect/3270 Claude Code

Team using Claude.ai enterprise

Mainframe access from Claude.ai web

An enterprise team connects Connect/Web as a Custom Integration in Claude.ai. Every capability is available to every team member in the browser — no CLI install required.

  1. Admin adds Connect/Web as a Custom Integration
  2. Tools appear in all team members’ Claude.ai sessions
  3. Secured with encrypted transport and single sign-on
Connect/AI Claude.ai enterprise-wide

Platform & Deployment

z/OS capacity planner

Replace z/OSMF to reclaim LPAR memory

A shop running z/OSMF with 1–2 GB resident pages wants to recover that memory. Connect/Web handles the same job at tens of MB, with no JVM in the operations playbook.

no JVM low footprint

z/OS platform admin

Run isolated dev and prod environments

One Connect/Web binary serves a dev site on port 8080 and a prod site on port 443 with separate webroots, TLS certificates, and feature flags — no second process, no second install.

multi-site single binary TLS

Connect/MP › Connect/Web

Features

Key Features

Connect/Web  ·  Data 21

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Data 21

About Data 21

Founded in 1980, Data 21 Inc. is a veteran-owned enterprise software company headquartered in California. For over 45 years, we have delivered innovative, reliable, high-performance mainframe-centric solutions that power today’s connected enterprise.

Our software is embedded in the critical daily operations of hundreds of enterprises worldwide — a testament to our commitment to exceptional engineering and long-term client success. We don’t just support our customers; we evolve alongside them.

At Data 21, the mainframe isn’t a legacy constraint — it’s a strategic foundation.

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