IBM Host On-Demand Version 16.0 Readme
Read Me - Please!
First Edition
This document contains information supplementary to the online help and the publications, it includes newly added functions, hints, tips, restrictions, and corrections. Refer the Host On-Demand Documentation for other considerations when using Host On-Demand Version 16.0, and for complete product documentation.
For information on installing IBM Host On-Demand, refer to the Installation Guide.
Names and license terms for third-party components are referenced in license.txt, which is located in the Host On-Demand installation directory or in the product installation image.
Thank you for choosing Host On-Demand Version 16.0.
Table of Contents
- Change Password
- Customization of Ribbon Bar
- Typing Assistant Enabled by Default
- Enable Keyboard Remapping to Switch to English Language
- Fixes for APARs and Internal Defects
Host On-Demand Documentation
You can find documentation and links to other resources at the IBM Documentation for Host On-Demand Version 16.0.
Support Considerations
Subscribing to Support News
To receive Host On-Demand support news flashes, complete the following steps:
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Go to the IBM support page, at the following address:
https://www.ibm.com/mysupport
- If you already have an IBM Registration ID, you can sign in. If not, you must register.
- Under Personal Support, click My Support. If you already have an IBM Registration ID, you can sign in. If not, you must register.
- After you sign in, click on Notification Settings under Support Basics.
- Search for the products you wish to receive news flashes for, then click the Subscribe link next to the product name.
- Click Submit. Your selected product will appear under the Product Subscriptions table.
- Click Sign out to end the session.
Support Assistant
The IBM Support Assistant enables you to easily resolve software questions. The Support Assistant provides the following components:
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Search: Enable search of the software information database.
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Service: Assists customers who choose to submit a PMR by providing access to the Electronic Service Request Web site.
- Support Links: A consolidated list of IBM web links, organized by brand and product.
Help desk personnel and Host On-Demand administrators might want to install Support Assistant in order to better support end users. The Support Assistant can be downloaded from the following address: http://www.ibm.com/software/support/isa/index.html
Other Considerations
Installing or migrating Host On-Demand with Communications Server
If you have both Host On-Demand and IBM Communications Server for Windows installed on a system, you should not use automatic migration when installing a newer version of Host On-Demand. First, remove both Host On-Demand and Communications Server for Windows from the system. You should then reinstall Communications Server, before installing the new version of Host On-Demand.
Displaying Arabic data in the VBHLLAPI sample program
For proper display of Arabic data in the VBHLLAPI sample program, you should do the following:
- Edit the VBHLLAPI sample program source code. For each form, change the default font property to a Windows True Type font that supports Arabic script (for example, Courier New).
- Recompile the VBHLLAPI sample program.
Refer to Emulator Programming for information about the API sample programs.
What's New in Host On-Demand Version 16.0
Redesign Host On-Demand Pages
In this release, the default Host On-Demand pages have been refreshed with a modern design that improves accessibility, streamlines navigation, and better organize content. This updated layout offers a more intuitive and visually engaging user experience.
HOD Hex Client as Default Client
With this release, the HOD Hex Client can now be deployed on an application server using InstallAnywhere during the Host On-Demand installation process.
LDAP Support
In this release of Host On-Demand , LDAP support has been expanded beyond IBM Tivoli Directory Server (TDS) to include additional open-source implementations such as ApacheDS, OpenLDAP, and Microsoft Active Directory (AD).
LDAP (Lightweight Directory Access Protocol) is used to store and retrieve directory information and authenticate users. With this enhancement, Host On-Demand now supports a broader range of directory services for improved flexibility and integration.
Host On-Demand Launcher for Mac OS
Host On-Demand Launcher is a custom protocol-based solution that launches the IBM Host On-Demand application using the locally installed installer on the user's machine.
Secure Configuration Server
In this release, support for a Secure Configuration Server has been introduced. Now, the server can handle both secure (TLS-enabled) and non-secure connections by listening on port 9001 for secure traffic and 8999 for non-secure traffic.
Wide Screen Optimization for BIDI and DBCS
In this release, Wide Screen Optimization has been introduced for BIDI (Bidirectional) and DBCS (Double-Byte Character Set) languages. This enhancement enables fonts to automatically scale and utilize the full presentation area when the screen is resized, eliminating unnecessary blank spaces and improving the visual layout.
Support for FIPS 140-3
This release, improving the security by transitioning from FIPS 140-2 to the newer FIPS 140-3 cryptographic standard for IBM Java runtime, as support for FIPS 140-2 will be deprecated in future updates.
End of Support for WCT Plugin and Portlets
From this release onwards, Host On-Demand no longer supports the WCT Plugin and Portlets.
Host On-Demand Installer Enhancements
From this release onwards, web applications such as the HOD Hex Client and License Manager can be deployed on application servers through InstallAnywhere during the Host On-Demand installation process.
The Host Access Toolkit installer now supports Modify installation, enabling administrators to add or remove language packs.
Both the Host Access Toolkit and Host On-Demand installers supports Modify Installation feature. With the Host AccessToolkit, you can add or remove language packs. The Host On-Demand provides more options, including the ability to add or remove language packs, reconfigure the web server, or completely uninstall the product.
HCL License Manager Enhancement
Fixes for APARs and Internal Defects
This release contains fixes for APARs and internal defects to improve productivity and quality.
What's New in Host On-Demand Version 16.0.1
Server JRE Update (Host On-Demand Version 16.0.1)
Server JRE has been updated to IBM Semeru Runtime Open Edition (JRE) version 17.0.17.
JAR Signer Certificate Upgrade
The code signer certificate used to sign the previous versions of IBM Host On-Demand software will expire on February 26, 2026. In the current version, the IBM Host On-Demand software is signed with a new code signer certificate that is valid up to January 14, 2028.
This certificate is issued to "International Business Machines Corporation" by "DigiCert Trusted G4 Code Signing RSA4096 SHA384 2021 CA1".
This certificate is issued to "HCL America Inc." by "DigiCert SHA2 Assured ID Code Signing CA".
SAF Keyring Support for z/OS
Previously, the Host On-Demand required JKS files for secure host connections on z/OS. Starting with this release, when Host On-Demand is deployed on z/OS, users can use the SAF keyring for secure host connections thorugh redirector
Embedded Server Updates
From this release onwards, Embedded server supports only Jakarta EE based applications.
Fixes for APARs and Internal Defects
This release contains fixes for APARs and internal defects to improve productivity and quality.
What's New in Host On-Demand Version 16.0.2
Server JRE Update (Host On-Demand Version 16.0.2)
Server JRE has been updated to IBM Semeru Runtime Certified Edition (JRE) version 17.0.18.1.
Upgrade of Packaged JRE in IBM Managed HOD
The version of Java runtime packaged in IBM Managed Host On-Demand has been upgraded to IBM Java 17.0.18.1.
OpenID Connect-based Single Sign-On (SSO) for Host On-Demand
Host On-Demand Server Logon using OIDC
Starting with this release, users can authenticate directly to the Host On-Demand portal using enterprise OpenID Connect (OIDC) credentials. This eliminates the need for the traditional logon panel, providing a seamless Single Sign-On experience.
OIDC for Green Screen Login (Web Express Logon)
This feature enables automated authentication for mainframe terminal sessions using OIDC tokens to securely retrieve host credentials. It removes the need for manual password entry, allowing users to log in instantly to green screen applications. Default plugins, including a network plugin and a credential mapper, are provided to support the zMFA (z/OS Multi-Factor Authentication) functionality.
Additional Keystore Support for Config Server and Embedded Servers
Previously, the Config Server and Embedded Server required JKS files to establish secure connections on z/OS. Starting with this release, when deployed on z/OS, users can also use the SAF keyring for secure connections.
When the Config Server and Embedded Server are deployed on Windows, the browser keyring can be used to establish secure connections.
Additionally, the Config Servlet connection to the Config Server is now secured using JKS, browser keyring, and SAF keyring options.
SSH Key Upgrade
The SSH security configuration has been enhanced to support modern key exchange (KEX), host key, encryption, and HMAC algorithms. This improves compatibility with the latest SSH servers while strengthening overall security.
Fixes for APARs and Internal Defects
This release contains fixes for APARs and internal defects to improve productivity and quality.
What's New in HOD Hex Client Version 16.0.1
SSO Improvements
From this release onwards, HOD Hex Client supports enhanced OAuth-based authentication.
Trust Store Management
The HOD Hex Client now supports secure communication using SSL/TLS, which is essential for modern applications to protect sensitive data. Trust stores are used to verify the authenticity of server certificates and ensure secure connections.
Local Cache Improvements
The HOD Hex Client now includes an improved local cache for HTML and combined model-based pages. With this enhancement, users no longer need to manually clear the cache when updates occur on the server. Any server-side changes to session properties are automatically reflected on the client without requiring cache clearance.
Progressive Web App
The HOD Hex Client now supports Progressive Web App, which is a type of web application that uses modern web technologies to deliver an app-like experience to users. It works in a web browser but behaves like a native mobile or desktop application.
Fixes for APARs and Internal Defects
This release contains fixes for APARs and internal defects to improve productivity and quality.
What's New in HOD Hex Client Version 16.0.2
Host File Transfer
With this feature, users can send or receive multiple files in a batch between the local system and the host system with a single click. Users can also select various dataset allocation options in the 3270 session while sending files to the host. Additionally, users can save, open, and delete file transfer lists used for receiving files from the host system.
Change Password
From HOD Hex Client 16.0.2, this feature allows users to securely change their password. Users can change their password only if the “User cannot change password” option is disabled. The current password is required to complete the change.
Customization of Ribbon Bar
From HOD Hex Client 16.0.2, UI customization was enabled for certain elements based on their IDs. This capability has now been extended to cover all elements. Furthermore, customization allows the addition of new elements, enabling access to existing functionalities through these newly added components. Additionally, it is now possible to define custom style classes and apply them to existing elements.
Refresh Issue
The HOD Hex Client now includes improved logic for handling the poll refresh mechanism within mainframe terminal screens. This enhancement addresses an issue where frequent screen refreshes interfere with user input during terminal sessions.
Typing Assistant Enabled by Default
From HOD Hex Client 16.0.2, the typing assistant is enabled by default. If users do not wish to use this feature, they can disable it from the dashboard page of the HOD Hex Client in Auto Suggestion popup.
Enable Keyboard Remapping to Switch to English Language
The HOD Hex Client now supports keyboard remapping to switch to the Latin (English) language across HTML, configuration, and combined-based pages. If the “TH” indicator is displayed in the OIA, pressing the key assigned to the Latin keyboard layer will switch the session to Latin mode. Upon switching, the “TH” indicator will be removed from the OIA, indicating that the default Latin mode is active.
Fixes for APARs and Internal Defects
This release contains fixes for APARs and internal defects to improve productivity and quality.