Microsoft tightens Windows-mainframes link

Microsoft on Tuesday released Host Integration Server 2004, a revamped version of its server software for linking Windows servers to mainframes and other large computers.

The latest edition introduces tools that allow programmers to more easily move data between Windows systems and mainframes and IBM's iSeries servers. Microsoft also has revamped the security mechanism in Host Integration Server to better integrate with mainframes and enable single sign-on to multiple servers at once. With the update, Microsoft is adding an enterprise edition of Host Integration Server, which includes tools for moving data between Windows and host-based applications. A standard edition of the software costs $2,499. An enterprise edition, which adds more connectivity options, costs $9,999.