LANSA Open for .NET
Tight, Fast, and Secure Access to IBM i Resources from .NET Applications
Unite Your .NET IBM i Applications
LANSA Open for .NET is a Visual Studio plugin designed to allow Windows developers to access IBM i (AS/400, iSeries) resources (including data and programs) directly within their .NET applications. It offers easy integration between IBM i and .NET.
- Extend IBM i data and resources to Windows rich client and web applications built in .NET.
- .NET developers have easy access to IBM i server functions including programs, spooled files, message queues and OS commands.
- Easy access to LANSA’s Business Rules Engine (including data definitions and validation rules) from .NET applications without having to write any code.
- Safely open up enterprise data on the IBM i without risking security or data integrity and completely eliminate the need for database synchronization.
- Faster and more secure than ODBC. All apps benefit from rigourous IBM i security checks, data validation and referential integrity checks.
- No knowledge of IBM i, DB2 or LANSA is needed.
Build IBM i Connected Windows Desktop Apps
Desktop applications written with C# or VB.NET, or potentially any Common Language Runtime (CLR) compliant language, can utilize the Repository Explorer and Data Model Editor to access native IBM i resources in real-time, like data areas, message queues, operating system commands, and more.
In LANSA, business rules critical to enforcing data integrity are stored centrally in the LANSA Business Rules Engine rather than in the database or application. This locks down system-wide validations, calculations, and other business rules by delivering a completely independent Data Services Layer that governs all database access.
With LANSA’s Repository, these business rules, algorithms, and calculations reside centrally within the repository and are not duplicated and sprinkled across many programs.
Unite Your .NET IBM i Applications
Web applications written with ASP.NET, in potentially any Common Language Runtime (CLR) compliant language, can utilize the Repository Explorer and Data Model Editor to access native IBM i resources in real- time, like data areas, message queues, operating system commands, and more.
In LANSA, business rules critical to enforcing data integrity are stored centrally in the LANSA’s Business Rules Engine rather than in the database or application. This locks down system-wide validations, calculations, and other business rules by delivering a completely independent Data Services Layer that governs all database access.
With LANSA’s Repository, these business rules, algorithms, and calculations reside centrally within the repository and are not duplicated and sprinkled across many programs.
Build IBM i Connected .NET Web Services
Reduce the cost of publishing web services from IBM i systems by implementing the web services on the Microsoft platform combined with LANSA Open for .NET to expose the functionality and data from the IBM i systems.
Web services written in .NET, in potentially any Common Language Runtime (CLR) compliant language, can utilize the Repository Explorer and Data Model Editor to access native IBM i resources in real- time, like data areas, message queues, operating system commands, and more.
Just about every non-LANSA application contains source code that validates data before it is inserted, updated, or deleted in the database. Even though these rules are critical to safeguarding the integrity of enterprise data, they are often duplicated in multiple programs. Not only is this a maintenance nightmare, but it can also introduce validation variations and application inconsistencies.
Key Benefits
Why Use LANSA Open for .NET? LANSA Open for .NET enables IT departments to safely open up their IBM i data and applications to a variety of internal and external .NET applications without risking security or data integrity to deliver a better customer experience to your employees.
.NET and IBM i
Collaboration
Break down application silos and achieve a single version of the truth by enabling .NET and IBM i to work collaboratively to share real-time data, automate business processes, and eliminate synchronization between Windows and IBM i platforms.
Controlled Access
to IBM i Data from .NET
IT departments can safely open up their enterprise IBM i data to a variety of internal and external applications without risking security or data integrity. LANSA’s Business Rules Engine enforces validation logic and ensures that unacceptable data never hits the database.
Faster Transfer of Data
and Information
LANSA Open for .NET implements native record-level access to Db2 data over an encrypted, secure connection. Using native record-level access means .NET applications can quickly work with large volumes of Db2 data by taking advantage of IBM i’s powerful data processing capabilities.
Tighter IBM i Security
from .NET
LANSA Open for .NET’s runtime DLL encrypts and compresses data during transmission between the client and the server, protecting sensitive data from being compromised as it is sent down the wire, using industry- standard DES or Twofish.
Easier Resource Management
of Dev Teams
Reduce the challenges of managing siloed development teams and multi-platform projects by sharing resources between mixed .NET, RPG, and COBOL development environments by reusing the same enterprise business logic, validation rules, and calculations.
Getting Started Is
Fast and Easy
LANSA Open for .NET is easy to use and implement for .NET developers. The class library is shipped with ready-to-run samples in both the C# and VB.NET languages. There is almost no learning curve for .NET developers. No knowledge of IBM i, DB2, or LANSA is needed.
LANSA Open for .NET Resources
LANSA Open for .NET Features
Incorporate IBM i Services from .NET
- Opens up the IBM i data and applications to .NET developers in a productive and safe context while enforcing data management discipline.
- LANSA Repository Explorer and Data Model Editor—access to the LANSA Repository from within Visual Studio.
- Data management discipline is enforced by centrally stored business rules and functions, including data validations, error messages, referential integrity, database triggers, and derived (or virtual) fields.
- Productivity is enhanced by removing the need for the inclusion of business rules and data validation in the .NET applications.
- Invoke IBM i server functions from C# or Visual Basic programs.
- Maintain (create, update, delete) databases on the IBM i from .NET programs with business rules enforced at the database.
- Supports access to multilingual and DBCS services provided by the IBM i.
- Faster and more secure than ODBC. Unlike basic table I/O applications, all client applications are automatically subjected to rigorous IBM i security checks, data validation, and referential integrity checks.
- Secure encryption between the Windows and IBM i platforms using industry-standard DES or Twofish.
- Full .NET CLR verifiable class library—LANSA Open for .NET is not a class library front end to a non-CLR compliant WIN32 application.
- No knowledge of LANSA is required by .NET developers. They only need to become familiar with the services provided by the class library and the LANSA .NET provider.
Small footprint—deploys as a single DLL within your .NET applications. - Standardized error handling, tracing, and diagnostic capabilities.
Building a .NET and IBM i App with LANSA Open for .NET
See how to build a data services layer and an IBM i connected .NET application that works collaboratively with the IBM i server using Microsoft Visual Studio and LANSA Open for .NET. Learn how developers have access to IBM i server functions, including programs, spooled files, message queues, and operating system commands.
Recent Case Studies
Morton Salt Keeps on Pouring with LANSA
Elder’s web portal – digital transformation success with LANSA
Honda Australia MPE brings web dealer system in house with LANSA
Morton Salt Keeps on Pouring with LANSA
Elder’s web portal – digital transformation success with LANSA
Honda Australia MPE brings web dealer system in house with LANSA
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