Re: IBM I as a web server? -- MIDRANGE-L

Just caught this thread. We use IBM i systems in our credit card
processing Portals. We have three "stacks" of network hardware, each
sitting on top of their one of three Power Systems running IBM i and Zend
Server. These run at two different data centers and are replicated. The
front end that all of our merchants' systems connect to is driven by PHP.
Alan Seiden was a great help in that dev effort. Once the connection is
made, the transaction is sent by data queue to the RPG-based card
processing engine. It is recorded in a physical file after passing
validation. Once completed, it goes back through a data queue to the PHP
thread to the client and is returned. This process, assuming no
communication outside of the Portal (which is not usual, of course, as we
talk externally to authorization networks) takes about 225 milliseconds.
That is measured from the time the transaction (using HTTPS) is generated
at the merchant until the response is received based on our third-party
performance monitor. Basically this measures the overhead excluding the
conversation with the auth network. In addition, we drive web pages that
collect payment data from Phone Order Operators using a browser (isolated
and typically not on their workstations). We also service web sites for
e-commerce and generate iFrames to collect card data from shopping carts.
All of this is front-ended with PHP.

We have a metric ton of traffic and the Power Systems do very well. The
systems scale well and are rock solid reliable. Obviously, these systems
are dedicated to this purpose and the entire infrastructure is PCI
audited. Our PCI auditors LOVE the platform.

*Ira Chandler, PCI QIR*

*CTO, Curbstone CorporationTechnical Services - 888-844-8533*
*https://curbstone.com/email_disclaimer
<https://curbstone.com/email_disclaimer>*

On Mon, Nov 26, 2018 at 10:49 PM Jon Paris <jon.paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Yes - same Apache server instance.

And Paul doesn't hang around here. If I come up with a copy I'll let you
know.

Jon Paris

www.partner400.com
www.SystemiDeveloper.com

On Nov 26, 2018, at 8:02 PM, Don Brown <DBrown@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Does the PHP and CGIDEV2 both go through the same HTTP server ? Which

HTTP

Server ?

Maybe Paul will chime in with a copy of his presentation ... hopefully!

Don Brown

"MIDRANGE-L" <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote on 27/11/2018

10:57:31

AM:

From: "Jon Paris" <jon.paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Midrange-L Midrange-l" <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 27/11/2018 10:57 AM
Subject: Re: IBM I as a web server?
Sent by: "MIDRANGE-L" <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

Oh - that's hard to answer. Paul could do a better job - he has a
[presentation on how it is built but I can't put my hands on it.

By the way - I didn't mention the fact that the static pages are
also built dynamically from the maintenance system. Most of those
are CGIDEV2 using SQL/Stored procedures behind it.

As to your question on mixing the two.

Some of the screens are straight CGIDEV2, some are straight PHP. The
majority of the pages the user will see (as opposed to the site
administrators) are CGIDEV2. The bulk of the pages that are used
behind the scenes are PHP.

But all are "mixed" to some degree using Javascript to call backend
functions - some of those backend functions are RPG and some are PHP.

For example one part is a multi-tab interface which you step
through. It culminates in a PHP script being called to set-up the
credit card processing, once that completes the confirmation email
is also sent by PHP with back end RPG processes providing the data.

Hard to describe because it has "evolved" over time.

Hope this helps a bit.

Jon Paris

www.partner400.com
www.SystemiDeveloper.com

On Nov 26, 2018, at 7:24 PM, Don Brown <DBrown@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Jon, I am interested in a comment in your reply below -
"(We run a web site for our business (SystemiDeveloper.com
<http://systemideveloper.com/>) where the dynamic pages are is built

from >

RPG CGI (CGIDEV2 for the most part), PHP, SQL and RPG stored >

procedures,

and more.)"

I have done a little bit with CGIDEV2 a long time back and we are doing
more with PHP now but how do you combine both ? are they separate parts

of

the website or are you using both on the same page or could you advise

how

this all fits together ? Just trying to understand the mechanics of

using

both these tools together.

Thanks

Don Brown

"MIDRANGE-L" <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote on 27/11/2018

10:15:09

AM:

From: "Jon Paris" <jon.paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: "Midrange-L Midrange-l" <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: 27/11/2018 10:15 AM
Subject: Re: IBM I as a web server?
Sent by: "MIDRANGE-L" <midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

There is nothing "turn of the century" about _anything_ that has
been suggested Booth.

As I'm sure you know, in this crazy world of IT there is always
something "new and shiny" coming along.

For example many things that you may read as negatives against CGI
are in part because a) someone wants to sell you on the new shiny
thing and b) because many of the issues with CGI apply to other
platforms, but were dealt with in the IBM i Apache version and so
are not an issue.

There is never a "best" solution. It is always a balance between
what you need, the skills you have, available tolling, and of course

$s.

We run a web site for our business (SystemiDeveloper.com <http://
systemideveloper.com/>) where the dynamic pages are is built from
RPG CGI (CGIDEV2 for the most part), PHP, SQL and RPG stored
procedures, and more. While it is due for an overhaul looks wise it
works very well.

When I have worked with clients I have used PHP, CGIDEV2, PowerExt,
the IWS and more. So some Apache based stuff, some IWS stuff.
Whatever fits the job and works for the client. Increasingly I'm
seeing a need for node.js and (much as I dislike Javascript) will
have to get into that in the future, just as the introduction of
Mono and .Net core means I'll have to at least get a basic
understanding of those technologies.

Pick a technology and learn it. Then pick another and learn that.
Stop looking for the "right" answer - there isn't one other than
sometimes for a very specific set of circumstances.

Jon Paris

www.partner400.com
www.SystemiDeveloper.com

On Nov 26, 2018, at 6:39 PM, Booth Martin <booth@xxxxxxxxxxxx>

wrote:

I am pretty sure I am not saying that nor anything close to it.

I am trying to move forward, get new knowledge, and am being told

that turn of the century stuff is good enough.

No wonder we get the reputation we do.

And yes, I struggled off and on for months. And yes, people on

Midrange helped a lot. I understand and appreciate that.

On 11/26/2018 3:31 PM, Bradley Stone wrote:

So you struggled with this for months, got help from many people on

the

list, and now you're going to suggest maybe the Apache server is

outdated

when others are saying it's not and a super stable platform?

Cmon, Booth.

Bradley V. Stone
www.bvstools.com
MAILTOOL Benefit #12<https://www.bvstools.com/mailtool.html>: Both

Text

and HTML email support

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