The project
noze begins building a web platform for Sabre Italia that replaces IBM 3270 terminal access to the booking systems of maritime transport operators and tour operators. The project brings into the browser the services that travel agencies in the Sabre network access through terminal emulators on dedicated workstations.
The existing system relies on 3270 emulation software (Attachmate myExtra!, Attachmate e-Vantage) installed on agency workstations, communicating with operator host systems via the SNA network. The objective is to make the same services accessible via the web on any platform, eliminating the dependency on proprietary emulation software.
The architecture
The system is built on a Linux server at the Sabre Italia offices in Rome, with dual ethernet interfaces (public network and LAN). The connection to operator host systems runs through Microsoft Host Integration Server on a Windows 2000 server, which handles the SNA protocol towards the mainframes.
The application stack is entirely Open Source:
- Trustix Linux as the server operating system
- Apache as the web server and reverse proxy with load balancing
- Python and Perl for application logic
- Zope as the application server and CMS for the portal
- Jakarta Tomcat for Java Servlet components
- MySQL for the relational database (agencies, profiles, operators, users)
- Postfix for mail services
3270 emulation via the web
The central technical module is a multiplatform Java application (Windows, Mac OS, Linux, OS/2) that emulates the 3270 terminal directly within the browser window. Data is transmitted in compressed format through an SSL tunnel. The application is compatible with Java Web Start for direct browser launch without local installation.
This approach allows agencies to access booking, ticketing and cancellation services through a standard browser, while maintaining connectivity with operator host systems through the centralised SNA gateway.
The backoffice
The system includes a web-based backoffice developed in Zope with three access levels:
- Administration: complete management of system parameters, users and configurations
- Operators: interface for agency data queries with CSV export
- Agencies: access to the services of operators enabled for the specific agency
The web portal, based on Zope and DTML templates, manages content and services for network agencies, with navigation, search, access statistics and 24/7/365 monitoring.
The context
In 2003 the travel industry is in a transition phase: GDS (Global Distribution Systems) like Sabre represent the technological infrastructure on which the travel industry operates, but access to local operator services still runs through legacy terminals and protocols. The project brings this infrastructure to the web, opening internet-based access to agencies across the territory and integrating operators otherwise reachable only through dedicated connections.