What’s new in Virtel 4.61 GA Release
The following newsletter summaries the new features and maintenance updates that can be found in Virtel Release 4.61 @ update level 6023.
Installation changes
5900 VIRTERM/Samplib changes
SAMPLIB TCT members: Changed BUFSIZE from 20000 to 32000
5921 Correct Version number
Update installation files with correct version number.
5944 Wrong DDNAME for SAMPTRSF in VSE installation
For VSE the DDNAME for the SAMPTRSF file is SAMPTRF
5950 ARBOLOAD JCL OPTION Section
The ARBOLOAD JCL has a new OPTION section for including transactions CLI-03CO and W2H-03CO
5976 Samplib changes
TCT Remove redundant VSAM options for US,FR and 01
ABROLOAD Separate out CLI-31U and CLI-31C
VIR4INST Update level no.
5974 ARBOLOAD Sample
Timeout value reduced
Migration considerations
V4.61
End of support for COMPATIBILITY mode
The “COMPATIBILITY” mode for w2hparm, that was introduced in version 4.54 to provide seamless migration of V4.53 w2hparm to V4.54. w2hparm is no longer supported in V4.61. It is recommended to switch to “Option” mode before migrating to V4.61.
Version support
Versions of Virtel older than V4.59 are no longer supported. It is recommeded to migrate to V4.59 or higher.
ARBO changes
There have been no changes to the ARBO which would require migration from V4.60 or V4.59. Customers who are migrating from older releases should review the “What’s new in Virtel V4.XX” newsletters to determine applicable migration actions for new distributed features. Depending on requirements not all actions may be applicable. These newsletters are available online at https://virtel.readthedocs.io/en/latest/
LINE enhancement. LOCADDR2 and PARTNER2 keywords are deprecated in V4.61 VIRCONF. LOCADDR and PARTNER fields have been expanded to accommodate IPV6 addresses and DNS values upto 52 characters. ARBO files from V4.59 and V4.60 will still be usable with V4.61 with migration. It is recommended that you migrate you ARBO to V4.61 by unloading in V4.59 or V4.60 to create a SYSIN deck for input to V4.61 VIRCONF LOAD. Any LOCADDR2 or PARTNER2 fields will have to be removed and the extended field data moved to the corresponding LOCADDR and PARTNER fields prior to loading with V4.61 VIRCONF.
Fixes, changes and new features
Presentation
5887 APL support for Omegamon
Improved Omegamon 3270 Enhanced APL support.
5888 minor Javascript updates
Correct copy and paste implementation.
Add option of displaying the SYSNAME in the Virtel title bar.
Improved help panels.
5890 update backspace key to left arrow to settings panel
Settings panel now supports backspace as left arrow.
5891 Security type 4. Expired password panel correction
Changes have been made to support an expired password panel in the Security type 4 logic.
5892 Modified delete PF Key description on Virtel Rule List Panel
Virtel Rule List panel, “Suppress” text replaced by “Delete”
5895 Ctrl+S default logic amended
Browser copy and paste functionality impacted by Ctrl+S code.
5896 TBT Web Access
Uppercase attribute corrected
5899 Missing class attribute for color update, cAppMenu documentation updated
Updates to the cAppMenu feature.
5906 Update ShowFTP parm
w2hparm corrected to process ShowFTP parameter
5913 Fix Insertion mode of Ctrl+V without Paste
Fixed insertion problem when using Ctrl+V without the “Map Ctrl+V to Paste by Typing” option activated.
5917 Correct “Paste Continue” menu in IE11
Regressed code fixed.
5920 Colors on the grey background modification
Correct CSS file.
5923 Unicode conversion of specific character
Curly quotes converted to straight quote
5924 Mouse wheel enhancement
Initialisation process modified to avoid error messages - “language xx is not processed”.
5936 Samsung Tablet support
Add support for Samsung tablet and customization of keys.
5946 Make scroll up/down mouse actions customizable
Mouse actions can be controlled (ON/OFF) or associated to PF7/PF8 keys through new options in the settings panel.
5949 Remove the “VIRTEL 4.61 Web Access” text from the “401 unauthorized” screen
Security enhancement to define, through then new TCT option VWAVERS=, the text that appears in HTTP 40x templates.
5954 Updates to WA key mapping
Improved calling by passing it a JSON object or a string.
Compression of code vir3270.js
5959/66 Adding of a favicon.ico to .htm pages
Avoid the console error message on browsers searching for favicon.ico. Add “pathToFavicon” to oCustom variable.
5960/66 Enhancement to cAppMenu
Updated cAppMenu templates
5961 Support for IBM Debugger
Correctly process BIND protocols when in session with IBM Debugger.
5965/8 TBT Web Access
Support input fields with FER attribute.
5972 IPAD Support
Improved Toolbar / Enter key usage.
5973 X-UserSignonCode may fail upload
Prevent upload failures if code contains a valid “X-UserSignonCode: ” header
5985 Update TCT command
Add LOCK and LPKALIVE values
5986 Update messages VIRC121E/VIRHT54E
Put CALLER in front of messages VIRC121E and VIRHT54E
5991/5996 New Search Facility
3270 Adminisatration panels now have a Search Facility
5995 Correct Cursor position
Correct cursor position in 3270 Administration panels
5998 Correct terminal status display
Invalid display in terminal status screen
6002/3 Correct Line display
Correct PF4 terminal list in ADMIN 3270 Line display
6009 Correct messages at Virtel shutdown
VIRSV message is confusing error messages at Virtel shutdown
6012 Message Update
Correct message VIR0072I
6016 Correct 3270 transaction display
Values are mis-aligned in French display.
6017 VIRCONF Updates
Add LOCK= keyword to VIRCONF Entry Point
6022 Correct TCT display
VSAMTYP not correct formatted.
Base Components
5893 VIRPLEX startup corrected
Modification to support IPV6 protocol.
5894 VIRPLEX error after long poll response
Avoid “Storage Exhaustion” due to inadvertent long poll storage reuse. Possible AbendS0C4.
5897 High CPU when using USERPARM and VSAMTYPE=READONLY
Correct High CPU issue when using USERPARM with VIRHTML defined as READONLY
5898 VIRIPA9I INITIALISATION FOR VIRTELXM (9-XMPASS)
Message VIRIPA9I corrected to show correct Virtel version number.
5900 Updates to VIRTERM
Increate BUFSIZE defualt value from 8192 to 32000. MVS only.
5901 Correct ABENDS0C4 in MEMDISPLAY command
Default DSASIZE defaults to 1MB, which is too small. Message VIR0086E issued.
5903 VIRAPI error in 4.59
VIB deleted, destroying the VIRAPI control block. Corrected.
5904 USERPARM 100% CPU at Virtel startup
Logic updated to correctly handle VSAM key location searches.
5905 Update IND$FILE Codepage limitation
Codepage logic corrected. Code regressed following fix.
5908 Improve support for graphics escape characters
Correct Graphic characters processing. Characters were being replaced base character set.
5909 Passphrase fix for NOMIXEDCASE environments
Uppercase conversion was being performed on passphrase. This is incorrect.
5910/5893 VIRPLEX STARTUP INCORRECT IN VIRTEL 4.61
Correct Virplex startup processing.
5912 allow setting minimum PASSPHRASE length
Avoid ICH409I 283-024 Abend. Password and Passphrase lengths can be defined in TCT to set lengths for Passphrase.
5915 Support for dynamic SNAP message table
New feature. Messages can now be dynamically added to the SNAPMSG table. Maximum of 10 messages.
5916/25/30/38/42/84 LOCK= terminal support
LOCK= keyword in TCT for HTML terminals. Force users to re-enter password after LOCK period has expired.
Support ESC key as DISCONNECT
CANCEL bug when using SECU=1
5922 Correct SILENCE(YES/NO) in VIRTERM macro
Correct SILENCE= keyword logic in VIRTERM macro.
5927 Support unsolicited BINDS
Support for applications which use unsolicited BIND in session setup. For example IBM Debugger.
5943 Fix S0C1 bug after VIR0010 DETACH
Registers in an inactive terminal were reloaded from the TIOA following a call of a DETACH function in VIR0010. This resulted in a S0C1 Abend.
5945 Abend ASRA VIRHTTP
The abend is caused by Virtel not correctly processing a GET request that contains spaces in the URL.
5947 New TCT keyword LPKALIVE= LONG POLL KEEP ALIVE
The Long poll timeout can now be set through a TCT parameter.
5948 Enhancement to the RULE =HTFORWD IS or IS NOT option.
Rule now supports a list of proxy server through the HTFORWD option.
5957 VirtelUserSignon= or USER-SIGNON-CODE data removed
Prior to thus change user name and password were included in the (encrypted) VirtelUserSignon code.
5958 Fix bug in VIRSV REQUEST
Error message VIRS125E MQSAEH34 VIRSV REQUEST ERROR - R15 : 0000080C. Number of NBCELL increased from 6 to 12.
5963/82 VSE abend on /READ on CLOSED session
Correct bug in VIR0010
5964/67/70/80 VIRCONF Updates
Remove LOCADDR2 and PARTNER2 support. VIRCONF and ARBO fields now support larger fields for LOCADDR and PARTNER values in the LINE record.
5969 New Security type 5
Implements a new Security type 5 for transaction which allows a user signon to bypass the security manager (e.g. RACF) if already connected with a valid VirtelUserSignon code.
5978 RTM Update
Correct Response Time Monitor if time out occurs. Avoid Screen locked
5979 VIRCONF Update
Add ESTAE to VIRCONF to avoid bring down Virtel should VIRCONF abend in UNLOAD command.
5981 Performance Issue
Possible Bad performance for VTAM applications
5988 404 return code
Correct Long Poll issue. A 404 return code is presented after a 304 LP0
5990 403 return code
Correct Signon Code. A 403 can occur if Signon box is cancelled
PF=DISCONNECT ignored
PF=DISCONNECT is ignored following a conflicting intermediary requests.
6000 VSE CSI TCP/IP stack error
Provide support for Stack error x002e
6001 Menu locked
if a menu is locked out, the User Signon Code should not work
6004 Implement Auto startup feature
Implement a startup auto message function and add new support to message table.
6005 USS table processing
Default USSTAB is incorrect.
6006 STATS=SMF
Correct B37 processing for STATS=SMF
6007 Chrome Browser Error
Correct a change in the implementation of (new Date).toLocaleTimeString() in Chrome
6008 LastPage Error
No LastPage displayed after LOCK and TSO Timeout
6010 Edge Browser Error
Avoid blocking Virtel with EDGE in IE11 compatibility mode
6013 Virtel Parameters
Conflict between LPKALIVE= and LOCK= parameters
6015 Virtel CPU loop
A CPU loop can occur following Telnet ping
6023 Virtel ABEND S0C4
VirtelUserSignon= can cause a SC4 due to VUSC/cookie conflict
Scenario Language
5918 Scenario Discard Flag is reset if application issues CLSDST,PASS
Correct VTAM CLSDST,PASS processing in scenario code.
5919 Abend after setting DBCS from a scenario
Correct Abend in scenario when using DBCS.
5931 DECLARE$ bug
Bug in DECLARE$ when length=79 destroys buffer. Screen garbled.
5999/6019 Updates to MAP$
Support for MAP$ FROM-VARIABLE,JSON,VAR=
Other Enhancements
5907 UPLOAD fails
Boundary processing corrected for VSR.
5937 AIEV Abend
Remove AEIV Abend when ARBO is updated at a higher Virtel release. Now reported as a LENGTH ERROR.
5940 LOCADDR updates
When a DNS name is used as a LOCADDR= address it was capitalized and put in quotes. This has been removed.
5941 AXIOS UPLOAD corruption
Data was corrupted after upload from AXIOS.
5956/62 AXIOS UPLOAD stalls
Processes of chunked data improved to avoid stalling during upload.
5971 Update SSLSETUP in SAMPLIB
Correct keysize in sample member
5975 Update SMFREXX procedures in SAMPLIB
SMFPRINT and SMFPRNTL updated
REXX procedures SMFREXXP and SMFREXXL updated
5997 SAMPLIB Update
Update ARBOLOAD Samplib Member. New resources added to allow password change.
6021 SAMPLIB Update
Update SSLSETUP with new CipherSuites
New features
Implement Auto startup feature and command members
When starting up VIRTEL, it will attempt to open the STARTUP member of the new PDS File VIRCNTL. This is a new optional DDNAME which contains message control members. The STARTUP member will contain list of Virtel commands that can be issued at Virtel initialisation. For example SILENCE commands. Example of a STARTUP member; -
* ADD SILENCE MESSAGES *
SILENCE=VIR0018I
SILENCE=VIR0012I
* SWITCH SILENCE *
SILENCE
* SET TRACE *
TRACE,L=C-HTTP,ON
* LIST SILENCE MESSAGES *
SILENCE=LIST
* DISPLAY TCT *
TCT
* DISPLAY STAT STATUS'
STAT,D
* DISPLAY LOG STATUS
LOG,D
* DISPLAY SNAPMSG TABLE
SNAPMSG,LIST
A new modify command has been added to enable execution of a command message member at any time: -
F VIRTEL,EXEC=membername.
For example
F VIRTEL,EXEC=TRCLINES
This will execute the commands in the TRCLINES member of the VIRCNTL PDS. The SNAPMSG command also has a new action: -
C=membername.
This will trigger a command message member being executed whenever a message is trapped by SNAPMSG. An example of using a command member with the SNAPMSG command is: -
F VIRTEL,SNAPMSG=VIRT905I,,C=LINES
This command will cause the execution of the commands in the LINES member of the VIRCNTL PDS whenever the VIRT905I message is trapped.
Migration Requirements: -
Optional DDNAME to be added to the z/OS VIRTEL procedure : -
NEW DDNAME card : VIRCNTL
Attributes : PDS, LRECL=80, RECFM=FB, BLKSIZE=3120, SPACE=(TRK,(5,5,10))
Updates and maintenance
A full list of maintenance updates can be found in Appendix A.
Appendix A
Maintenance list
5887 APL support for Omegamon
5888 Minor Javascript updates
5890 update backspace key to left arrow to settings panel.
5891 expired password panel correction in security 4
5892 #2031 Translation of delete PF Key description on Virtel Rule List Panel
5893 VIRPLEX startup incorrect in Virtel 4.61
5894 VIRPLEX error after longpoll response
5895 Ctrl+S default behavior prevented Enhancement, Copy/Paste ending by empty
5896 TBT Web Access - Uppercase attribute correction
5897 High CPU when using USERPARM and VSAMTYPE=READONLY; VIRHTML should not be
5898 VIRIPA9I INITIALISATION FOR VIRTELXM (9-XMPASS) - CHANGE THE VIRTEL VERSI
5899 Missing class attribute for color update, cAppMenu documentation update
5900 Updates to VIRTERM
5901 Correct ABENDS0C4 in MEMDISPLAY command
5903 VIRAPI error in 4.59
5904 USERPARM 100% CPU at Virtel startup
5905 Update IND$FILE Codepage limitation
5906 Update showFtp parm
5907 UPLOAD fails
5908 Improve support for graphics escape characters
5909 Passphrase fix for NOMIXEDCASE environments
5910 PTF for update 5893
5910/5893 VIRPLEX STARTUP INCORRECT IN VIRTEL 4.61
5911 Delivery VIRTERM MACLIB Xmit format
5912 allow setting minimum PASSPHRASE length
5913 Fix Insertion mode of Ctrl+V without Paste by typing activated
5914 Correct VIRTERM macro delivery.
5915 Support for dynamic SNAP message table
5916 LOCK= terminal support
5917 Correct “Paste Continue” menu in IE11 regression, dfhmdf.txt replacement
5918 Scenario Discard Flag is reset if application issues CLOSEDESTPASS
5919 Abend after setting DBCS from a scenario
5920 Colors on the grey background modification
5921 Correct version number
5922 Correct SILENCE(YES/NO) in VIRTERM macro
5923 Unicode conversion of specific character (curly quotes to straight quote)
5924 Mouse wheel enhancement, Initialization process modified to avoid message
5925 ESC acts as DISCONNECT in LOCK Support
5926 Correct messages in SNAPMSG display
5927 Allow unsolicited BINDS
5929 License statement corrected
5931 DECLARE$ bug
5932 Scenario assembly errors
5933 Remove Compatibility support
5934 Update LOCK= processing
5935 WaitScreen instruction in Javascript
5936 Samsung tablet support
5937 Prevent AEIV abends
5938 LOCK= and CANCEL support
5940 Correct LOCADDR processing in ARBO LOAD/UNLOAD
5941 Correct UPLOAD bug for AXIOS
5942 LOCK= various complements
5943 protect against execution after VIR0010 DETACH
5944 Wrong DDNAME SAMPTRSF for DOC-DIR in VSE installation
5945 Abend ASRA VIRHTTP +45E2 when receiving invalid URL
5946 Make scroll up/down mouse actions customizable
5947 LPKALIVE= LONG POLL KEEP ALIVE
5948 RULE allow =HTFORWD IS or IS NOT sample rule
5949 Remove the “VIRTEL 4.61 Web Access” statement from the “401 unauthorized” screen
5950 ARBOLOAD. Update descriptions for transaction CLI-03CO and W2H-03CO
5954 Adjustment for WA key mapping : Correction dto save shortcut when creating macro.
5955 CA-TS user specific PTF5955
5956 AXIOS chunked upload may stall
5957 VirtelUserSignon= or USER-SIGNON-CODE changed to no longer contain user info
5958 VIRS125E MQSAEH34 VIRSV REQUEST ERROR - R15 : 0000080C
5959 Update of the current version : Adding of a favicon.ico in the pages .htm - Mise à jour de la versioncourante : Ajout d’un lien favicon.ico dans certaines pages .htm
5960 cAppMenu Enhancements. Adding option for Copy/Paste Append mode.
5961 Allow Unsolicited BIND from an application like IBM Debugger
5962 Upload file fails with header/footer
5963 VSE abend on /READ on CLOSED session
5964 Support new ARBO Line format in VIRCONF. LOCADDR2/PARTNER2 deprecated.
5965 Support for input fields with FER attribute (TBT WebAccess) and minor change in WEB2HOST.htmtemplate (Virtel WebAccess )
5966 Option pathToFavicon enhancement and minor correction to cAppMenu
5967 Improvement on UPDT5964
5968 Improvement on UPDT5965
5969 VirtelUserSignon and security 5
5970 Correct VIR0046 following 5964. Abend S0C1 when creating a Line Record
5971 Correct Keysize in SSLSETUP job
5972 Jquery Update, IPAD version : landscape mode correction to make the ENTER toolbar
5973 X-UserSignonCode may conflict with capabilities
5974 Reduce default timeout value in sample ARBOLOAD
5975 Update SMF REXX procedures
5976 SAMPLIB Updates
5977 display modified/distorted after LOCK=
5978 : Response Time Monitor update, Screen-Lock parameter action if time out
5978 correction for VSE assemblies
5979 Add ESTAE to VIRCONF
5980 Update support for PARTNER/LOCADDR fields when greater than 22 characters.
5981 Possible Bad performance for a VTAM application
5982 VSE abend after /READ completes on CLOSED session
5983 Various tweaks to Virtel installation for 4.61
5984 no LOCK if unsigned
5985 TCT command: add LOCK and LPKALIVE
5986 put CALLER in front of messages VIRC121E and VIRHT54E
5987 Fix various 4.61 package generation issues
5988 404 return code after 304 LP0
5989 Fix RC4 in CLIENTM.JCL Virtel 4.61
5990 403 on cancel of signon box
5991 Search Facility on 3270 Admin Panels
5992 Remove ARBO V2 check at startup.
5993 PF=DISCONNECT ignored after conflicting intermediary requests
5994 RC4 in compilation of ADMINVWM
5995 Change Initial Cursor position for Admin 3270 panels
5996 Add Search to Transaction List Display
5997 Update ARBOLOAD Samplib Member
5998 Invalid display in terminal status screen
5999 Support for MAP$ FROM-VARIABLE,JSON,VAR=
6000 VSE CSI TCP/IP stack error x002e not supported
6001 if menu is locked, User Signon Code should not work
6002 Correct PF4 terminal list in ADMIN 3270 Line display
6003 Correct cursor position on DELETE in ADMIN 3270 screens
6004 Implement startup auto message function
6005 Correct USSVIRT USS table
6006 B37 on VIRSTAT FOR STATS=SMF
6007 Correct a change in the implementation of (new Date).toLocaleTimeString() in Chrome
6008 No LastPage after LOCK and TSO Timeout
6009 VIRSV confusing error messages at Virtel shutdown
6010 Avoid the Update 6007 blocking Virtel with EDGE in IE11 compatibility mode
6011 Fix more 4.61 installation issues
6012 Correct message VIR0072I
6013 Conflict between LPKALIVE= and LOCK= parameters
6014 Screenlock and its consequences on the macros sources code + a cleanup between w2h and w2h/sources + Compression scripts modifications
6015 Virtel CPU loop can occur following Telnet ping
6016 Correct 3270 transaction display.
6017 Add LOCK= to VIRCONF
6018 Modification of the ADMINVWM scenario to reflect the SECU 5 already present in the 3270 Administration Page
6019 SCENARIO containing MAP$ no longer working
6020 identical to 5994 RC4 in compilation of ADMINVWM
6021 Update SSLSETUP with new CipherSuites
6022 Correct TCT display. VSAMTYP not set
6023 VirtelUserSignon= possible s0C4 due to VUSC / cookie conflict