Conferencing

Multi-party Communication

Enhanced Definition

In the mainframe context, "conferencing" refers to systems or applications designed to facilitate multi-party communication and collaboration among users connected to the mainframe. This typically involved text-based messaging, shared forums, or rudimentary email systems, often integrated into broader office automation suites or custom enterprise applications running on z/OS or earlier IBM mainframe operating systems.

Key Characteristics

- Text-Based Interaction: Primarily relied on character-based terminals (3270 terminals) for input and display, limiting rich media capabilities and focusing on textual exchanges.
- Centralized Data Storage: All communication data (messages, forum posts) was stored and managed centrally on the mainframe's disk subsystems (DASD), ensuring data integrity, accessibility, and centralized backup.
- Integrated with Office Automation: Often a component of larger office automation packages like PROFS (Professional Office System for VM) or OfficeVision/MVS, providing email, calendaring, and document management alongside communication features.
- Security and Access Control: Leveraged mainframe security mechanisms (RACF, ACF2, Top Secret) to control user access to communication channels and data, ensuring confidentiality and integrity within the enterprise.
- Proprietary Protocols: Communication often utilized mainframe-specific networking protocols like SNA (Systems Network Architecture) for terminal and application connectivity, ensuring secure and reliable data transfer.
- Auditing and Logging: Systems typically provided robust auditing and logging capabilities, tracking message creation, access, and deletion for compliance and accountability purposes.

Use Cases

- Internal Corporate Messaging: Providing a secure, centralized system for employees within a large organization to exchange messages, announcements, and memos across departments.
- Project Collaboration: Enabling project teams to share updates, discuss issues, and maintain a historical record