telnet into os/390 using socket()

[4rxsid]

Hi all,

Still searching for a solution...
I'm trying to connect to a mainframe (os/390) to browse a VSAM file for info I need to extract.

I could successfuly FTP this file to the local machine...however this VSAM file is enourmous, so FTP is out.

I can, using a 3rd party JAVA client, telnet into the mainframe.

I need to be able to have my PHP web script, connect to the mainframe to browse throught the VSAM file and put what I need into an array.

something like:

1. connect to mainframe
2. browse file, populate array
3. close connection

I have no experience using socket functions. Can sockets be used? How secure is it? Can anyone point be to code snipets/tutorial on how to make such a connection?

Thanks.

[dalecosp]

[man]fsockopen/man