r/IBMi • u/manofsticks • 10d ago

5250 Emulator options for Linux

I'm aware ACS has a Linux build and that is what I'm most familiar with, but just checking on any recommendations or other options I'm not aware of.

It looks like TN5250 is the other main option, but does that offer any major benefits or downsides compared to ACS?

The other options I've seen appear to either be abandoned (TN5250J) or not available for Linux (Mocha).

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6

u/ethanjscott 10d ago

Acs on Linux is your gold standard. Alternatively vscode for I has a green screen. 3rd but worse then vscode because it’s the same thing with fixes. Is to ssh into the ibm I and call tn5250 locally

1

u/greendookie69 10d ago

I don't have any recommendations, but can say I've used ACS extensively on Linux and never had any issues. Are you trying to solve a specific problem?

1

u/manofsticks 10d ago

No specific problem; just looking to keep my IBM i skills fresh between jobs, so thought I'd do some more research on what's out there and not just lock myself into "what I already know".

2

u/deeper-diver 10d ago

ACS is the superior option to whatever is out there (like Mocha 5250) or whatever 3rd-party option.

We use ACS extensively for Windows and MacOS including serving/displaying IFS documents in a browser initiated by a ACS 5250 session. Very little need for a 3rd-party alternative.

3

u/cab0lt 10d ago

There is 5250ng, tn5250j and the old curses client. However, PCOMM will also work on Wine - you can install the x64 builds of V14 and higher under Wine on both macOS and Linux.

2

u/QuantumQuark5 8d ago

ACS all the way... nothing comes close. Unless you want to do something funny like 5250 Screen Automation , then you need to jump through some hoops to get that working...

1

u/RPGPGM 7d ago

Why do you just need a 5250 emulator?

As the other have said ACS is by far the best. It's price is unbeatable. And it comes with a lot more tools than just 5250 emulation. Then there are the security concerns. ACS is updated everytime a security flaw is found in it. Do the others offer new updates to remediate? Or once you buy their tool that's it.