Powerterm

What Is PowerTerm?

PowerTerm is a family of terminal emulation software from Ericom Software that lets modern desktop and industrial computers connect to legacy host systems — IBM mainframe (zSeries), IBM AS/400 iSeries, UNIX, OpenVMS, Tandem and HP hosts. Instead of keeping ageing green-screen terminals on the factory floor or in the back office, organisations run PowerTerm on a standard PC to reach the same accounting, inventory, management and other mission-critical applications. The PowerTerm line includes the InterConnect Series (client-based emulators for Windows, Mac and Linux), PowerTerm WebConnect (browser-based host access), and editions such as PowerTerm Pro, PowerTerm Plus and PowerTerm Lite.

Emulation and Connectivity Support

PowerTerm InterConnect supports a very broad set of terminal types, including IBM 3270, IBM 5250, IBM 3151, AT386, Wyse 50+/50/60 and Wyse 370, Data General, Tandem 6530, HZ 1500, ANSI, Linux Console, HP 700/92 and HP 700/96, Siemens, VT52–VT525, SCO, AIXterm, Televideo and ADDS VP A2. Communication modes cover the common host-access paths, and security is handled through SSL (FIPS-compliant), SSH, SSH tickets and Kerberos. PowerTerm also includes Power Script Language (PSL), which lets administrators automate logins, screen navigation, data capture and repetitive data-entry tasks — a significant efficiency gain in high-volume environments such as warehouses, banks and utility billing offices.

Where PowerTerm Deployments Fit

PowerTerm is most often deployed where a business still depends on a host application but wants modern hardware underneath it. Typical examples include AS/400-based ERP and distribution systems, mainframe-based insurance and banking back ends, UNIX-based hospital and laboratory systems, and Tandem-based transaction processing. In these settings the PC is not a general-purpose desktop; it is a fixed-function host access station that must boot reliably, survive an industrial environment, and stay in service for years without a fan or filter change. That makes fanless industrial computers, mini PCs and all-in-one terminals a natural match — they mount on a wall or under a counter, run quietly, and tolerate dust and heat.

Choosing Hardware for PowerTerm

Because PowerTerm itself is lightweight, the hardware decision is driven by the surrounding environment rather than raw CPU power. A modern Intel Core i3 or Intel N-series processor with 8–16 GB of RAM is more than sufficient for terminal emulation, even with several sessions open. The more important considerations are port count and type (serial DB9 for scales, printers, PLCs and legacy peripherals), network redundancy (dual Gigabit Ethernet where host connectivity is critical), OS choice (Windows 11 Pro, Windows 11 IoT, DOS/FreeDOS or embedded Linux), and mechanical durability. Storage of 256 GB to 1 TB SSD gives ample room for the OS, PowerTerm, and local logs or spool files.

Thinvent Products for PowerTerm Host Access

Thinvent builds the hardware layer for exactly these deployments. The Thinvent® Industrial PC IPC3, for example, pairs an Intel® Core™ i3-1215U processor (6 cores, up to 4.4 GHz, 10 MB cache) with 16 GB DDR4 RAM and a 1 TB SSD, and is available with Windows 11 Professional, Windows 11 IoT Value, DOS, or Thinux™ Embedded Linux — covering the operating systems PowerTerm InterConnect supports. Configurations with Quad DB9 Serial ports are offered for sites that need to drive serial peripherals alongside host sessions, and the fanless, no-WiFi design suits secure, wired-only plant networks. Alongside the IPC3, Thinvent's range of industrial computers, mini PCs, thin clients and all-in-one PCs gives integrators a single, long-lifecycle platform for PowerTerm and other legacy host-access software.