Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!wuarchive!gem.mps.ohio-state.edu!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!ucbvax!ncrcce.UUCP!mercer From: mercer@ncrcce.UUCP (Dan Mercer) Newsgroups: comp.protocols.ibm Subject: Re: TCP/IP over SNA Message-ID: <8909272335.AA04616@jade.berkeley.edu> Date: 27 Sep 89 21:31:48 GMT Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU Reply-To: Dan MercerOrganization: The Internet Lines: 62 In article <8909261335.AA08004@jade.berkeley.edu> Phil Fernandez writes: :In article <8909250654.AA16455@jade.berkeley.edu> Robert Young writes: :>I have a Sequent system (S81) connected to our 4381 mainframe through :>SNA. We have already purchased the TCP/IP tapes from IBM but are waiting :>for a hardware solution to connect the two systems. Initially, someone in :>technical marketing (IBM) suggested we use an RT and a token-ring to :>ethernet router but the idea never cooked. Now they are suggesting some :>type of channel attached device (Ethernet) to connect the two systems. :>Any ideas, suggestions and/or comments? : :IBM sells a box called the 8232, which is an industrially-packaged :PC/AT with one or more net interface boards (Ethernet and/or Token Ring) :plus one ore more channel interface boards. It is their current :standard offering for host-attach to Ethernet, and is fully supported :by the mainframe-based TCP/IP software. I had some experience with :this box when I used to work at Stanford; for the most part it works :pretty well. With the 8232, you can just put the 4381 onto your :Ethernet in just the same way you'd attach any other workstation or :mini. : :>So far it looks like the IBM people we deal with are not completely sure :>about any clear solutions. : :I can't resist a little bit of IBM-bashing in this case. The IBM :sales and systems engineering force is just not up-to-speed on the :TCP/IP and Ethernet product offerings for VM or MVS. When I was :working at Stanford, IBM was trying to sell us TCP/IP software for a :3090 running MVS. They kept trotting in more senior "experts," up to :the level of a "Regional Networking Specialist." Each of them spouted :so much silly or plain false nonsense about TCP/IP that I could barely :sit through the meetings. : :This lack of marketing commitment would really scare me about becoming :too depending on an IBM TCP/IP solution for a S/370 system. : :(This are purely my own opinions, and do not reflect those of my employer) : : :+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------+ :| Phil Fernandez | philf@metaphor.com | :| | ...!{apple|decwrl}!metaphor!philf | :| Metaphor Computer Systems |"Does the body rule the mind, or does the mind| :| Mountain View, CA | rule the body? I dunno..." - Morrissey | :+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------+ Try talking to your local NCR Comten representative for solutions to SNA and non-SNA networking problems. NCR Comten manufactures IBM plug compatible SNA front ends offering both channel and SDLC link attached connectivity. NCR Comten also has a wide ranging offering of connectivity products for non-SNA networks, connecting to both BSC and X.25 hosts. NCR Comten will shortly be offering a TCP-IP product. Initial link connectivity will be via X.25, but an Ethernet interface will also be provided. Your NCR Comten representative should be able to provide you with availability dates. -- Dan Mercer Reply-To: mercer@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM (Dan Mercer)