---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash 7.0 SunLink SNA 3270 SunLink CG3270 Repriced SunFLASH Vol 36 #14 December 1991 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- For End Users: - IBM cluster controller emulation over SDLC (switched, dedicated, or multidrop) or Token Ring LAN connections to IBM hosts - IBM 3278 terminal emulation for models 2, 3, 4, and 5 on any Sun workstation, PC, or dumb terminal - IBM 3287 printer emulation - 3270 PC-compatible File Transfer - "High availability" configurations available via client 3270 support of multiple gateways upon initialization - Limited support of AS/400 connectivity For Developers: - HLI ("HLLAPI-Like Interface") ideal for developers wishing to "front-end" 3270 applications with a GUI - Low-level 3270 API (DAI) for custom 3270 applications; Enhanced to support the TN3270 protocol Expanded Configurations: - Serial links (telephone lines) up to 256Kbps with SunLink HSI/S - 250 users per gateway process; no fixed limit on the number of gateway processes Introduction: SunLink(TM) SNA 3270 is part of Sun's family of network products designed to expand connectivity by implementing industry-standard communication protocols. SunLink SNA 3270 provides terminal emulation, printer emulation, and an application programming interface compatible with IBM's Systems Network Architecture (SNA). CG3270 has been repriced for easier ordering. See later for pricing and ordering information. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Features Benefits ----------------------------------------------------------------------- Support of Serial or Token Ring links Access to host applications over LANs or WANs supporting large numbers of users; ease of connectivity over commonly-used building wiring, using Sun's bundled serial port, HSI/S board, or TRI/S. Support of dumb terminals, PC's, Investment protection or any windowing system (SunLink CG3270, available separately, provides higher-grade 3179G and TN3270 support, but it is OpenWindows-based) Printer Emulation Convenient way to transfer data from Host to Sun; Transparent to existing 3270 users PC File Transfer Data exchange on demand; both text and binary formats High Availability Configurations 3270 emulation users conveniently connect to IBM hosts when individual gateways become unavailable AS/400 Connectivity Connectivity to the industry's most popular midrange platform HLI library Permits developers to "front-end" existing host 3270 applications with a GUI. 256Kbps Serial Link Support Convenient, cost-effective way to provide 3270 access to large numbers of users in remote locations 250 sessions/gateway Cost effective configurations; ease of administration HARDWARE CONSIDERATIONS ---------------------------------- - SPARCsystem or Sun4 (for the gateway) - CPU serial ports can be used for the gateway's SDLC links on all systems except SPARCstation IPC or IPX. HSI/S must be used on IPC or IPX systems requiring SDLC links (via telephone lines) to the host. - SunLink MCP can be used for the gateway's SDLC links in systems with available VME slot. Maximum speed supported is 56Kbps. - SunLink HSI/S can be used for the gateway's SDLC links in systems with available SBus slot. Maximum speed supported is 256Kbps (single link only). - SunLink TRI/S can be used for the gateway's Token Ring connections in systems with available SBus slot. - The client 3278 emulation that is bundled with SNA 3270 runs on a SPARCsystem/Sun-4. Sun users not on SPARCsystems or Sun-4 systems can remotely login to any Sun machine that has access to client software. SOFTWARE CONSIDERATIONS ---------------------------------- - SunOS 4.1 - 2.5 MB of disk space TECHNOLOGY POSITIONING FOR -------------------------- Connecting Suns to an IBM MIS department requires sensitivity to the existing (usually large) investment the customer has made in IBM proprietary technology. SunLink IBM products excel at fitting in with networks the customer has in place already. The following section describes the products in more detail explaining their positioning more clearly. 3x74 Cluster Controller Emulation SNA 3270 has two components. The "gateway" component provides the link to the IBM host and emulates an IBM cluster controller. The "client" component emulates an IBM 3278 terminal and communicates to the gateway over any TCP/IP link (Ethernet, Token Ring, FDDI, X.25, etc.). The gateway can communicate to the host over a multitude of serial links (switched, dedicated, or multidrop) or can run over a Token Ring LAN connection. A single gateway machine can run multiple SNA 3270 gateway processes each communicating over a different type of link. Several gateway processes can run over a single Token Ring connection simultaneously. 3278 Terminal Emulation SNA 3270 supports 3278 terminal emulation (models 2, 3, 4 and 5). Because the client 3278 emulation program ("te3278") is not a window-based application, it can run under any windowing system, on any dumb terminal or PC logged into a system with access to the client 3278 application. SunLink CG3270 is a separate product that provides a high degree of ease-of-use, as well as color and graphic 3270 emulation over the SNA 3270 gateway and support for TN3270. While users of PC's and dumb terminals cannot use CG3270, it is highly recommended that Sun workstation users purchase CG3270 in addition to SNA 3270 for their terminal emulation requirements. 3287 Printer Emulation Along with 3278 terminal emulation, 3287 printer emulation is a client application of the SNA 3270 gateway. Host 3270 users and client 3278 emulation users can print to printers that are actually laser printers attached to Sun systems, or "virtual" printers that route printed data to disk files or SunOS applications instead of a "real" printer. 3270 PC File Transfer Protocol The client 3278 emulation supports the IBM 3270 PC File Transfer Protocol. This permits 3278 emulation users to invoke file transfer (text or binary) at any time during their emulation sessions. Programmatic control of such transfers can be done using one of the programming libraries discussed below ("HLI"). "High Availability" Configurations The client 3278 emulation has been enhanced to support multiple SNA 3270 gateways on the command line. The client 3278 emulation tries each gateway in succession until it successfully establishes a connection. This allows system administrators to configure redundant/stand-by gateways and in the event a gateway becomes unavailable, all new invocations of the client 3278 application will access the "standby" gateway transparently. Limited Support of AS/400 Connectivity The AS/400 has the ability to communicate with 3x74 cluster controllers, and translate 3270 commands and orders to 5250 commands and orders (5250 is the native terminal for the AS/400). Because SunLink SNA 3270 emulates a cluster controller, it communicates to an AS/400 via the above capability. However, SunLink CG3270 must be used in conjunction with SNA 3270 if AS/400 connectivity is desired. Furthermore, there are limitations in converting from 3270 to 5250, and terminal emulation (only) is supported (no printer emuluation or file transfer). HLI ("HLLAPI-Like Interface") HLLAPI ("High Level Language Application Programming Interface") is an IBM de defacto standard interface for sending and receiving 3270 screens under program control. HLI is SunLink SNA 3270's implementation of this API. This API is very high level, and thus ideal for developers wishing to put a a new "front-end" on existing 3270 applications using a GUI. It is also convenient for writing applications to perform unattended file transfer between a Sun machine and IBM host. HLI provides a high degree of code reusability for existing applications of this kind developed on PCs. Datastream Access Interface (DAI) DAI is a low-level API used for developers wishing to write their own 3278 emulation programs and take advantage of the SunLink 3270 gateway products. Also, Systems Integrators or OEM's that need low-level access to the 3270 datastream for specialized applications will require the use of DAI. DAI has been enhanced to support communications to IBM hosts via the TN3270 protocol (via TCP/IP). Serial Links Up to 256Kbps using SunLink HSI/S SNA 3270 has been enhanced to support serial links to hosts at speeds up to 256Kbps when using the SunLink HSI/S board. This facilitates the support of a large number of client 3270 users in remote locations connected by high-speed wide area links. 250 sessions/gateway process; No fixed limit on the number of gateway processes Each gateway process can support 254 configured sessions (of which 250 may be active at any time). These sessions can be any combination of 3278 emulation users, CG3270 users, 3287 printer emulation programs, DAI programs, or HLI programs. Typically, such a large number of sessions will be meaningful only in the Token Ring LAN environment. The limitation on the number of simultaneous sessions is a function of available system resources. U.S. PRICING AND ORDERING INSTRUCTIONS -------------------------------------- The End-User and OEM price lists will contain the following entries (please see the actual price list for specific product notes): Discount Description Order Numbers List Price Category Service Price ========================================================================== 7.0 SunLink SNA 3270 S32-7.0-4.1-4-21 $3,300 A $75 on CD. Supports Token Ring (TRI/S), HSI/S, CPU Serial Ports, and MCP board. Gateway and client included. 7.0 SNA 3270 Doc S32-7.0-X-X-9 $150 A N/A CG3270 7.0 C32-7.0-4.1-34-5 $750 A $20 Docs, 1 RTU, media (1/4" tape) CG3270 RTU-only C32-X-X-X-0 $600 A $20 NOTE ABOUT CG3270: The CG3270 8- and 32-user part numbers have been discontinued. These were previously on the internal price list and non-discountable. The media/doc/RTU part number and the single RTU part number have had a 25% and 33% percent price reduction, respectively. It is highly recommended that all Sun workstation users who require 3270 emulation also purchase SunLink CG3270. Not only does CG3270 provide support for color, graphics, and TN3270, it is much easier to use than the client 3278 emulation that is bundled with SNA 3270. ++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ For information send mail to info-sunflash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu and paris.cs.miami.edu. All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@sunvice.East.Sun.COM. (305) 776-7770.