whna@cgcha.uucp (Heinz Naef) (05/11/88)
We are planning to implement a TCP/IP-to-SNA file transfer gateway to be used
as a central service to provide file transfer capabilities between our TCP/IP
network and some IBM MVS mainframes hanging off an SNA network.
Our evaluation resulted in a concept based on an application level gateway,
where the application is the most commonly used file transfer mechanism at
each side of the gateway:
- At the TCP/IP side, it is, of course, the File Transfer Protocol (FTP).
- At the SNA side, we are thinking of an implementation based on the
Enhanced Connectivity Facility (ECF) File Copy function.
As a first step, we are planning to implement the requester (client)
function of the IBM 3270 PC File Transfer Program.
Please remember the following requirements:
- The service only needs to ASYMMETRIC, where the IBM SNA side plays the
passive role.
- The service *has to* be INTERACTIVE because of security systems at the
IBM hosts.
- Development of software for the IBM hosts *must be* avoided. Only the gateway
-- which could be an IBM -- can incorporate new software.
With the proposed solutions, development of server entities for the IBM hosts
can be avoided, since there are IBM program products available for both
major operating systems, MVS and VM. Furthermore, possible requirements for
a batch file transfer capability can be met by adding the Batch File Transfer
Program (BFTP) - upon its availability - to the TCP/IP side of the gateway.
Did anyone attempt or even complete an implementation of such a gateway?
Please reply by mail, I will summarize your comments within a month or so.
Thanks in advance, and best regards,
Heinz Naef, c/o CIBA-GEIGY AG, R-1032.5.62, P.O.Box, CH-4002 Basel
uucp: whna@cgch.uucp - bitnet: whna%cgch.uucp@cernvax.bitnet
phone: (+41) 61 37 26 75
fax: (+41) 61 36 43 54 (Attn: H.Naef, R-1032.5.62)