[comp.protocols.tcp-ip] TCP/IP Between PCs and Mainframes...What Physical Layers?

Will@cup.portal.com (Will E Estes) (06/04/90)

Using IBM's mainframe TCP-IP implementations and OS/2 Extended Edition's
TCP/IP, what physical layers can be used?  I assume Ethernet at minimum,
but what about token ring, and what about SDLC since that is how the
vast majority of PCs are linked to mainframes?  Also, what about the case
where a PC goes through a gateway that emulates a 3174 and is connected
by modem to a 3725?

Thanks,
Will Estes        (sun!portal!cup.portal.com!Will)

pjj@ntrlink.interlink.com (Patrick Johnston) (06/07/90)

In article <30494@cup.portal.com> Will@cup.portal.com (Will E Estes) writes:
>Using IBM's mainframe TCP-IP implementations and OS/2 Extended Edition's
>TCP/IP, what physical layers can be used?  I assume Ethernet at minimum,
>but what about token ring, and what about SDLC since that is how the
>vast majority of PCs are linked to mainframes?  Also, what about the case
>where a PC goes through a gateway that emulates a 3174 and is connected
>by modem to a 3725?

IBM's TCP/IP supports ethernet in three ways:

1. 8323 (industrializd PC AT with an ungerman bass ethernet card)
2. 3172 (PS/2 386 version of the 8232 - internal ethernet card)
3. 9370 802.3 card with communications processor

You can also use any device that supports the CETI channel protocol
(such as BTI's box or Interlink's 3722)


Token ring is supported in the same three ways.  There has been no
announced support for the 3174 TIC option in either the 3174L or 3174R
controllers.  There is no announced support in the 3270 workstation
software version 3 (the stuff that connected a PC to a 3745 via SDLC)
and there is no announced support for OS/2 comm manager for IBM's TCP/IP
software.

IBM's TCP/IP software can communication with another mainframe via SDLC
lines (via LU0). The above ways are the only ways that I know on getting
TCP/IP out of an IBM mainframe.  

Hmmm... UUCP to a mainframe via a 3745....  I'll have to bring
that up at my next staff meeting....