[comp.protocols.tcp-ip] Seeking info on TCP/IP for IBM m/f

cliff@centaure.UUCP (Clifford Dibble) (11/13/89)

I'm interested in TCP/IP products for IBM mainframes. I'm taking a 
"Introduction to LANs" class, and this is one area of research
suggested by the instructor. Specifically, we're to find ways to
make an Ethernet full of Sun workstations talk to an IBM 
mainframe.

In the article "OSI Takes on TCP/IP" (S.Fisher, UNIX World, Feb 1989),
it is stated:

	"... in addition, IBM extended support TCP/IP support from
	 its UNIX systems to its mainframes. System 370s can 
	 communicate with devices supporting TCP/IP either by
	 a direct connection to an Ethernet network, or through 
	 the 8232 LAN channel station to a token ring LAN.

	 ... [it's possible] to manage TCP/IP networks with 
	 Netview (IBM's network management product)

	 ... IBM won't be shipping .. TCP/IP products until 
	 June 89."

I'd be grateful to get more information on these products, and to
hear from anyone who has actually used them.


Thanks!!

Cliff Dibble
Irvine, CA.
USA.
714-859-1172 P.D.T
uunet!centaure!cliff

hughes@silver.bacs.indiana.edu (larry hughes) (11/14/89)

In article <122@centaure.UUCP> cliff@centaure.UUCP (Clifford Dibble) writes:
>
>I'm interested in TCP/IP products for IBM mainframes. I'm taking a 
>"Introduction to LANs" class, and this is one area of research
>suggested by the instructor. Specifically, we're to find ways to
>make an Ethernet full of Sun workstations talk to an IBM 
>mainframe.
>
>In the article "OSI Takes on TCP/IP" (S.Fisher, UNIX World, Feb 1989),
>it is stated:
>
>	"... in addition, IBM extended support TCP/IP support from
>	 its UNIX systems to its mainframes. System 370s can 
>	 communicate with devices supporting TCP/IP either by
>	 a direct connection to an Ethernet network, or through 
>	 the 8232 LAN channel station to a token ring LAN.
>

Not really "direct"!  IBM's TCP/IP solution calls for an
industrial-strength AT that's attached to the ethernet,
and channel attached back to the IBM host.  They call it
a FEP (front end processor).

We're running an Intel FEP here...

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scw@ollie.SEAS.UCLA.EDU (11/14/89)

In article <29590@iuvax.cs.indiana.edu> hughes@silver.bacs.indiana.edu (larry hughes) writes:
}>
}>	"... in addition, IBM extended support TCP/IP support from
}>	 its UNIX systems to its mainframes. System 370s can 
}>	 communicate with devices supporting TCP/IP either by
}>	 a direct connection to an Ethernet network, or through 
}>	 the 8232 LAN channel station to a token ring LAN.
}>
}
}Not really "direct"!  IBM's TCP/IP solution calls for an
}industrial-strength AT that's attached to the ethernet,
}and channel attached back to the IBM host.  They call it
}a FEP (front end processor).
}We're running an Intel FEP here...




Hmmmm,  This is like saying that an interlan VAX card is not direct, or that
an 'smart' card is not direct.  Remember a 360/370 channel is much like a
VERY smart unibus (albeit with only 256 slots on it).  Just because there
is some outboard processing doesn't mean that it's not direct.  As an anology
think of a IBM/PC (8086 flavor) attached to a Printronix P-600 printer, there
is more computing_power/smarts in the printer than there is in the computer.
Besides that's not really a FEP, as Series/1 terminal driver (for IXX) now
that's an FEP.  The 9370 CETI device is built into the processor, not attached
to an external channel.
-----
Stephen C. Woods; UCLA SEASNET; 2567 BH;LA CA 90024; (213)-825-8614
UUCP: ...!{ibmsupt,hao!cepu}!ollie}!scw ARPA:scw@{Ollie.,}SEAS.UCLA.EDU 

NJG@CORNELLA.CIT.CORNELL.EDU (Nick Gimbrone) (11/24/89)

>In the article "OSI Takes on TCP/IP" (S.Fisher, UNIX World, Feb 1989),
>it is stated:
...
>	 ... IBM won't be shipping .. TCP/IP products until
>	 June 89."
That was only for the MVS based product.  VM/CMS has had an IBM TCP/IP
since mid-87.  They also have several unix offerings (which clearly
have tcp/ip, otherwise you couldn't really call it unix, eh?  :-).  In
any case, for further discusion of IBM's products see the IBMTCP-L mail
list at CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU, subscription by sending mail to
LISTSERV@CUNYVM.CUNY.EDU w/ the one line body/text of:
SUBscribe IBMTCP-L <your-name-here>