StJohns@SRI-NIC.ARPA.UUCP (05/21/87)
1) Is there a protocol document for it? 2) Public domain software? Where is it on the net? 3) Types of machines its available for? 4) Works with what flavors of IBM mainframes? (MVS VM??) Mike
minshall@OPAL.BERKELEY.EDU (05/22/87)
Mike, > 1) Is there a protocol document for it? No. It should be written down, and I should probably be part of the writing, and I know some questions that need to be answered, and I know where some of the answers are, but I haven't had time to do it. > 2) Public domain software? Where is it on the net? Yes. On 'arpa.berkeley.edu' you may anonymously ftp 'pub/tn3270tar' (in binary mode). > 3) Types of machines its available for? It works on 'all' 4.2/4.3 Unices (though there is a bug, simple to fix, which makes it VERRRY slow on 4.2 machines). I am working on a version for MSDOS (really PCDOS), and may be done fairly soon. In addition, FTP Software has a beta test version for MSDOS. In addition, IBM announced a version (derived from a different version) for PC's. In addition, Ungermann-Bass has some interest in this area (as may other vendors). I don't know of anyone who has ported it to VMS, though we may be doing that at Berkeley soon (using a newly restructured tn3270 we are using locally). > 4) Works with what flavors of IBM mainframes? (MVS VM??) I think it works with all 2 of the the VM OS's (IBM/Wisconsin's and the Spartacus/Fibronics). In the MVS case things are a bit less clear. In general it seems to function (at some level) with code derived from the UCLA base. I'm not sure about the other products (many of them do '3270 - to - host over the network'. Greg
rms@ACC-SB-UNIX.ARPA.UUCP (05/22/87)
Mike, TN3270 is not really a protocol, but rather a program to interpret raw IBM 3270 display protocol transmitted over a Telnet connection. Other than that, the TN3270 protocol deals with what Telnet negotiations are required, when, and in what sequence. I believe Greg Minshall at U. C. Berkeley is the originator of TN3270, which was first implemented for Berkeley Unix. It makes heavy use of Curses, and also uses a TERMCAP-like file to map the user's ASCII keyboard into a 3270 EBCDIC keyboard. TN3270 runs on 4.2/4.3 BSD Unix and its clones (Sun's, etc.), and has also been ported (by Minshall) to run under MS-DOS with the Ungermann Bass Personal-NIU Ethernet adapter. CMU has ported the DOS version to run with their enhanced version of the MIT PC/IP code, and Univ. of Md. did the same for IBM. FTP Software has a version in beta test which they are about to release. I am sure there are more, and there are certainly some in the works. We have been using TN3270 on our 4.3-based VAX, and it works well once you get the keyboard set up in a reasonable fashion. It is a bit of a CPU hog though. Also, I don't think FTP Software will mind me saying that we got a beta release of their software and it's a dynamite product. I can finally trash my 3278 and VT100 and run Unix vi and IBM full-screen applications on the same PC over a Telnet connection. It would be nice to see the same capability on a MacIntosh. The DOS-based version is public domain and can be acquired from Berkeley by contacting Greg Minshall. The Unix version is also public domain, but you probably have to have a license to use the curses library. It is included with the 4.3BSD distribution. TN3270 operates with ACCES/MVS from ACC, VM TCP/IP from IBM (both 5798-DRG and 5798-FAL), Wiscnet, KNET from Fibronics, and the public-domain MVS code from UCLA. I don't know if it works with DDN/MVS from Network Solutions since the presentations I have attended made no mention of full-screen support across Telnet. They prefer to use SimWare for this. I should also mention that Univ. of Wisconsin has developed similar software for running full-screen applications across Telnet. I believe it also runs on PC's under DOS. Marvin Solomon is a point of contact for this. The real authority for TN3270 is Greg Minshall. He reads this mailing list, so I am sure he will respond to your query. He can probably add a lot to what I have said. Ron Stoughton ACC
davidc@TERMINUS.UMD.EDU (David Conrad) (05/23/87)
A clarification: > CMU has ported the DOS version >to run with their enhanced version of the MIT PC/IP code, and Univ. of Md. >did the same for IBM. The CMU version of tn3270 is based on MIT PC/IP telnet with the 3270 additions written by Jacob Rehkter of IBM Yorktown and merged by Drew Perkins. It wasn't a port of the Berkeley DOS code and I don't believe its publicly available outside of CMU. The University of Maryland version is based on the Yorktown/CMU version. As for the protocol, I seem to remember some talk awhile ago of an RFC that would describe entering and exiting 3270 emulation mode (or some such). Has anything come of this? >Ron Stoughton -drc ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- David R. Conrad The University of Maryland arpa: davidc@umd5.umd.edu (301) 454-2946 PC/IP Group bitnet: conradd@umdd.bitnet
gnu@hoptoad.UUCP (05/26/87)
rms@ACC-SB-UNIX.ARPA (Ron Stoughton) writes: > The DOS-based version is public domain and can be acquired from Berkeley > by contacting Greg Minshall. The Unix version is also public domain, but > you probably have to have a license to use the curses library. It is > included with the 4.3BSD distribution. The curses library can be gotten without license; I have a copy. If you get it from a 4.3 tape, you signed a license saying you would not distribute it; but I got it straight from the author. It is copyright by him (Ken Arnold) and the U. of California, but the only restriction is that you leave in the copyright notices. If anybody needs a copy of the real 4.3BSD curses library for unlicensed use, let me know. -- Copyright 1987 John Gilmore; you may redistribute only if your recipients may. (This is an effort to bend Stargate to work with Usenet, not against it.) {sun,ptsfa,lll-crg,ihnp4,ucbvax}!hoptoad!gnu gnu@ingres.berkeley.edu
swb@DEVVAX.TN.CORNELL.EDU.UUCP (05/27/87)
Greg, have you considered making it work on an Encore Annex or other terminal server?
minshall@OPAL.BERKELEY.EDU (05/28/87)
Scott, You asked whether I've thought about making tn3270 run on an Encore Annex or other terminal server. Not really. However, Phil Budne <budd@bu-cs.bu.edu> mentioned his desire to port tn3270 to, specifically, the Encore. I offered him (in Monterey) access to the current development tn3270 (which is easier to port than the distribution tn3270). I don't know if he has thought much more about it. There are problems, you understand. The main problem is that an Encore wants to have variables accessed as 'x[terminal_number]' (or via pointer, or some such), and tn3270 isn't built in that way. Also, one would like to be able to download 'map3270' (keyboard mapping) tables. Anyway, you might want to check with Phil Budne. Or, ask your local, friendly vendor. Greg
minshall@OPAL.BERKELEY.EDU (09/15/87)
There is a new procedure (previously hinted at) for distributing tn3270 by mail. The current procedure for arpanet access (via anonymous ftp) remains in place. To receive a copy of tn3270 by mail, send a check for $100.00 (US), along with a note indicating your desire to receive the tn3270 diskette, to: Campus Software Office 295 Evans Hall University of California Berkeley, California 94720 USA You will receive, in exchange, an AT style (1.2MB) diskette with the tn3270 source (in tar format). For your $100.00 (US), you have unlimited redistribution rights (for both the source and any binaries generated). I encourage people to use this path to acquire tn3270. One advantage of this path is that you get on "the list". This list should allow you to receive updates and announcements. From our side, the advantage is having some handle on the use of tn3270. Sincerely, Greg Minshall