jbm@Apple.COM (Jennifer B. Minge) (12/14/90)
Does anyone have any information on the new IBM 3172 controller? I have heard that it supports both a token ring network and an ethernet network. If it acts as a gatweay to the mainframe for a tokenring network, then is it equivalent to the MS-DOS PC Lan Gateway or OS/2 Lan Manager? Does it require either of these two programs in order to make a connection to the mainframe. Does it support Netbios? If anyone has any information on the 3172 or is currently using this device, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks. Jennifer Minge Network System Engineer Apple Computer
jbm@APPLE.COM ("Jennifer B. Minge") (12/14/90)
Does anyone have any information on the new IBM 3172 controller? I have heard that it supports both a token ring network and an ethernet network. If it acts as a gatweay to the mainframe for a tokenring network, then is it equivalent to the MS-DOS PC Lan Gateway or OS/2 Lan Manager? Does it require either of these two programs in order to make a connection to the mainframe. Does it support Netbios? If anyone has any information on the 3172 or is currently using this device, I would appreciate hearing from you. Thanks. Jennifer Minge Network System Engineer Apple Computer
hardiman@csd4.csd.uwm.edu (Paul V Hardiman) (12/14/90)
The IBM 3172 comes in 2 models: the model 1 is based on a 386 processor and supports token ring, Ethernet, token bus, and PC Network LAN connections, in addition to up to 2 IBM block multiplexer channels; the model 2 is based on a 486 processor and supports FDDI. There is also a model 1 Remote CTC that supports up to 4 T1 links. The basic function of the 3172 is to make the attached IBM CPU(s) function as host nodes on the LAN(s) to which the 3172 is attached. IBM's TCP/IP version 2 software, which runs on the attached CPU(s) provides a fairly complete suite of TCP/IP functions (FTP, socket library, RIP, Domain Name Service (requires DB2), SMTP, X Window interface, NFS, etc.). Neither the 3172 nor IBM's mainframe software supports Lan Manager, Netbios, IPX, or other protocols, although these protocols can operate over the LAN(s) to which the 3172 is attached. This is just an overview of the 3172, and doesn't begin to address the full functionality of the product. (Disclaimer: I don't work for IBM - I just happen to be doing some research in this area.)