ZRCC1001@SMUVM1.BITNET ("Robin C. Cover") (05/29/89)
What is the smallest IBM machine (and what OS) we can buy that will support BITNET (RSCS)? I would like to get a UNIX box (preferably AIX/PS2), but I have been told that AIX/PS2 has no support for RSCS. (Huh?) Does AIX/RT support RSCS? More generally, what are some low-end hardware/software options for the support of BITNET/RSCS? I suppose we can get a Sun/4 or a VAX and run the RSCS emulation program developed by Pennsylvania State University (for BSD-flavor UNIX OS). But I would like to know what the IBM solutions are currently. Also, where can I find documentation on RSCS? What role does it play in the future of IBM networking? I'll be very grateful for any help. Professor Robin C. Cover zrcc1001@smuvm1.BITNET 3909 Swiss Avenue convex!txsil!robin.UUCP Dallas, TX 75204 killer!dtseap!cover.UUCP (214) 296-1783(h) 824-3094(w) killer!utafll!robin.UUCP ----------------------------Original message----------------------------
drake@ibmarc.uucp (Sam Drake/99999999) (06/02/89)
In article <8905290555.AA05140@jade.berkeley.edu> "Robin C. Cover" <ZRCC1001%SMUVM1.bitnet@jade.berkeley.edu> writes: >What is the smallest IBM machine (and what OS) we can buy that will >support BITNET (RSCS)? I believe that IBM offers RSCS-style networking products for VM, MVS and VSE operating systems ... all on System/370 class machines. There may be software for the AS/400, but I have no direct knowledge of that either way. So, I believe the smallest machine that IBM can provide RSCS connections for would be a 9370 running VM...the smallest model is the 9373 model 25. This is a S/370 processor, memory, DASD etc all in a 1 meter high rack. >Also, where can I find documentation on RSCS? What role does it play in >the future of IBM networking? IBM publication number GG24-5055-3 is the RSCS Version 2 Release 3 Generai Information Manual, perhaps it will give you the information you're looking for. The AIX systems all support TCP/IP, so if you wanted to connect to the Internet (CSNET, Arpanet, etc) you could use AIX PS/2 or AIX/RT. There are gateways from the TCP/IP-based Internet into BITNET, I believe. I'm not an official anything, so all standard disclaimers apply. Sam Drake / IBM Almaden Research Center
drake@ibmarc.UUCP (Sam Drake/99999999) (06/02/89)
In article <8905290555.AA05140@jade.berkeley.edu> "Robin C. Cover" <ZRCC1001%SMUVM1.bitnet@jade.berkeley.edu> writes: >What is the smallest IBM machine (and what OS) we can buy that will >support BITNET (RSCS)? I believe that IBM offers RSCS-style networking products for VM, MVS and VSE operating systems ... all on System/370 class machines. There may be software for the AS/400, but I have no direct knowledge of that either way. So, I believe the smallest machine that IBM can provide RSCS connections for would be a 9370 running VM...the smallest model is the 9373 model 25. This is a S/370 processor, memory, DASD etc all in a 1 meter high rack. >Also, where can I find documentation on RSCS? What role does it play in >the future of IBM networking? IBM publication number GG24-5055-3 is the RSCS Version 2 Release 3 Generai Information Manual, perhaps it will give you the information you're looking for. The AIX systems all support TCP/IP, so if you wanted to connect to the Internet (CSNET, Arpanet, etc) you could use AIX PS/2 or AIX/RT. There are gateways from the TCP/IP-based Internet into BITNET, I believe. I'm not an official anything, so all standard disclaimers apply. Sam Drake / IBM Almaden Research Center
phil@wubios.wustl.edu (J. Philip Miller) (06/02/89)
In article <8905290555.AA05140@jade.berkeley.edu> "Robin C. Cover" <ZRCC1001%SMUVM1.bitnet@jade.berkeley.edu> writes: > >What is the smallest IBM machine (and what OS) we can buy that will >support BITNET (RSCS)? > A very popular solution is the Barr/Hasp system which is a board and software which will plug into any old IBM PC/AT. We run it on a 2 floppy, original PC. They offer a number of different options with respect to the protocol for connecting to the IBM RSCS machine including bisync, SNA and Token Ring. I have no affiliation with Barr/Hasp other than I have known Tony for a long time and am a satisified customer. -- -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* J. Philip Miller - Div of Biostat - Washington Univ Medical School phil@wubios.WUstl.edu - Internet phil@wubios.wustl - bitnet (314) 362-3617 c90562jm@wuvmd - alternate bitnet
phil@wubios.UUCP ("J. Philip Miller") (06/02/89)
In article <8905290555.AA05140@jade.berkeley.edu> "Robin C. Cover" <ZRCC1001%SMUVM1.bitnet@jade.berkeley.edu> writes: > >What is the smallest IBM machine (and what OS) we can buy that will >support BITNET (RSCS)? > A very popular solution is the Barr/Hasp system which is a board and software which will plug into any old IBM PC/AT. We run it on a 2 floppy, original PC. They offer a number of different options with respect to the protocol for connecting to the IBM RSCS machine including bisync, SNA and Token Ring. I have no affiliation with Barr/Hasp other than I have known Tony for a long time and am a satisified customer. -- -*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-* J. Philip Miller - Div of Biostat - Washington Univ Medical School phil@wubios.WUstl.edu - Internet phil@wubios.wustl - bitnet (314) 362-3617 c90562jm@wuvmd - alternate bitnet
RUBIN@YKTVMT.BITNET (Bill Rubin) (06/02/89)
>J. Philip Miller responds to Robin C. Cover, who wrote: > >>What is the smallest IBM machine (and what OS) we can buy that will >>support BITNET (RSCS)? > >A very popular solution is the Barr/Hasp system which is a board and >software which will plug into any old IBM PC/AT. We run it on a 2 >floppy, original PC. They offer a number of different options with >respect to the protocol for connecting to the IBM RSCS machine >including bisync, SNA and Token Ring. > >I have no affiliation with Barr/Hasp other than I have known Tony for a >long time and am a satisified customer. I, too, have been trying to figure out an appropriate answer to Robin's question, and I was all ready to suggest looking into a 7437, which is a box which hooks up to a PS/2 Model 60 or 80 to turn it into a VM/SP5 machine, but I do not believe that it supports RSCS. As for the suggestion of Barr/Hasp, I too knew of people at my former job who were very happy with it, but unless things have changed, it only supports RJE connections to RSCS, not NJE. This would mean that you would not be able to function as a real RSCS node, and whatever it gives you I would not personally consider to be hooked up to Bitnet. AIX does not support RSCS, it supports TCP/IP. Joiner Associates sells JNET for VAXen and possibly other machines, but not for AIX, so far as I know. For documentation on RSCS, see the RSCS V2.3 General Information manual,IBM form number GH24-5055. Also, GG66-0224, NJE Concepts and Protocols may prove interesting. For those who are more into the bits and bytes of NJE, see GG22-9373, NJE Formats and Protocols. Bill Rubin IBM TJ Watson Research, Yorktown