[comp.dcom.sys.cisco] x25-->Cisco-->VAX

darren@shapec.mdcbbs.com0 (09/01/90)

I have a configuration query, relating to VAX-PSI, Cisco Router and X.25

I currently have a VAX, with a PSI Connection onto the X25 Network (PSS).
This is used to bring up DECnet Connections.

Going through Public Networks is becoming a little slow, for what I
wish to do, so therefore I am considering leased lines.

   

  Current:
              9.6 x25
      ----------------------|VAX with PSI Software|


  Can I do this? :
		                   (LAN)
     9.6 x25 (Public-PSS)            |
      ----------------------|Cisco|  |
                            |     |--|---|VAX with PSI Software|
			    |AGS2 |  |
      ----------------------|     |  |
      64k Leased Line

    What this would give me (if possible), is high speed DECNet over 64k
    line, plus backup of PSS Public Line. However, there is now no direct
    physical connection from VAX to x25 - Is it possible for the CISCO
    to complete a virtual circuit? (to give me logically what I have
    currently). Or do I have to keep my PSI Connection, direct into
    the VAX?

    Help Appreciated.

    Darren Bolland
    Shape Data Ltd
    Cambridge
    England
    44 223 316673

forster@cisco.com (Jim Forster) (09/04/90)

Darren,

The answer to your question is "It depends".  It depends on what services
you are using VAX PSI for.  My understanding is that VAX PSI provides X.25
access for at least 3 purposes:

	 1) Forwarding DECNet Phase IV datagrams over VC's,
	 2) Allowing Triple-X (X.29/X.28/X.3) based login to the vax from
	    PAD's
	 3) allowing application programs to open X.25 VC's to arbitrary
	    hosts & services through a library interface.


If the machine(s) at the other end of PSS are DEC Vaxes, then you could
leave the PSS line directly connected to your vax, and still use the 64k
leased line through the Ethernet & cisco as your primary path.


     9.6 x25 (Public-PSS)
      ---------------------------------------------
						  |
		                   (LAN)	  |
                                     |		  |
                            |Cisco|  |	 -----------------------
                            |     |--|---|VAX with PSI Software|
			    |AGS2 |  |	 -----------------------
      ----------------------|     |  |
      64k Leased Line

If the machines at the other end of PSS are also cisco routers, then you
can do what you pictured:

		                   (LAN)
     9.6 x25 (Public-PSS)            |
      ----------------------|Cisco|  |
                            |     |--|---|VAX with PSI Software|
			    |AGS2 |  |
      ----------------------|     |  |
      64k Leased Line


We don't support application #3, VAX library access to X.25 via Ethernet.
If you are also using VAX PSI also to allow Triple-X access to the VAX
(application #2 above), then can use another cisco product, the Protocol
Translator, to convert from the Triple-X protocols to LAT.

Feel free to call or write to us (customer-service@cisco.com) for more details.


 -- Jim Forster
    cisco Systems

satz@cisco.com (Greg Satz) (09/04/90)

>>      9.6 x25 (Public-PSS)            |
>>       ----------------------|Cisco|  |
>>                             |     |--|---|VAX with PSI Software|
>>                             |AGS2 |  |
>>       ----------------------|     |  |
>>       64k Leased Line

Yes, the cisco software can be made to do this but it requires the
following changes to your topology.

                                     LAN
      9.6 x25 (Public-PSS)            |
       ----------------------|Cisco|  |   |
                             |     |--|---|VAX with PSI Software|
                             |AGS2 |  |   |
       ----------------------|     |______|
       64k Leased Line               X.25

This solution utilizes the X.25 switching functionality to switch PSI calls
from the PSS through the cisco and into the VAX. It also requires that the
Vax act as a router from its X.25 interface to its ethernet. Incoming Call
Requests will be forwarded from the cisco to the Vax. The Vax will extract
the DECNET packets from the established VC and forwarded it back to the
cisco for further forwarding down the 64K leased line.

This requires that you get an extra serial interface running X.25 to
connect up the Vax.

The drawback to this is the extra serial interface and the extra hop across
the serial interface and ethernet. The extra hop can be overlooked if you
are using 9.6 serial X.25 lines on the PSS as this is slow enough that the
extra two hops won't be noticed. This also assumes you can control the
demands on the Vax system resources.

The advantage is that this solution will work in today's shipping software.

Greg Satz
cisco