Surge Of Announcements For IBM-Novell Integration

Main Article Text

Novell enters the world of large systems with increased force strengthening its product offering with the ability for connectivity with the IBM SNA environment. This is the result of the recent acquisition of Cxi, a company specializing in micro-mainframe links now transformed in the Communications Product Division of Novell. The new packages offered are a total of five and include emulation of local area network protocols and Lu 6.2 and X.25, management of asynchronous links (via modem) between LAN and remote systems and finally, connectivity of 370 processors of the Token-ring network functioning with the NetWare operating system. These announcements are in line with the development strategy of IBM in the field of corporate networks and clearly reflect the trend in the market for personal computer networks, where many of the major vendors, including Novell, 3Com, DCA (with 10-Net) and Apple, are seeking to act as ideal partners for connecting micro-mainframe. NetWare’s Lu 6.2 is probably the most important amongst these offerings. It is a software module capable of combining a local network equipped with NetWare and a mainframe network or mini structure according to the new IBM peer-to-peer architecture. The various applications running in the two environments may communicate among themselves without following hierarchical paths, but with a point-to-point contact, meaning the micro can speak on equal terms with the mainframe. This structure is also called the Advanced Program-to-Program Communication, APPC. Using NetWare Lu 6.2, users will manage, from their workstations, the classic functions of terminal emulation and of printer management in 3270 and at the same time be able to perform APPC applications. From the beginning, the Lu NetWare 6.2 will work only with Ms Dos packages and will have links via coaxial cable ending in the controls of the IBM 3174 terminals or directly linking to the Tokenring mainframe. In the future, however, it is predicted that there will be compatibility with Os 2 and the ability to use SDLC (Synchronous Data Link Control) interfaces. Starting the second quarter of this year the product will be included, free of charge, with all gateways distributed by Novell (3270 and Token-ring). Users who already use Novell 3270 gateway may buy the new option at a price of 200,000 lire while those who must newly install one, will be able to buy the gateway Lu 6.2, the emulation software and 3270 Pcox card at the price of 2,200,000 lire. The board and the emulator, already available are able to handle five sessions simultaneously. The Lu 6.2 protocol was originally created to run also on phone lines, which incorporates various functions for the control of transmission errors, which can be encumber fluidity and use. Novell has tried to disburden the NetWare 6.2 by dividing it into two parts, one for the workstation and one for the communications server. The module for the workstation occupies 50 Kbytes of RAM while the one on the server devours 300 Kbyte and requires the availability then of a dedicated machine for the execution of all protocol management functions. There is also the peculiar characteristics of a couple of products that combine with Lu NetWare 6.2 NetWare; i.e. Token-ring and the NetWare Token-Ring Multi. They are two software modules that use the Tokenring Ibm network as the carrier for the connection between personal computer and the central computer. The first is priced at 900,000 lire, and the second, which is a supplementary form of the first, is priced at 400,000 lire. Even in this case the presence of a dedicated communications server is required, which provides the conversion protocol to route messages from the network to controller host via a 3725 45 line which is also connected to the network. In this way, you create two networks on the same ring: one that handles messages between the workstation according to the standard NetBios protocol, and one that can exchange messages from a personal computer to an online controller or from the personal to a 3174 terminal control, provided that the latter is equipped with the appropriate Token-ring adapter. Using NetWare Token-ring, which will be available next June, the network can have access to 128 host sessions simultaneously. The Multi module allows one to carry up to five concurrent sessions on a single workstation.

The function of the second pair of packages is similar or rather the NetWare Remote Bridge X.25, in the standard version and multiple version. As one can imagine from the name itself, it is a hardware-software Kit for connecting two local networks using the X.25 protocol. The cost of this package is 2,300,000 lire for each connection, which means that the connection of two networks requires an investment of 4,600,000 lire. The multi version will cost instead 3,200,000 lire and operates 11 X.25 virtual connections, which rely on the same hardware. The X.25 bridge card is available in both the standard version and that of the Micro Channel version.

Governing one’s desk from home

Closing this series of announcements is the new 1.46 version of Asynghronous communications server (ACS), which is already available, at the price of 2,900,000 lire. The cost includes the software supply that governs up to 16 serial lines (modem) and a card, to be installed in the personal computer, which incorporates four Rs 232 outputs. In addition to the management of telephone line communications between networks and remote systems, the ACS provides for the
possibility of introducing a personal computer in the LAN using a telephone connection. Assuming one has two workstations connected to a local office network and another installed in home, the ACS can make sure that the micro at home can take complete control of the personal in the office using a modem connection. In practice, it creates a situation where the keyboard and video of the remote machine, replaces the keyboard and video system in the office allowing, the latter to perform locally all the operations that integrate with the network and the management of applications. In doing so, on the telephone lines travel only the commands set up on the keyboard and information to be displayed on the screen remotely, but it is not necessary to transfer data from neither the processes nor the programs. The Novell products are distributed in Italy by Italian Fast (Via Vela 3, 20123 Milan tel. 200611 02 – Via Flaminia 888, 00191 Rome, tel. 06 3060285) and O.P.C. (Via Oxilia 25 27, 20127 Milan, tel. 2610148 02)

Roberto Mazzoni