🚀 go-pugleaf

In article <8909261335.AA08004@jade.berkeley.edu> Phil Fernandez
        <metaphor!xymox!philf@APPLE.COM> writes:
:In article <8909250654.AA16455@jade.berkeley.edu> Robert Young writes:
:>I have a Sequent system (S81) connected to our 4381 mainframe through
:>SNA. We have already purchased the TCP/IP tapes from IBM but are waiting
:>for a hardware solution to connect the two systems. Initially, someone in
:>technical marketing (IBM) suggested we use an RT and a token-ring to
:>ethernet router but the idea never cooked. Now they are suggesting some
:>type of channel attached device (Ethernet) to connect the two systems.
:>Any ideas, suggestions and/or comments?
:
:IBM sells a box called the 8232, which is an industrially-packaged
:PC/AT with one or more net interface boards (Ethernet and/or Token Ring)
:plus one ore more channel interface boards.  It is their current
:standard offering for host-attach to Ethernet, and is fully supported
:by the mainframe-based TCP/IP software.  I had some experience with
:this box when I used to work at Stanford; for the most part it works
:pretty well.  With the 8232, you can just put the 4381 onto your
:Ethernet in just the same way you'd attach any other workstation or
:mini.
:
:>So far it looks like the IBM people we deal with are not completely sure
:>about any clear solutions.
:
:I can't resist a little bit of IBM-bashing in this case.  The IBM
:sales and systems engineering force is just not up-to-speed on the
:TCP/IP and Ethernet product offerings for VM or MVS.  When I was
:working at Stanford, IBM was trying to sell us TCP/IP software for a
:3090 running MVS.  They kept trotting in more senior "experts," up to
:the level of a "Regional Networking Specialist."  Each of them spouted
:so much silly or plain false nonsense about TCP/IP that I could barely
:sit through the meetings.
:
:This lack of marketing commitment would really scare me about becoming
:too depending on an IBM TCP/IP solution for a S/370 system.
:
:(This are purely my own opinions, and do not reflect those of my employer)
:
:
:+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------+
:| Phil Fernandez              |             philf@metaphor.com               |
:|                             |     ...!{apple|decwrl}!metaphor!philf        |
:| Metaphor Computer Systems   |"Does the body rule the mind, or does the mind|
:| Mountain View, CA           | rule the body?  I dunno..." - Morrissey      |
:+-----------------------------+----------------------------------------------+

Try talking to your local NCR Comten representative for solutions to
SNA and non-SNA networking problems.  NCR Comten manufactures IBM
plug compatible SNA front ends offering both channel and SDLC link
attached connectivity.  NCR Comten also has a wide ranging offering
of connectivity products for non-SNA networks,  connecting to both
BSC and X.25 hosts.

NCR Comten will shortly be offering a TCP-IP product.  Initial
link connectivity will be via X.25,  but an Ethernet interface will
also be provided.   Your NCR Comten representative should be able
to provide you with availability dates.

--

Dan Mercer
Reply-To: mercer@ncrcce.StPaul.NCR.COM (Dan Mercer)