New modems, ISDN interface, enhancements to 3745 among new communications hardware Although last week’s announcement was intended to put over the message that Open Systems Interconnection standards are no longer off limits for True Blue IBM users who had been brought up to believe they would be little better off than bag ladies wandering around aimlessly muttering to themselves if they didn’t commit to SNA only, first, last and always, but IBM threw in an enormous array of other new communications products that had been patiently awaiting their turn at the head of the new products queue. There’s the IBM 7860 Modem series, the IBM 5822 Data Service Unit/Channel Service Unit Model 018, and the IBM 7820 Terminal Adaptor – enabling IBM to reassure us all that despite its silence on the subject, it has not only heard of Integrated Services Digital Networking, but has been actively preparing products. The new offerings are designed to operate in conjunction with the IBM Communication Network Management products – namely NetView or NetView/PC network management programs and ACF/NCP, and in general, you can be sure that despite IBM’s stated commitment to support for mixed vendor environments, NetView will be a lot happier if the network uses IBM modems and other kit that it recognises.
The two 7860 families of modems The IBM 7860 is a family of nine new stand-alone 7861 leased-line modems, and six new 7868 rack-mounted leased-line modems offering speeds from 4.8Kbps to 19.2Kbps, including the first at the latter speed to offer multipoint capability. There are two and four port models with fan-in/fan-out and/or data multiplex functions for both synchronous and asynchronous data terminal equipment to share the same link – and of course support for Advanced Network Management functions under NetView – no IBM modems, no dice. The new modems are claimed to offer analogue, digital and Integrated Services Digital Network support, and can be integrated into the new 3745 communications processor as well as rack-mounted or stand-alone. They also have switched network back-up features, and, in the unabashed flackery department, superior line coverage at all speeds and superior quality and reliability due to extensive use of VLSI (presumably compared with IBM’s previous generation of modems – the 5865, 5866, 5868 and the LIC5 with which they are compatible), although of course you’re meant to believe that it is in comparison with any other modem on the market). Other new functions include bi-directional 14.4Kbps operation in multipoint mode, 9.6Kbps operation with trellis coded modulation, and controlled access to the modem keypad.
Automated problem determination, configuration and operation can be done from the modem keypad. The stand-alone 7861s consist of the 047, 19.2Kbps four-port modem, $7,200; 046, 14.4Kbps, four port, $5,400; 045, 9.6Kbps, four-port; $4,000; O26, 14.4Kbps, two-port; $5,100; 025, 9.6Kbps, two-port, $3,700; 024, 4.8Kbps, two-port, $2,600; 016, 14.4Kbps, one-port, $4,800; 015, 9.6Kbps, one-port, $3,400; and 014, 4.8Kbps, one-port, $2,300. The 7868 rack-mount models are the 047 19.2Kbps four port, $6,900; 046 14.4Kbps, four-port, $5,100; the 045 9.6Kbps, four-port, $3,800; the 026 14.4Kbps, two-port, $4,600; the 025, 9.6Kbps, two-port, $3,300, and the 024 4.8Kbps, two-port, $2,100. The one-ports are available this month, the two-port 7861s next month, the two-port 7868s in March 1989 and the four ports in September 1989 – don’t hold your breath. It will also be possible to field-upgrade the speed of your hot new 7860 modem, at a price, starting around the middle of next year.
The 7820 ISDN Terminal Adaptor The new IBM 7820 Integrated Services Digital Network Terminal Adaptor Model 001 provides for attachment of synchronous data terminal equipment – hosts, controllers and terminals – to ISDN Basic Rate Access services complying with the relevant CCITT and ECMA technical reference specifications. It incorporates the most commonly used V- and X-series interfaces to allow migration of installed products to circuit-
switched ISDN networks and can facilitate installation of new products that do not have an integrated ISDN interface. A single 7820 can take up to two data terminal equipment interfaces, and IBM Communications Network Management products used in conjunction with it extend to ISDN the benefits of Network Management – it is integrated via NetView/PC and works with current SNA devices. The 7820 ISDN Terminal Adaptor Model 001 is $1,550; the V24 Adaptor is $500; the V35 Adaptor is $600 and the X21 Adaptor is $500. No precise date for delivery, IBM just says second quarter 1989.
The 7866 Modem Housing for back-up There is also a new 7866 Modem Housing, designed to support switched network back-up and high availability: the 7866-001 can house up to 12 Data Communication Equipment packs and there is a dual power supply for higher availability. The 7866-002 can house up to eight Switched Network Back-Up Couplers for the modem packs. The 7866-001 is $3,000; the 7866-002, $600 and they arrive next March.
5822 data service-channel service unit The new 5822-018 is a combined Data Service UnitChannel Service Unit for use on the Digital Data Service network, and it can also operate as a Limited Distance Modem. Rack-mounted, it occupies one slot on the 7866 Model 001 housing and is functionally equivalent to the stand-alone 5822 Model 010, extends the IBM end-to-end network management offering to customers using digital data transmission facilities and offers consistent Communication Network Management to customers who use IBMs new 7860 or its 5865, 5866, 5868 modems and NetView, and who also use digital data transmission facilities or plan to migrate to them. It costs $1,810 and will be available in the US from March 31. Enhancements to the 3745 front-end CPU The 3745 communications controller, latest in the IBM 3705 family of front-ends, now supports new integrated analogue modems and integrated Data Service Units/Channel Service Units. It offers better performance on 4Mbps Token-Ring Networks, adds a Hot Standby feature and selective scanning for X21 switched lines. It also now supports attachment to ISDN Basic Rate Access through the IBM 7820. And to make the thing a bit less of a pain to use, there is dumping to disk of the crucial ACF/NCP programs as the default option; display of ACF/NCP load module generation time and date; support of 3151 Console operating in native mode; and support of optional remote console 30-minute time-out. Most new features arrive January.
