Data Connection Ltd, the Enfield, Middlesex software house that for the last 10 years has provided some of the technical bedrock for the big OEM customers, is now making its Unix SNA communications software available to large end-users. Data Connection has until now kept a low profile, selling portable versions of IBM Corp’s Systems Network Architecture technology to the likes of Control Data Systems Inc, Hewlett-Packard Co, ICL Plc, Norsk Data A/S, Northern Telecom Ltd, Prime Computer Inc (deceased), Wang Laboratrories Inc and even to IBM itself though it won’t say exactly what. It has another division working on Open Systems Interconnection, and recently won a contract from Microsoft Corp to supply X400 technology for Microsoft Corp’s NT. The new SNA product package, SNAP-IX, will enable end users with heterogeneous systems to tie their systems together with SNA technology from a single source. Requiring a Streams interface from the host Unix system, SNAP-IX includes PU type 2.1 (over SDLC or X25), APPC, CPI-C (as adopted by X/Open), LU6.2, LU 0, 1, 2 and 3, 3270/3770 emulation and support for NetView. It also includes client-server capabilities, with Unix server software runnig core SNA components and Unix, OS/2, MS-DOS and Windows clients running 3270 emulation and SNA applications. The software supports most synchronous communications boards. Users receive object code versions of SNAP-IX pre-built for their chosen Unix hardware, along with services and support. But only large users need apply. The company, which has already dipped its toe into the end-user market with firms such as the Bank of Montreal, Library of Congress, Equitable Life and Safeway, would be happy to win just five to 10 large SNA accounts over the next year. Typical sales are worth around 100,000. The UK company, which does up to 90% of its business in the US, has an office in Vienna, Virginia.
