IBM is to open up its Systems Network Architecture to other vendors, announcing local area networking agreements with Novell Inc, Systems Strategies Inc, Siemens Nixdorf Informationssysteme and Apple Computer Inc. The five vendors have agreed to support Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking, a networking communications protocol that enables compatible hardware to communicate smoothly across a local area network and facilitates easier local area network interconnection. IBM suggested last week that it was to integrate the new protocol into its Systems Networking Architecture (CI No 1,618) and yesterday it confirmed that the protocol will be available on its PS/2 workstations and 3174 controller in an SNA net. The announcement adds to the APPN capabilities that IBM has already implemented on its AS/400 and 3174 machines. Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking enables compatible workstations to communicate transparently as peers across a local area network. At the workstation level, for example, Apple Macintoshes will provide direct connections to PS/2 machines from the Macintosh interface and without the complicated configuration procedures currently required. APPN will even double the traffic speed between two IBM PS/2s. And the protocol supports automated directory services, automatic route selection and automatic reconfiguration. On local area net interconnection, APPN support will enable future NetWare products from Novell to interconnect local networks across a Systems Network Architecture network, without using mainframes to set up the connections. This makes it easier and quicker to interconnect the local networks. With the 3174 controller, APPN will facilitate easier connections between workstations on Token Ring nets with those on other networks and with mainframes. IBM also announced upgrades to its CallPath Services Architecure yesterday, the CallPath CICS/MVS for System 370 and 390 environments and the CallPath Switchserver/2 for PS/2 workstations. The CICS/MVS links 370 and 390 machines with Siemen’s Hicom and IBM’s COM300 PABXs, while the Switchserver/2 provides an interface between the PS/2s and the PABX. Both products are described as handling the functions of an automated call distribution system but more. CallPath will automatically pass on client data to the agent and display it on his PS/2 screen before he picks up the phone. Other networking announcements from IBM include two versions of NetView Distribution Manager – NetView DM/2 for machines under OS/2 and NetView DM Release 3 for host computers running under MVS/SP. The products enable network managers to install and upgrade software on workstations automatically throughout the network, from a server, with DM/2, or a mainframe with DM Release 3.
