Gateway Communications Inc of Irvine, California, has introduced IBM NetBIOS-based versions of its G/X25 Gateway and G/SNA Gateway wide-area networking products. Both new gateways create session transport protocols in an IBM-standard NetBIOS environment to provide shared network access to communications facilities. The synchronous gateways support multi-user access from any IBM NetBIOS-based local-area network to a variety of mainframes, minicomputers, personal computers and public data networks. They incorporate both NetBIOS and NetWare IPX interfaces in the package so that they can be used with any network operating system that accommodates the two interfaces. The G/X25 Gateway features 20 terminal emulations, including DEC VT52, VT100 and VT220; IBM 3101; Televideo 950; glass Teletype; Data General 200, 410 and 6053; Hewlett-Packard 2622A; NCR 7901; ADDS 60 and Viewpoint; Honeywell VIP7205 and VIP7801; Tandem 6530; Alpha Micro AM62; Hazeltine 1500; Datapoint 8220; and Zenith Z19. Users on any Novell NetWare- or IBM NetBIOS-compatible local net can use it to link to remote machines over public or private packet networks. It implements X25 at up to 19.2Kbps and supports 32 virtual circuits over each of two communications ports, for a total of 64 circuits. It consists of a microprocessor-based communications controller card to go into an expansion slot in a networked or stand-alone MS-DOS micro designated as the communications server. Communications tasks for the two ports on the card are processed by an on-board microprocessor with 64Kb memory, so that the communications server machine can be used for other things while its communicating. It costs $1,695. The G/SNA Gateway features 3270 and 3770 terminal emulation, accommodating up to four simultaneous host sessions in any MS-DOS micro on the local net. Up to 32 simultaneous sessions per G/SNA Gateway module are supported. G/SNA Gateway also provides special hot key access to local workstation applications. File transfers and other special tasks are performed via pull-down menus, with redefinable function keys. It comes as a board that can go into any machine on the local net, and runs at up to 56Kbps. The on-board microprocessor is a 512Kb 80186, and it handles all SNA gateway tasks. As usual, SNA is more expensive than X25, and the board and associated software are offered for $2,580.
