Billerica, Massachusetts-based personal computer-to-SNA communications specialist IDEA, formerly IDEAssociates Inc, previewed its move into the open systems world last week in Paris, with details of the newest version, 3.0, of its Concert communication processors. Version 3.0 includes four new modules for connecting SNA users to TCP/IP and Ethernet environments, respectively. Concert 3.0 puts us into the Unix business, with TCP/IP host-terminal access, said product marketing director John Doyle at a conference of journalists from around Europe. We now also have twin-ax connection to the AS/400 via Ethernet, which no one else can do; everyone else is obliged to use Token Ring. IDEA acknowledges that it is going after the open systems business because the SNA business is declining, but denies that it is tardy to market with this announcement. Said company founder David Page, Our focus has always been on SNA and corporate business. It’s only been in the last two years that we have really seen Unix move into that market. Up until now we thought it more important to invest in bridging and routing than to invest in Unix connectivity. Doyle adds, Also, the initial Unix machines were more technical in their application. Now we see them right next to AS/400s. Three of the modules are for large system-to-TCP/IP connection. They are: Telnet Client, which connects SNA users to Internet Protocol hosts over a TCP/IP network; Telnet Async Server, providing remote access to SNA and async hosts for async desktops or Telnet clients; and TN3270 Server, which permits SNA host/TN3270 client connection. The fourth module, SNA Over Ethernet, is based on the IEEE 802.2T2 standard for SNA routing on Ethernet local networks. Thus users of local or remote 5250 terminals can use the module to access AS/400s at Ethernet’s 10Mbps data rate.
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