Wang Laboratories Inc’s InteCom Inc switching systems unit based in Allen, Texas has made several announcements relating to its IBX Integrated Business Exchange, notably the addition of the 5250 InteNet Packet Controller, which provides IBM 5294 controller functionality, enabling ASCII terminal users to access one or more IBM System 36 or 38. The product is based on Wall Data Inc’s DCF II asynchronous – to – synchronous protocol converter and expands an asynchronous network of terminals, printers and personal computers to include otherwise non-compatible IBM computers. It acts as a shared resource and also enables local and remote data users to use IBX features such as modem pooling, Machine Keyboard Origination and data call processing features such as queuing and Abbreviated Dialling. It has 18 ports: one for maintenance, one or two for host computers, and up to 16 asynchronous user ports with port contention via the IBX. Also announced by InteCom is LANmark Private Networking, a method of restricting communications between devices attached to InteCom’s LANmark local net on the IBX, enabling private subnetworking for devices communicating through LANmark Ethernet. Up to 8,000 devices can be sub-networked into up to 100 private nets. And a new release of the IBX software, Release Level V8, adds a 3270 or Ethernet-type LANmark interface for the Flex Interface Multiplexer, which can then support up to 32 analogue Standard Telephone Equipment stations per line card. The IBX system administrator can also program the amount of data traffic – on a percentage basis – to be distributed among Data Trunk Groups which connect to similar information processing resources. No prices were given for any of the new products, which ship later this summer. Separately, InteCom ann ounced that US West Information Systems in Englewood, Colorado would market the IBX in the 14 sparsely populated states that make up its territory, with InteCom pro viding training and support serv ices, and offsets for advertising.
Content from our partners
