Blue Bell, Pennsylvania-based Unisys Corp inherited from Sperry Corp one of the most complete third party implementations of IBM Corp’s Systems Network Architecture available and the company has enhanced it further with SNA/net 4R1. SNA/net runs on the Unisys DCP Distributed Communications Processor family and supports 2200 Series mainframes and multivendor SNA networks. The new release adds the functions and protocols of IBM’s SNA Physical Unit Types 2, 2.1, 4 and 5 for Unisys DCPs, enabling host-independent communications among users connected to an SNA network. The new NT 2.1 feature introduced in Unisys SNA/net 4R1 enables users to take advantage of the trend in SNA networks toward peer-to-peer communications without IBM host involvement for session control. Unisys 1100 and 2200, IBM AS/400 and System/36 networked through a Unisys DCP can now use Logical Unit 6.2 protocols to communicate on a peer-to-peer basis with other PU Type 2.1 nodes attached to the DCP or with other nodes in the SNA network. A Configured Routing capability enables the Unisys DCP running SNA/net NT 2.1 to act as a router for message flow among PU Type 2.1 devices connected to it. An IBM host using this connection can have access to Unisys 1100 or 2200 mainframes via an LU 6.2 session. Unisys SNA/net NT 2.1 will also enable PU 2.1 devices connected to a DCP to access IBM hosts via an SDLC link from the Unisys DCP to the IBM 3745 communications processor, enabling LU 6.2 peer-to-peer functions between the IBM host and the PU 2.1 device. The new release supports a session to IBM’s NetView using the NetView Terminal Access Feature. SNA/net and other DCP products generate Critical Event Notification Logs which can be sent on this session to NetView where they are automatically logged and can be processed by an operator. A new Terminal Operator Menu Facility presents end-users with easily understood menus for Unisys UTS and IBM 3270 terminal access to both Unisys and IBM SNA destinations. A new printer-sharing feature emulates the IBM printer sharing process for outbound open requests from Unisys 2200 systems. Once a printer becomes available, the session will be established automatically. The DCP can simultaneously support Unisys, SNA, Open Systems Interconnection, TCP/IP and other protocols. The SNA/net 4R1 product features are unbundled so users can choose specific communications and emulation functionality such as PU Type 5, PU Type 2 and PU Type 2.1. All if which raises the question – if the DCPs are that good, which as far as one can judge, they are, why are they still confined to OS 1100 users, why aren’t they supported by the Master Control Program from the Burroughs mainframe side of the house too? Prices depend on DCP model used; optional feature prices go from $16,428 to $46,937 for the PU Type 5 CDRM feature; $5,145 to $14,700 for the NT 2.1 feature; $2,966 to $8,474 for the PU Type 2 feature, $4,645 to $13,273 for the Terminal Connect feature. The SNA/net Base feature is a prerequisite for all: it is priced from $3,595 to $10,273.
