Microsoft SNA Server for Windows NT—SNA Connectivity Made Easy

Microsoft Corporation

Created: February 2, 1993

Abstract

This article explains how Microsoft® SNA Server for Windows NT® combines client-server architecture with the power and productivity of Windows® to deliver advanced connectivity between LAN workgroups and SNA networks.

Overview

Microsoft SNA Server for Windows NT makes enterprise-wide connectivity easy and economical. SNA Server offers PC users reliable and secure access to IBM host-computing with the familiar user interface of desktop PCs and the flexibility of modern LAN systems.

By employing advanced client-server architecture to distribute the communications processing, SNA Server maximizes the power of your host computers and desktop PCs. Each PC uses the LAN to connect to one or more servers using standard LAN protocols. The servers then provide shared links to host computers using SNA protocols and carry the heaviest workload, thus reducing the storage and processing requirements on desktop PCs. SNA Server offers advanced tools for easy system setup and use, regardless of the client PC operating system, LAN operating system, host connection, or host type.

SNA Server makes access to corporate and government data immersed within today's IBM SNA networks easier than ever before.

SNA Server provides flexible SNA connectivity between LANs and IBM host computers. SNA Server can support multiple concurrent SDLC, X.25 (QLLC), DFT, and 802.2 connections between the server and IBM host systems.

*Macintosh is supported as a “downstream physical unit” through the SNA Server.

Technical Highlights

Glossary

3270 Family of IBM mainframe terminals
3270 EIS The SNA Server 3270 Emulator Interface Specification
3x74 Family of IBM cluster controllers
37xx Family of IBM front-end processors
5250 Family of IBM AS/400® terminals
802.2 IEEE standard data link protocol
API Application Programming Interface
APPC Advanced Program-to-Program Communications
AS/400 Family of IBM minicomputers
C2 U.S. government security standard
CPI-C Common Programming Interface for Communications
CSV Common Service Verbs
DFT Distributed Function Terminal
DSPU Downstream Physical Unit
EHLLAPI Emulator High-Level Language API
ES/9000™ Family of IBM mainframe computers
IPX/SPX Novell’s proprietary LAN protocol
ISV Independent Software Vendor
LEN Low Entry Networking
LU 0 Logical Unit protocol often used in banking environments
LU 1 Old-style 3270 printer protocol
LU 2 3270 display terminal protocol
LU 3 3270 printer protocol
LU 6.2 SNA protocol for peer-to-peer communications
LUA Conventional LU application API
MCA IBM’s Micro Channel® bus architecture
NDIS Microsoft’s Network Device Interface Specification
NetBEUI Standard LAN protocol used by IBM and Microsoft in networking products
NetView® IBM’s network management architecture
PC/AT® Industry-standard bus architecture
PU 2.0 SNA node protocol
PU 2.1 Improved SNA node protocol
QLLC Qualified Logical Link Control
RTM Response-Time Monitor
RUI LUA Request Unit Interface
SAA IBM’s System Application Architecture
SDLC Synchronous Data Link Control
SLI LUA Session Level Interface
SMP Symmetric Multiprocessing
SNA IBM’s Systems Network Architecture
SNADIS SNA Server’s SNA Device Interface Specification
TCP/IP De facto standard LAN protocol
WOSA Windows™ Open Services Architecture
X.25 OSI standard packet switched protocol

Complete IBM SNA connectivity

Advanced Client-Server Architecture

Comprehensive Support for Distributed SNA Applications

Flexible Host Connectivity

Intuitive Setup and Administration

Integration with Windows NT

Full WOSA Compliance

SNA Server provides flexible SNA host connectivity for LAN-connected PCs. For example, an executive of a major U.S. company can work on an important proposal from her hotel room in Boston using sales data from the Finance SQL Server in New York, and production capacities from the Manufacturing AS/400 in Dallas, then process the profit-margin analysis in the Corporate ES/9000 also in Dallas. She can then pull the results to her notebook running Windows and be ready to close the deal next day. She knows that the functionality and the operating environment are exactly the same whether in the office or on the road. The fact that the physical connection goes through Remote Access Service over TCP/IP LAN and WAN, and across a Token-Ring LAN to the IBM host systems does not concern her. The system is fully transparent—to her it is just a click of an icon: “Information at your fingertips”.

3270 display emulation provides PCs running Windows with convenient access to your mission-critical host applications.

Network administrators can monitor the status of multiple servers using the SNA Server’s administration tool, or even “zoom in” on selected connections to view active users, such as those using a Token-Ring connection to the host.

Technical Features

Advanced Server Functionality

Comprehensive NetView support

Applications can take advantage of the EHLLAPI functionality provided by third-party 3270 or 5250 emulators that are supported by SNA Server’s 3270 EIS, or APPC APIs. Advanced LU 6.2 applications can use either CPI-C APIs or APPC APIs. LUA applications can use either LUA/RUI or LUA/SLI APIs. Diagnostic programs can use CSV APIs for API tracing and for NetView connectivity. The open SNA adapter support is provided through the SNADIS interface.

A Solid Client-Server Platform

No matter how your corporate computing environment is set up or what combination of minicomputers, mainframes, and PCs you use, you need a flexible platform that meets your strategic business requirements and makes the most efficient use of your existing resources. Microsoft client-server computing gives you that advantage today, laying a solid foundation for future growth and expansion.

The right information. No matter where your corporate data resides, Microsoft client-server computing solutions help you make it a standard and easily accessible part of your enterprise-wide network, preserving and enhancing your existing investments.

To the right people. Corporate information can be used to gain a competitive advantage only if you can provide easy access to the people who need it. Microsoft client-server computing helps you give people the information they need while maintaining the control you need.

The right way. If users are to make the best use of the wide variety of resources at their disposal, they must have tools on the desktop that hide much of the complexity involved in using them. Client-server computing from Microsoft is tightly integrated with the Windows environment to provide users with the most intuitive way of working with network resources.

Right now. Advanced client-server solutions from Microsoft are available today along with the service, support, and training you need to make client-server computing an integral part of your total computing environment now and for years to come.

The Microsoft Client-Server Product Family

The Microsoft Windows NT operating system provides a reliable platform for powerful desktop and server applications.

Microsoft SQL Server controls mission-critical data while allowing authorized PC users safe access to the database.

Microsoft Mail improves enterprise-wide communications through the rapid and sophisticated sharing of electronic messages.

Microsoft System Management tracks the system’s hardware and software inventory, performs software distribution and installation, and allows central application management of both desktops and servers.

Microsoft Services for Macintosh makes it easy for Macintosh and PC users to share files, printers, and applications.

Microsoft Remote Access Service enables PC users to have access to the corporate network while away from the office.

Microsoft SNA Server provides flexible and reliable connectivity between Microsoft client-server products and IBM host systems.

Microsoft client-server products on the Windows NT platform are compatible with the OS/2 versions of the same products, allowing easy migration and coexistence on the same network.

Specifications

System Requirements

Server running Windows NT:

Client running Windows NT:

Client running Windows for Workgroups:

Client running Windows:

Client running MS-DOS:

OS/2 client:

Macintosh client:

The following companies have endorsed SNA Server WOSA-compliant APIs:

Andrew Corporation, Attachmate, Computer Logics, Data Connection Ltd., DCA, Easel, Eicon Technology, FutureSoft, IBM, ICOT, ICL, Microsoft, MultiSoft, NCR, Novell, NSA, Olivetti, Siemens-Nixdorf, Systems Strategies, and Wall Data.

Supported SNA Communications Adapters

SNADIS driver support is provided for the following adapters in the standard package; support for additional adapters is provided by the adapter manufacturer.

 

Adapter Connection Bus Type
IBM 3278/9 Emulation Adapter DFT PC/AT
IBM 3278/9 Adv. Emul. Adapter DFT PC/AT
IBM MPCA SDLC/X.25 PC/AT
IBM SDLC Adapter SDLC/X.25 PC/AT
IBM 3270 Connection Model A DFT MCA
IBM 3270 Connection Model B DFT MCA
IBM MPA/A SDLC/X.25 MCA
Any Token-Ring or Ethernet adapter supported by Windows NT 802.2 any type

Documentation

SNA Server comes with comprehensive, context-sensitive online Help facilities and a full set of user, administrator, and developer documentation, which provides details about setting up, using, administering, and developing applications for SNA Server.