microsoft SNA server is used for what?

[abc]

I've seen it deployed as a double server, I suppose for redundancy, and it looks like it hosts sessions to connect from your site to some other outside entity.

anyone can shed some light on this for me, and has SNA been superceded by something else?


Thanks alot.

 

[ScottMac]

It's a protocol gateway.

Usually it allows connection to an SNA host (i.e., Mainframe). The Host side could be an SDLC serial card to a sync modem (or other type of connection ... Token Ring, Ethernet, whatever .... but running SNA / NETBIOS / whatever).

The client side could provide emulated host sessions via TN3270 or other client terminal software.

To the Host, it (usually) looks like a remote controller (~3278/9).

Attachmate was also very popular in this arena, but I haven't looked in a long, long time.

FWIW

Scott

 

[abc]

ah yes, attachmate i do remember that name... good call scott.

does sna itself stand for anything...


You're right, connections to mainframes, like ADP stuff, used by backoffice staff in say a bank/

 

[ScottMac]

The DEC guys used to call it "Silly Networking Attempt."

IBM had a different idea. Google is your friend

FWIW

Scott

 

[rudeguy]

anyone else lost?

 

[FoBoT]

Originally posted by: GoodDad
anyone else lost?

something about a microsoft server that can talk to a mainframe

 

[rudeguy]

Originally posted by: FoBoT

Originally posted by: GoodDad
anyone else lost?

something about a microsoft server that can talk to a mainframe

a microsoft server that talks to an AT member?


cool!

 

[abc]

i dont believe Microsoft still makes SNA server software?

 

[ScottMac]

For those poor lost souls:

Mainframes talk to terminals (or PCs emulating terminals). back in the day, they talked to terminals through a controller ... the controller at the remote end (like a 3274) talked to the terminals (the terminal's model number was usually a 3278 or 3279).

A company (IRMA was very popular) made emulation boards so the PCs could look like 3270-style terminals. IRMA also came out with emulation hardware and software to make a PC look like a controller, then some client software to talk to the emulated controller.

It was popular, so Microsoft did it too ... the Microsoft SNA Server.

Here's the Microsoft links:

MS SNA Server

Now you don't even need the emulatior hardware, you can use TN3270 (Telnet that uses the 3270 control codes).

So there ya go.

FWIW

Scott

 

[abc]

scott, you da man... thanks for the link...


when you say 'now'... you don't mean like since 'last year'.... do ya.


Scott, IRMA made boards that were supposed to be installed into a PC isa slot, so that it can look like a dumb terminal when connecting to a mainframe?


and... I see, so Microsoft, yet again copied somebody else, and made the SNA server, which, after installed on a Windows machine, makes that machine look like a controller...

 

[abc]

scott, you da man... thanks for the link...


when you say 'now'... you don't mean like since 'last year'.... do ya.


Scott, IRMA made boards that were supposed to be installed into a PC isa slot, so that it can look like a dumb terminal when connecting to a mainframe?


and... I see, so Microsoft, yet again copied somebody else, and made the SNA server, which, after installed on a Windows machine, makes that machine look like a controller...

 

[ScottMac]

Yeah, IRMA / Attachmate boards (with the included client software) made the PC look like a coax-connected 3278/79 terminal. The earlier generations were DOS based (i.e., no GUI window) and operated @ full screen. 3278/9 keyboards also had different keyboard layouts ... those were also emulated (like, Enter keys in the lower corners of the key field).

Yes ... TN3270 is still used (we have some mainframe apps that use TN3270 at work).

There is (and was) also a similar product for 5250 style terminals (used for System 34/36/38 / AS400 Minis) .... and also a TN5250 product available.

You could (can?) get 2740/3740 RJE (Remote Job Entry / Batch) hardware / software too.

One of the main differences between a 3270 terminal and an ASCII terminal (DEC VT100, Hazeltine, Televideo, Beehive ... - and a jillion others -) is that the ASCII terminals are character-based; one character at a time is sent ... whereas the 3270 / MF style terminals sent a "block" of text at a time (fill in the screen, then send it - roughly 512 characters per block).

IRMAs / Attachmate client kits were upwards of US$1000.00 each at the top of their popularity. Gateway hardware / software was ~ couple thousands of dollars, depending on the numbers of terminals / clients supported. I never worked with MS SNA Server. Word on the street was it just sucked so bad you'd be foolish NOT to use something from Irma or Attachmate (and some others).

So much for "The Good 'ol Days" ...

FWIW

Scott