HP 3000 Manuals

DTC/X.25 XL Network Link [ COMMUNICATOR 3000/XL - REL. 2.0 (A.30.00) ] MPE/iX Communicators
COMMUNICATOR 3000/XL - REL. 2.0 (A.30.00)

DTC/X.25 XL Network Link 

by Marlee Knight 
Business Networks Division 


The Datacommunications and Terminal Controller (DTC)/X.25 XL Network Link
for HP 3000 Series 900 computers is a high performance networking
solution which provides Hewlett-Packard customers with access to public
and private X.25 packet-switching networks.  It features extensive
communications capabilities with remote HP 3000 hosts and asynchronous
Packet-Assembler/Disassembler (PAD) devices.  It also provides a
programmatic interface for software developers needing to access non-HP
devices using X.25.

The DTC/X.25 XL Network Link is part of HP's modular and integrated
communications solution.  For Release 2.0, the same DTC can be used for
multi-system terminal server connectivity provided by the DTC/Terminal
Access product.  Both products require the PC-based OpenView DTC Manager
to centrally control and monitor the 2.0 DTC network functions.  Please
see the "DTC/Terminal Access" Communicator article for more information
on the new DTC asynchronous terminal I/O (TIO) features.

The DTC/X.25 Network Link is designed for any HP 3000 Series 900 customer
who needs to connect to remote systems, terminals, and/or printers.
Customers who have already purchased the Network Services (NS) X.25
3000/XL Server are encouraged to migrate to the DTC/X.25 XL Network Link.

DTC/X.25 XL NETWORK LINK BENEFITS AND FEATURES 

The following paragraphs enumerate the global benefits and features for
the customer provided by this link product.

Extensive Host-to-Host Communications: 

 *  Full support of NS Services (HP 36920A) for communications to remote
    HP 3000 computers across public and private X.25 networks.

 *  Programmatic access to X.25 Level 3 and TCP Level 4 for program
    development of special applications such as HP to non-HP
    communications.

 *  Packet routing and gateway capabilities to IEEE 802.3 or
    point-to-point networks, achieving IP store and forward gateway
    support for higher network transparency.

Cost Effective Terminal-to-Host Communications: 

 *  Cost effective solution for remote PAD terminal and printer access to
    HP 3000 Series 900 computers.

Adherence to Standards: 

 *  Open Systems Interconnect (OSI) layered architecture.

 *  Standard CCITT 1984 and 1980 versions of X.25, X.3/X.28/X.29, and
    Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) TCP/IP protocols.

 *  Full compliance with Defense Data Network (DDN).

High Performance: 

 *  High system connectivity with up to 11 X.25 Network Interfaces (NI)
    and 1024 virtual circuits per HP`3000 Series 900 host.

 *  32 Series 900 hosts can share one DTC/X.25 Network Access card.

 *  Line speeds up to 64 kbps with 256 virtual circuits per card for a
    total of 768 virtual circuits per DTC.

 *  Up to 3 DTC/X.25 Network Access cards are supported per DTC.

 *  Reduced CPU overhead due to X.25 and PAD protocol processing on the
    DTC.

Ease-of-Use: 

 *  Easy to use graphical user interface, based on OpenView Windows (HP
    32048A) for DTC management, providing better efficiency for network
    operators.

High Access Security: 

 *  PAD terminal and X.25 host access security.

DTC/X.25 XL NETWORK LINK COMPONENTS 

The DTC/X.25 XL Network Link refers to a collection of products and
product options which together comprise the X.25 connection and PAD
Support solution for HP 3000 Series 900 systems.  The major components of
the link product are:

 *  DTC/X.25 Network Access (HP2345A #3XX)

 *  X.25 XL System Access (HP36939A)

 *  OpenView DTC Manager (HPD2355A)

DTC/X.25 Network Access 

DTC/X.25 Network Access resides on the DTC and uses the DTC/X.25 Network
Access card to process the X.25 protocols of the DTC/X.25 Network Access
software.  The software is downloaded to the DTC across the IEEE 802.3
Local Area Network from the OpenView DTC Manager, which controls the
entire DTC from a HP OpenView Windows Workstation.

In a standalone mode (without X.25 XL System Access), the DTC/X.25
Network Access provides PAD Support.  In this way, it provides a
cost-effective Series 900 host access to remote X.3/X.28/X.29 PAD users.
PAD Support on the host is part of Release 2.0 Terminal I/O (TIO)
Subsystem which is contained in the Fundamental Operating System (FOS)
and supports the same new TIO features of nailed and non-nailed devices.
The supported PAD terminal type is 24.  The supported PAD printer types
are 18 and 26.  These types provide for compatiblity with and a smooth
migration from MPE V/E usage.  The DTC/X.25 Network Access provides the
following PAD Support features:

 *  PAD support functionality for access from remote public and private
    PAD terminals and to PAD printers.

 *  Support for character mode and VPLUS block mode applications.

 *  Direct or switched access to any configured Local Area Network (LAN)
    based Series 900.

 *  Configurable outbound access security lists.

 *  Maximum of 256 PAD connections per DTC/X.25 Network Access Card.

When used in conjunction with the X.25 XL System Access (HP36939A) and NS
Services, it features extensive host-to-host communications across X.25
public and private packet-switching networks.  Some features are:

 *  Switching capability for up to 32 LAN based Series 900 systems over
    the same DTC/X.25 Network Access Card.

 *  Local User Group configured security table to filter inbound and
    outbound X.25 calls from or to the Series 900 systems on the LAN.

X.25 XL System Access 

X.25 XL System Access is a software product that resides on the HP 3000
Series 900 computer.  It implements DARPA TCP/IP at layers 3 and 4 of the
OSI reference model.  It also interfaces with X.25 layer 3 of the
DTC/X.25 XL Network Link software across the IEEE 802.3 LAN. The X.25 XL
System Access is not an X.25 protocol implementation but simply provides
an X.25 addressing and facility interface between the HP 3000 Series 900
system and the DTC. The X.25 XL System Access provides the following
features:

 *  One X.25 NI per DTC/X.25 Network Access card.

 *  One IP address per X.25 NI.

 *  Up to 11 X.25 NIs configured per Series 900 host.

 *  Up to 1024 reachable nodes per NI.

 *  Supports up to 256 virtual circuits per NI.

 *  Support of NS 3000/XL Network Services (HP36920A).

 *  Supports 1984 Essential User Facilities.

 *  Supports 1984 Non-Essential User Facilities through Level 3 Access.

OpenView DTC Manager 

The OpenView DTC Manager controls both the DTC/Terminal Access software
and the DTC/X.25 Network Access Software.  For the DTC/X.25 Network
Access to function, the corresponding software and configuration files as
defined by the OpenView DTC Manager are downloaded to the DTC hardware.
Network operation can begin when the X.25 protocol and PAD access
software is activated.  The OpenView DTC Manager provides the following
features:

 *  OpenView Windows user interface to present network information in a
    graphic, easy-to-read format.

 *  PC-based network management functions:  configure, control, monitor,
    and diagnose DTCs on the network.

 *  Remote DTC management via a serial modem dial-up link to the remote
    OpenView DTC manager.
MPE/iX Communicators