Controller enables NCP operation in Linux environment.
Press Release Summary:
Communication Controller for Linux(TM) on zSeries® enables Network Control Program (NCP) software to run in new hardware environment. Providing migration path for those who use traditional Systems Network Architecture to communicate, software helps simplify networks and move toward on-demand environment where IP network infrastructure is necessary. It also enables use of Ethernet in place of token ring and ESCON® channel attached hardware.
Original Press Release:
IBM Communication Controller for Linux on zSeries V1.1 Enables NCP for Operation in the Linux Environment
Overview
Many companies are looking at Systems Network Architecture (SNA) migration strategies. They want to:
· Simplify their networks and move toward an on demand environment where an IP network infrastructure is a necessity
· Move off of limited networking connectivity hardware and be able to take advantage of new technology
· Help preserve their investment in their SNA application portfolio and continue to use these reliable solutions
IBM Communication Controller for Linux(TM) on zSeries® supports all of these requirements.
Communication Controller for Linux on zSeries enables the Network Control Program (NCP) software product to run in a new hardware environment. Communication Controller for Linux is software that emulates the IBM 3745 Communication Controller hardware. It runs in Linux on zSeries and NCP runs on top of it. The intent is to provide a migration path for customers who use traditional SNA, including SNA Network Interconnect (SNI), to communicate with their Business Partners. This solution can allow them to continue using some traditional SNA functions without a dependency on the 37xx hardware. The 37xx Communication Controllers are legacy hardware boxes which serve as front-end processors in a SNA network node. The 37xx products have been available worldwide for many years and are in use by many customers. The Communication Controller for Linux on zSeries product will emulate some of the 3745 function.
Communication Controller for Linux on zSeries was developed specifically as a migration path from 37xx Communication Controller hardware. IBM announced the discontinuance of marketing for the 37xx family of products in 2002, but many customers still depend on this hardware and the NCP software that runs in the 37xx for business-critical functions. The new Communication Controller for Linux on zSeries is not a new hardware product, but rather a virtualized communication controller that runs on an IBM zSeries machine running the Linux operating system. The result is the integration of legacy mission-critical communications with the leading-edge Linux on zSeries servers. You can continue to use the mature and stable SNA software you've come to depend on - NCP and SNA applications - but can now also take advantage of the openness of Linux and the security, scalability, and business resiliency of the zSeries.
In stark comparison to many other SNA migration strategies, a focus of the new Communication Controller for Linux on zSeries is ease of migration. The NCP product itself is unchanged. Moving NCP from the 37xx hardware into Linux on zSeries requires minimal definition changes, if any. The NCP functions supported include SNA Network Interconnection, used for inter-enterprise connectivity, particularly for business partner connections. Another advantage of this new solution is that there is no dependency on business partner coordination; one side of the SNA Network Interconnection (SNI) connection may move to the new Communication Controller for Linux independent of any changes on the other side of the connection. Boundary function support is also included and availability functions such as SSCP Takeover and Extended Recovery Facility will work as they do today.
At a glance
Communication Controller for Linux on zSeries:
· Consolidates function from the 37xx Communication Controller into Linux on zSeries
· Provides ease of migration of stable NCP software with minimal definition changes
· Enables use of Ethernet in place of token ring and ESCON® channel attached hardware
· Helps promotes infrastructure simplification, moving SNA technology and skills to the zSeries
· Supports consolidation of infrastructure to an IP-based on demand environment
· Helps preserves investment in critical SNA applications
· Relieves the requirement for coordinated migration throughout the network or on the part of business partners required by other migration solutions
· Can provide advantages of Linux on zSeries such as scalability for workload balancing and duplication for high availability
· Supports the use of Integrated Facility for Linux (IFL) and its features
Moving these NCP functions into the zSeries can allow the SNA network to continue to consolidate into the server, which allows z/OS® applications and SNA to be tightly integrated with NCP, taking you another step toward network simplification while helping to extend the life of your critical SNA applications.
