Devices connected by Twinax cables, such as green-screen terminals and high-speed printers, might not have the market sizzle of some other equipment hanging off today's networks, but they're the workhorses of many computer rooms and business applications. SNA is one way to link those devices to an iSeries server in another location, but maintenance of SNA can be complex, and running an SNA network can be expensive, particularly when it requires leased lines to connect Twinax devices in one site to a remote iSeries server.

The BOSaNOVA e-Twin@x Controller provides a way to reduce the complexity and lower costs by eliminating SNA. Instead of SNA, it uses a pure TN5250e TCP/IP connection, thereby providing inexpensive, easy communications. Thus, it's possible to attach Twinax devices to an iSeries server, either locally or remotely over the Internet, with almost plug-and-play simplicity. In addition, the controller offers an interface to Citrix MetaFrame, thereby providing intranet connectivity for PCs and other devices using IP over Twinax.

An e-Twin@x Controller occupies one unit (1U) of a standard 19" rack-mount communications cabinet. Controllers support up to 112 Twinax devices. Some models that support fewer than 112 Twinax devices in their delivered configuration can be upgraded, using software that is applied locally or remotely over the Internet, to permit the attachment of more devices, thereby increasing capacity from eight up to 56 devices.

Connectivity from the e-Twin@x Controller to the network is through a network hub or switch linked to the local office via a standard IP router, making it possible to mix Ethernet and Twinax devices on the same hub.

When used to connect devices to a remote iSeries server over the Internet, the site housing the iSeries server must run SECURIT-e Server. This Java-based server from BOSaNOVA can run on iSeries or any Windows-, UNIX- or Linux-based computer.

Web-Based Configuration

Configuration and management of the controller is performed using a standard Web browser from anywhere on the network.

BOSaNOVA has kept configuration as simple as possible. The name of any device attached to it can be changed on the fly, without the need to restart the controller. New devices—terminals, PCs, or printers—can be added on the fly using a plug-and-play feature. Furthermore, the controller automatically verifies the host connection, including which PTFs are verified for each OS version.

One configuration option allows you to optimize e-Twin@x Controller support for some specialty printers, such as label and barcode printers that often must handle unique printing requirements such as oversized fonts, graphics, and unusual page sizes. When connecting these sorts of devices, you can set a parameter that instructs the host to send a pure data stream to the e-Twin@x Controller. With this parameter set, jobs sent to the printer will use the simplified formatting commands supported by most printer models rather than the original complex commands.

Flexible, Secure, Reliable Connections

In addition to allowing for configuration of the controller, the e-Twin@x Controller dial-up ports can be used to provide connectivity to the Internet. When using dial-up connectivity, the controller can initiate the telephone connection as soon as the first user tries to access the iSeries server.

The controller can connect to two separate ISPs. Using both of these connections simultaneously, in parallel, increases the bandwidth, performance, and reliability of the Internet connection. Additionally, the dial backup feature can be preconfigured to automatically switch from one ISP to a designated backup ISP in the event the primary ISP connection fails.

Because the controllers can be set to automatically recover a session in the event that a router on a frame-relay network disconnects and then reconnects, an e-Twin@x Controller can help compensate for unstable networks. After a connection is restored, the controller will recover the session within a time period defined by the administrator and users can then resume their activities, picking up where they left off, without the need for any other action on their parts.

In addition to improving network reliability, e-Twin@x Controllers can be used to facilitate disaster recovery processes. Should the primary iSeries become unavailable, remote users connected through a controller can be switched to a server at another location using the Internet connection. To help facilitate this recovery process, you can configure an alternate host, where required, for every display and printer session.

When transmitting data over the Internet, privacy and security are always concerns. To address these issues, the e-Twin@x Controller uses industry-standard encryption techniques to secure 5250 traffic that flows from the controller to SECURIT-e Server. SECURIT-e Server then decrypts the data and sends it to the local iSeries server.

Requirements

e-Twin@x Controllers support all SCS and IPDS printers. You can also connect any PC with TDLC emulation and a BOS, IBM, or IBM-compatible ISA emulation card. Almost all Twinax-attached terminals can connect to an e-Twin@x Controller, but some features—such as shared addressing, mouse support, and imaging—are not supported. Supported models include 5251, 5291, 3179-2, 3180, 3196, 3197C, 3197D, 3477, 3476, 3486, and 3487.

The host system must be running on OS/400 V3R2 or higher. The correct PTF must be installed in order to facilitate the device naming and SCS printing functionality. Information on the current PTF requirements is available from BOSaNOVA.

To use the Internet to link sites, the remote site must be connected to a local ISP via either a dial-up account or DSL, broadband, etc. connected directly to the ISP. The site hosting the iSeries server requires a fixed Ethernet LAN connection to the Internet.

If you're searching for an easy and inexpensive way to connect legacy or new Twinax devices to a remote iSeries server, the e-Twin@x Controller is definitely worth a look.

Joel Klebanoff is a consultant, a writer, president of Klebanoff Associates, Inc., a Toronto, Canada-based marketing communications firm, and author of BYTE-ing Satire. Joel has 25 years experience working in IT, first as a programmer/analyst and then as a marketer. He holds a Bachelor of Science in computer science and an MBA, both from the University of Toronto. Contact Joel at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

BOSaNOVA, Inc.
2012 W. Lone Cactus Drive
Phoenix, AZ 85027-9919
USA
Web: www.bosanova.net
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Tel: 866.865.5250

Joel Klebanoff is a consultant, writer, and formerly president of Klebanoff Associates, Inc., a Toronto-based marketing communications firm. He has 30 years' experience in various IT capacities and now specializes in writing articles, white papers, and case studies for IT vendors and publications across North America. Joel is also the author of BYTE-ing Satire, a compilation of a year's worth of his columns. He holds a BS in computer science and an MBA, both from the University of Toronto.

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