by Learning Products Team Commercial Systems Division
The new class of HP e3000 systems has PCI-bus based hardware
architecture. So new drivers must be developed to support new PCI-based
peripheral devices, including a new WAN Sync MUX card.
The WAN Sync MUX product is a combination of hardware, firmware
protocol modules and the host driver with the following features:
WAN connectivity solution for PCI-bus based HP e3000 systems
IBM (SNA) connectivity solution for PCI-bus based HP e3000 systems.
Same interface to LAN/WAN network stacks (e.g., NS TCP/IP) as
exists on HP-PB systems.
Same interface to SNA network stacks (e.g., IMF, APPC, NRJE, etc.)
Software component bundled with FOS and SUBSYS.
PCIWAN Sync MUX add-on adapter card must be ordered separately.
PCI equivalent to HP_PB PSI link product (A5563A)
The PCI WAN Sync MUX requires firmware downloads and has real
on-board processor and memory. The level-2 protocols (SDLC
and LAPB) will be running on the card. This simplifies the driver's
operations.
PCI WAN Sync MUX encompasses the new software driver and new
add-on adapter card that are required to provide WAN and
IBM connectivity
for the new system architecture. It is a distinct and separate product
from HP-PB PSI, which is incompatible with the new architecture.
From a customer perspective, there is no major difference
in how the networking subsystems will operate compared to HP-PB
HP e3000 systems. The change to the underlying hardware architecture
will be basically transparent. Customers currently using NS, TCP/IP,
and SNA products and applications will run their applications the
same as they do on HP-PB (using PSI hardware) systems, only they
will now run over the PCI WAN MUX LAPB and SDLC links respectively.
This approach is fundamental to the HP e3000 PCI
design philosophy: the underlying hardware/architecture changes
should not impact upper layer software products or customer applications,
and should be essentially transparent.
NOTE: Please note that, unlike PSI, Bi-Sync/RJE is not supported
on Sync MUX.
The software component for the new PCI WAN Sync MUX link product
will be bundled into FOS (MPE/iX 7.0 and later) and SUBSYS. The
customer needs to order the hardware (Sync MUX adapter add-on card)
and software (LAP-B or SDLC) separately for their system. This
is the same as HP-PB PSI.
The PCI WAN Sync MUX Add-on Adapter Card has the following features.
Multi-port card (8 ports)
Can support multiple WAN protocols such as HDLC-NRM(SDLC),
HDLC-LAPB (AND x25), HDLC-LAP-D (ISDN), Frame Relay, etc.
"Intelligent" card with on-board memory and downloadable firmware.
Protocols will be running on the card.
Can support running of multiple protocols on different ports at
the same time.
Same adapter card is supported by HP-UX on their N-class servers.
The card is capable of supporting up to 2 Mbps speeds, which
can be configured in NMCONFIG.
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