Visara LINCS Features - Manual (Page 13)

3 707021-001
2. APPN Network Node
Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) is an enhancement to SNA that supports peer
to peer connections. APPN is appropriate for large SNA customers with multiple mainframes,
those with existing AS/400 APPN based networks who are moving to multi-protocol
networking, and those who wish to replace existing fixed predetermined point-to-point links
with APPN’s path selection scheme. The APPN architecture is an open technology, jointly
developed in an industry consortium called the APPN Implementers’ Workshop (AIW).
MTX is a voting member of the AIW. LINCS’ APPN Network node feature provides routing
and network services to other adjacent Network Nodes, end nodes (EN) and low-entry
networking (LEN) nodes with or without the presence of a local IBM mainframe. LINCS’
APPN consists of the following services:
• Intermediate Session Routing (ISR)
• High Performance Routing (HPR)
• Dependent LU Requester (DLUR)
• Connectivity
• Network Management
• Route Selection:
• Class of Service Definitions (COS)
• Directory Services
• Flexible Network Topology
• Safe Store
LINCS APPN implementation is based on Data Connections Ltd’s SNAP APPN, which was
developed according to Version 2 of IBM’s APPN specification, including many optional APPN
function sets. By adhering to this standard, you can be certain that LINCS nodes will interconnect
to End Nodes and Network Nodes from a wide array of vendors, whose interoperability is
tested and proven at the APPN Implementers Workshop’s Connectathon.
Connectivity
APPN utilizes LINCS’ data link control objects for layer 2 connectivity to adjacent nodes. The
APPN feature can be configured for predefined or dynamic connections to adjacent nodes.
Dynamic connections are limited to LLC, and predefined connections can be any of the
following protocols:
• LLC
• Channel/SNA
• Frame Relay
• SDLC SDLC/DAP
• TCP/IP
• X.25
Predefined circuits are required to support a LEN node.