SNIPIX: SNA/IP for Unix

Run APPC Client/Server applications under Unix
Communicate with SNA applications on OS/390 and AS/400
Use your IP network for SNA LU6.2 communications

Why do I need SNIPIX?

Almost every organization today is seeking to leverage the internet by implementing client/server applications using Unix technology. For large organizations whose business-critical data is stored on mainframe systems, the problem is how to offer access to this data to the new internet applications. These organizations have typically invested many years in building up a portfolio of mainframe legacy applications software to access their corporate data. While it may be technically possible to upgrade this legacy software to integrate with the new internet technologies, the cost of re-engineering is often prohibitive.

SNIPIX can help solve this problem. By using a technology called SNA/IP, SNIPIX enables your Unix client/server applications to access data stored on a corporate mainframe computer using your existing CICS or AS/400 application software.

What is SNA/IP?

SNA/IP is a technology which allows you to run SNA APPC client/server applications across an IP network. To your application programs, SNA/IP is SNA LU6.2 -- you run the same programs as you would run on a pure SNA network. To the IP network, SNA/IP is TCP/IP -- your routers require no special configuration and they do not need to understand SNA.

Which products implement SNA/IP?

On Unix, SNA/IP is implemented by SNIPIX™ connectivity software from Snipix Technologies. On System/390, AS/400, and OS/2 platforms, SNA/IP is implemented by the IBM AnyNet family of products.

SNIPIX technical details

Application Programming Interface:

CPI-C 2.0 with conformance classes: Conversation, LU6.2, Data Conversion, and Security

Programming languages supported:

C, COBOL, Assembler

Sync level support:

Confirm or None

Host security support:

RACF (or compatible), AS/400

Host requirements:

S/390 requires MVS/ESA or OS/390, TCP/IP, VTAM 4.2 with AnyNet/MVS feature, CICS or APPC/MVS; AS/400 requires OS/400 V3R1 or later; OS/2 requires CM/2 and AnyNet/2 SNA over TCP/IP Gateway for OS/2. Dependent LU support requires an OS/390 host with VTAM V4R3 or above.

Unix requirements:

SNIPIX is available for Linux, SCO OpenServer 5.0, and Solaris 2.6.

Communications protocol:

SNIPIX uses the SNA/IP (SNA LU6.2 over TCP/IP) protocol, defined in the IBM Multiprotocol Transport Networking (MPTN) architecture. Optional dependent LU support (using the DLUR/DLUS feature of VTAM) is available.

Year 2000 compliance:

SNIPIX is fully Y2K compliant.

SNIPIX connectivity scenarios

1. Unix to Unix

     UNIX                                UNIX
     +----------+                        +----------+
     | SNA Appl |                        | SNA Appl |
     +----------+                        +----------+
     | SNIPIX   |                        | SNIPIX   |
     +----------+                        +----------+
          |             TCP/IP                |
          +-----------------------------------+

2. Unix to AS/400

     UNIX                                AS/400
     +----------+                        +------------+
     | SNA Appl |                        | SNA Appl   |
     +----------+                        +------------+
     | SNIPIX   |                        | ANYNET/400 |
     +----------+                        +------------+
          |             TCP/IP                 |
          +------------------------------------+

3. Unix to System/390

                                                SNA NETWORK
     UNIX                   OS/390 or MVS/ESA            +--------+
     +----------+           +------+----------+      +---| MVS/XA |
     | SNA Appl |           | CICS | APPC/MVS |      |   +--------+
     +----------+           +------+----------+  SNA |   +--------+
     | SNIPIX   |           | VTAM ANYNET/MVS |------+---| VM/VSE |
     +----------+           +-----------------+      |   +--------+
          |        TCP/IP            |               |   +--------+
          +--------------------------+               +---| etc... |
                                                         +--------+

4. Unix to SNA network via AnyNet/2 gateway

     UNIX                OS/2                      SNA NETWORK
     +----------+        +----------+                  +----------+
     | SNA Appl |        | CM/2     |              +---| CICS/ESA |
     +----------+        | ANYNET/2 |              |   +----------+
     | SNIPIX   |        | GATEWAY  |              |   +----------+
     +----------+        +----------+              +---| APPC/MVS |
          |       TCP/IP    |    |       SNA       |   +----------+
          +-----------------+    +-----------------+   +----------+
                                                   +---| AS/400   |
                                                   |   +----------+
                                                   |   +----------+
                                                   +---| etc...   |
                                                       +----------+

Installation

For more information, you can browse the quick guide to installing SNIPIX.

™SNIPIX is a trademark of Snipix Technologies Ltd. Other product names mentioned may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective owners.

Last updated 21 Nov 1999