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Overview
The
e-Twinax Controller is a hardware and software product
that adds the benefits of a LAN to an existing Twinax
infrastructure. With the BOSaNOVA e-Twinax Controller, users can access
the AS/400 securely over the Internet and use e-mail,
Microsoft Networking, and Lotus Notes on any BOS, IBM, or
IBM-compatible Twinax card connected to any AS/400 running
OS/400 V3R2 or higher. When used as a remote controller, the e-Twinax Controller
replaces the SNA/APPC protocol with the TCP/IP protocol, which
is easy to support, easy to configure, and routable. The e-Twinax Controller
innovative data compression techniques and a faster Twinax
line, due to the 5250 Express protocol, combine with the
built-in segmentation of Twinax topology for a fast,
segmented, and reliable network.
The e-Twinax Controller is the only SNA-free, pure TCP/IP Controller in existence. It moves your twinax network forward in 5 important ways:
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Leverage your investment in
Twinax by supporting all Twinax display stations and printers (both SCS and IPDS), as well as existing cabling with the
e-Twinax Controller.
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Increase network speed with pure TCP/IP protocol--all SNA, AnyNet and MPTN traffic is
eliminated when used as a remote Controller.
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Easy setup and maintainance--supports remote management via a Web browser, saving you valuable technical resources.
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Is routable
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High uptime and disaster recovery
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Controller
Advantages
- Replaces SNA connectivity and Anynet protocol with simple, easy-to-configure TN5250e TCP/IP
- Serves as a secure, low cost connection from your remote branches to the AS/400 using the Internet, saving a fortune in leased line expenses
- Includes a built-in 2- or 6-port* Remote Access Server (RAS), complete with AS/400 client RAS software, built-in firewall and support for RADIUS standards
- Housed in a compact 1 U communications Controller that fits into standard 19" rack-mount communications cabinets
- Provides IP over Twinax connection to a local or remote AS/400, allowing Twinax-attached PCs to benefit from IP applications such as e-Mail, Web browsers and Microsoft Networking, while running up to 5 times faster when used with BOS IP over Twinax drivers
- Supports up to 112 Twinax devices; upgrades to expand the number of devices supported from 8 up to 56, are software-based and can be applied either on-site or remotely, via the Internet
- Provides an interface to Citrix Metaframe supporting Twinax technology or other corporate intranet computing for PCs using IP over Twinax
* Optional
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e-Twinax
Controller as an IP Gateway
The e-Twinax Controller connects to the network using a standard network hub, which is attached to the local office via a standard IP router. Ethernet PCs can be connected to the same network hub as the Controller for mixed Ethernet and Twinax infrastructures.
With the TCP/IP drivers loaded on the PC, the user can take full advantage of the WAN, and
get:
- Support for e-Mail
- Printer and file
sharing on the network
Ability to access and
run Intranet applications
Implementation of
server-centric computing such as Citrix Metaframe
The e-Twinax Controller as an IP gateway with enabled RAS feature.
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Turbocharge
your IP over Twinax Traffic
The e-Twinax Controller
uniquely features IP compression over Twinax, a result of the
fact that BOS manufactures both the client IP
driver and the controller. Powerful IP compression algorithms
compress the data packets that pass across the Twinax network
to the controller, enabling compression ratios of on an
average of 3:1. Once they reach the controller, the packets
are uncompressed and placed on the Ethernet, enabling the
system to use the extra bandwidth supported by the Ethernet
network. When combined with BOS Express cards, this can mean
an increase in throughput of up to 10 times that of a regular
Twinax PC card!
Other performance enhancements of the e-Twinax Controller
include:
Offsetting the extra
CPU overhead on the host caused by using IP over Twinax
Support for maximum
speed of each device on the Twinax line, even in mixed
1MB/2MB environments
Connection to the
AS/400 using the high performance TN5250e protocol
Sample e-Twinax Controller Configuration for Local
Environment, including RAS
Overcome Network Instability and Printing Problems
Dial Backup*
The Dial Backup feature ensures improved uptime for Controllers that are connected to an AS/400 using a LAN connection (via the Internet routers or a separate Frame Relay network). If the LAN connection fails, the Dial Backup provides (via an attached modem) an additional method to connect to the AS/400. Two configurations are available: Always, which provides a simultaneous connection at all times; and "On LAN Failure, which causes the Controller to activate the modem connection only when LAN connectivity failure is detected.
* Optional
Automatic Session Recovery
In the event that a router on a frame-relay network disconnects and then re-connects, users of remote Twinax-attached devices can choose to resume their current session. The e-Twinax Controller can be set to automatically recover the session, within a user-defined time period, ensuring smooth and efficient operations even in cases of network instability.
Customized Object for Specialty Printers
The e-Twinax Controller supports a wide variety of Twinax printers, including label and barcode printers that are often called upon to deal with special printing requirements such as oversized fonts, graphics, and unusual page sizes. A parameter can be set to instruct the host to send a pure data stream through the e-Twinax Controller, allowing it to override the original complex formatting commands with simplified commands that are supported by most printer models, before releasing the job to the destination printer.
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PC
Remote Access
The e-Twinax Controller supports a 2- or 6-port* Remote Access Server (RAS), providing remote PC users with network access in addition to AS/400 access. Remote users can dial in to the e-Twinax Controller and gain access to the network using the RAS. This RAS includes a firewall for restricting access per user to specific IP devices or ports (e.g. one group of users may be allowed access to the AS/400 for display emulation, but not file transfer). The RAS also automatically logs all remote access activity. The RAS component can use the services of any RADIUS server for authentication, if required.
The e-Twinax Controller can connect mixed remote Twinax and
LAN environments using a RAS over a frame relay connection via
routers.
E-mail on Dumb Twinax Terminals
Basic e-mail functionality, known as TwinMailTM, is supported on dumb Twinax terminals. In addition to sending and receiving e-mail, TwinMail includes a personal address book that can be organized according to user-defined preferences.
* Optional
Configuration
and Maintenance with Ease
The e-Twinax Controller is
managed via a standard Web browser, enabling centralized
management of all of the units from anywhere on the network,
or via a modem dialed in to the RAS. Configuration can also be
done using a dumb terminal
attached to any of the ports. The
controller software can also be updated, including expansion
of supported devices and features functions, over the network
or via dial-in. Terminals, PCs or printers can be added to the
controller very simply using a plug-and-play feature in Auto
mode. The device name can be changed at any time, without
restarting the controller. The e-Twinax controller also verifies the
host connection, including which PTFs are installed for each
OS version.
The e-Twinax Controller can be configured, and manage all
devices on the network, via a standard Web browser.
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Support
for APPC Connectivity
Since the e-Twinax Controller is an IP
device that communicates with the AS/400 over a LAN
connection, APPC can be supported using Anynet. The PC Twinax
user simply installs the IP driver, then reconfigures the APPC
software to connect over TCP/IP. For PCs using Client/Server
software that requires E32APPC (the IBM-defined standard for
router interfaces) the router must be configured to use Anynet.
This procedure will restore the APPC connectivity option.
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Secure
Low Cost Connection Using the Internet
The e-Twinax Controller can be
connected to the AS/400 via the Internet, saving you a fortune
in leased line expenses. The
e-Twinax Controller requirements are minimal: at the
local site you need a fixed connection to the Internet and BOS’
Java SECURIT-e ServerTM, which can be run on the
AS/400, and any PC or MiniComputer with a Windows- or
Unix-based operating system. At the remote site you need a
connection to the Internet, either via a dial up account or
using a leased line to a local ISP. 5250 traffic, encrypted
via industry-standard algorithms, flows from the controller to
the Java-based server, then the data is deciphered and sent to
the AS/400. Using this connection method the customer can save
thousands of dollars a year on long-distance leased line
costs. The e-Twinax Controller can initiate the dial-up to the
Internet when the first user tries to access the AS/400. It
also supports numerous, simultaneous connections to multiple
ISPs, allowing increased bandwidth as well as a built-in
fallback when required.
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