SUMMARY: VTM/VTAM->TCP/IP

From: Larry Chin (larry@cch.com)
Date: Tue Aug 18 1992 - 15:47:07 CDT


Once again the list comes through.

-------------------------- Original Question -----------------------------------

Our head office is currently running a number of IBM mainframes and the powers
that be would like to interconnect all the different platforms in the company
to the network of SUNS, currently being used by my department.

Now I assume that VTM/VTAM is to IBM what TCP/IP is to SUN. ( I am a bit of an
IBM dummy here ).

So the question is:

What would we be looking at in terms of cost and equipment to convert from
VTM/VTAM to TCPIP, and are there alternative solutions to replacing VTM/VTAM
with TCP/IP.

Has anyone done this, are there any gotchas.

Any and all replies, experiences, hints as to reading material or contact
people would be greatly appreciated.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Thanks to: John Kilheffer<amp19263@garfield.amp.com>
           aloft!bill (B. Shorter)
           Gregory Higgins <higgins@math.niu.edu>
           Christian Lawrence <cal@soac.bellcore.com>
           era@niwot.scd.ucar.EDU (Ed Arnold)
           peterg@murphy.com (Peter Gutmann)
           Mark.McIntosh@engr.UVic.CA
           Brian K. Dore <BKD@uslvm.usl.edu>
           Chris Keane <chris@rufus.state.COM.AU>
           stern@sunne.East.Sun.COM (Hal Stern - NE Area Systems Engineer)

As you would expect there are many solutions to the problem, plus a couple of
"me too please" replies.

A couple of things were mentioned in more than one reply.Things like getting channel attach boxes to connect to the ethernet, although
these seem to be a bit on the slow side, and of course these must be
accompanied by TCP/IP software see aloft!bill ( B.Shorter ). Althought TCP/IP
is apparently supported on IBM mainframes.

The 5735-FAL and 5735-HAL TCP/IP for VM and MVS systems respectively was also
mentioned a couple of times ( see Brian K. Dore <BKD@uslvm.usl.edu> ).

Another alternative was the use of a gateway, which could be a RS/6000, since
it speaks TCP/IP and would provide the interconnectivity - neat idea if it
does indeed work this way. ( see Gregory Higgins <higgins@math.niu.edu> ).

One reply from Chris Keane <chris@rufus.state.COM.AU> suggested looking into
the possiblity of an ethernet board in the mainframe itself.

I ahave included the text of the replies below.
Thanks to all who took the time to reply. It is much appreciated.

Larry Chin {larry@cch.com} CCH Canadian Ltd.
System Administrator 6 Garamond Court
Research and Development Don Mills, Ontario.
(416) 441-4001 ext. 349 M3C 1Z5

        During a grouse hunt in North Carolina two intrepid sportsmen
were blasting away at a clump of trees near a stone wall. Suddenly a
red-faced country squire popped his head over the wall and shouted,
"Hey, you almost hit my wife."
        "Did I?" cried the hunter, aghast. "Terribly sorry. Have a
shot at mine, over there."



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