This book is a concise but comprehensive technical handbook on how to successfully integrate IBM (or compatible) mainframes or AS/400s with Internet technology-based networks--whether they be intranets, the Internet, or business-to-business extranets. It is nonpartisan and vendor-neutral and freely cites, without any bias or prejudice, technology, products, and actual, named case studies from numerous germane vendors. This book was written to help all those who are responsible for ensuring that traditional IBM data centers will continue to play a gainful and pivotal role in the new Internet-dominated world of intranets, e-commerce, remote access across the Internet, Internet call centers, home banking, TCP/IP, extranets, Java, online investment, HTML, and SSL-based security.
Although essentially technical, this book is not restricted to "technocrats." In fact, it can be of considerable interest and use to MIS and networking managers and executives at all levels in corporations that are evaluating how best to empower their traditional data centers by making them i·net-capable--with "i·nets" being a collective term that embraces the Internet, intranets, and extranets. Although primarily geared toward professionals in end-user organizations, the scope and structure of this book are such that it can be of significant value to developers, support staff, and managers of companies on the supply side--that is, enterprises that provide the products and the expertise to integrate data centers with i·nets.
Given its overt data center orientation, echoed by its title, this book is unlikely to be read by somebody who has no experience or interest in mainframes or AS/400s. The typical reader would, at least when pressed, admit to being involved in some capacity with data processing or networking within the so-called IBM (or "Big Blue") world--where the technology, if not the product, has its roots in architectures, methodologies, or concepts fostered by IBM. Although not imperative, it would help if a reader has had some prior exposure to IBM's Systems Network Architecture (SNA), core IBM mainframe software (for example, ACF/VTAM, OS/390), and i·net-related technologies such as Web servers and Java. In addition to a detailed Glossary and a list of Acronyms and Abbreviations, this book strives to describe (at least once) all of the technologies, protocols, and buzzwords that are mentioned within the text so as to ensure that a reader is never left in the dark or in a state of disorientation. What Is Covered?
This book contains detailed technical descriptions of all promising technologies that can be used to integrate mainframes and AS/400s with i·nets. To the best of the author's knowledge, no currently available technologies have been omitted. The technologies described include tn3270(E), 3270-to-HTML conversion, applet-based 3270/5250 emulation, Data Link Switching (DLSw), application servers, user interface rejuvenation, HPR-over-IP, AutoGUIs, AnyNet, and channel-attached mainframe gateways. This wide spectrum of technology covered is divided into five broad categories: access technologies (for example, applet-based terminal emulation); transport technologies (for example, DLSw); rejuvenation techniques (for example, AutoGUI); programmatic solutions (for example, application servers); and network infrastructure (for example, channel-attached gateways).
Chapter 1 is a broad-brush and far-ranging introduction to the whole notion of i·net-based enterprise networking. Following an overall, high-level discourse of all of the pertinent technologies, Chapter 4 concentrates on the transport-related options. Chapter 5 is devoted to terminal-oriented access methodologies. Chapter 6 deals with rejuvenation and the programmatic solutions, with all of the network infrastructure-related topics being covered in Chapter 7. Chapter 2 deals with the transition of SNA networks into SNA-capable i·nets; High Performance Routing, the latest and last incarnation of SNA: its role as a transport scheme in i·nets in the form of HPR-over-IP; and the continuing role of SNA-gateways. Chapter 3 examines how SNA-capable i·nets differ from SNA networks when it comes to security, end-to-end routing, resilience, performance, and congestion control. Chapter 8 sets out to coalesce and consolidate all of the themes and technologies discussed in Chapters 2 to 7, with the help of some particularly illuminating case studies. How Is It Covered?
All of the in-depth technical material appears in Chapters 2 to 7. Chapter 1 serves as a preamble, possibly provocative, justifying the tantalizing technological revolution now at hand. Chapter 8 sets out to prove that this trend is not all theory and that corporations around the world are already benefiting from SNA-capable i·nets.
Each chapter starts off in an introductory mode and gives the reader a high-level overview of what is to be covered in that chapter. Readers who require only a broad-brush outline of the issues involved and the solutions available may find that Chapter 1 and the first few pages of the other chapters together give them that bird's-eye view.
Given this structure, where each chapter starts off with an overview, many topics will appear multiple times within a chapter--typically with incremental levels of detail or refinement. Headings and subheadings are used extensively after the introductory prose to identify and delineate the topics being addressed. Actual case studies--complete with the customer name and adorned with a detailed architectural diagram highlighting all of the pertinent products that constitute the solution--are the highlights of Chapters 4 through 8. In addition, the technical chapters each contain at least a dozen highly detailed figures that illustrate the key topics being discussed, as well as numerous tables that highlight "pros and cons" of a particular approach or summarize all of the major products offering a particular type of solution. Navigating Through This Book
This book, of course, is structured to be read sequentially. If read in such a conventional way, the issues, options, technologies, and solutions will be presented in a systematic step-by-step manner, replete with detailed figures, named case studies, and summary sidebars whenever applicable. It could, however, be used in "reference guide" mode, where the reader pursues a particular technology or theme--for example, using 3270- or 5250-to-HTML conversion to provide public access to SNA applications over the Internet, or the pros and cons of using a channel-attached tn3270(E) server versus using a mainframe-based server. If you intend to use this book as a reference guide, you can use the Index or the Contents' listings as the optimal means of locating the desired topics. As the book contains more than 100 highly annotated, half- to full-page illustrations, it may also be possible to locate certain topics or themes by skimming through the book and looking at the pictures! Each section has a margin note that tries to capture the gist of that section in a few sentences. The contents of this margin note will serve as a good indication of what to expect within that section. Features
The key auxiliary techniques used in this book to facilitate information dissemination are detailed illustrations for every key topic covered, summary tables of pros and cons for each technology described, named case studies, and margin notes in each section that pithily summarize the gist for that section. Value Proposition
This book provides the reader with a nonpartisan, objective, factual, and accurate technical appreciation of how best to integrate traditional data centers with i·nets. In addition to always describing the pros and cons of a given technology, it includes lists of the leading products related to that technology to give the reader a quick start in terms of trying to source that technology. The book also contains more than a dozen case studies from around the world, featuring names such as General Motors, TransWorld Airlines, Del Monte, and Lafayette Life Insurance. These case studies illustrate how major companies are gainfully using the Internet to minimize their remote access costs while simultaneously extending the reach and scope of their data center applications. Supplementary Material
A Bibliography at the end of this book lists other germane books and reference manuals. Online information related to the technologies and solutions described in this book may be found at sna-inets, a Web site maintained by the SNA-Capable i·nets Forum, and at inet-guru, which is the author's personal Web site. For information specific to e-commerce and extranet-based business-to-business transactions, visit ezealous, another Web site maintained by the author. The Last Word
Now you are ready to dive into the contents of this book. For data center professionals, these are challenging times given the i·net-related changes afoot. This book will help you make the transition. It even strives to convey that this transition is bracingly exci
Integrating TCP/IP i·nets with IBM® Data Centers is a focused and comprehensive handbook targeting the integration of IBM and compatible mainframes and AS/400s with Internet technology-based networks--i·nets--including the Internet, intranets, and business-to-business extranets. The book is a valuable resource for those working to ensure that traditional IBM data centers play an integral role in the new Internet-dominated business world.
This book offers an overview of the transition from SNA to SNA-capable i·nets and the role of the latest SNA incarnation--High Performance Routing (HPR). It presents all the major technologies used to integrate SNA systems with TCP/IP: transport technologies, access technologies, user interface rejuvenation, programmatic solutions, and network infrastructure issues and techniques. The author provides detailed descriptions and evaluations of specific products and technologies, with summaries of the pros and cons of each and advice on how they fit into an overall solution. You will find coverage of important topics such as:
* tn3270(E), ip3270, and tn5250
* 3270-to-HTML conversion
* Applet-based 3270/5250 emulation
* Data Link Switching (DLSw)
* Application servers
* User-interface rejuvenation and AutoGUIs
* HPR-over-IP and AnyNet
* Channel-attached mainframe gateways
* Maintaining security
* Securing availability and response time
* Ensuring network management, scalability, and accountability
Real-world case studies of GM, TWA, Del Monte, and Lafayette Life Insurance illustrate how Internet technologies can minimize remote access costs while extending the reach and scope of mission-critical information that resides in mainframe data centers. Numerous figures, topic summary sidebars, and tables summarizing product features give readers quick and easy access to vital information.
Whether you are investigating the topic in general, are in the process of designing a solution, or researching specific technologies, Integrating TCP/IP i·nets with IBM® Data Centers will help you successfully accomplish your goals. 0201309912B04062001
