|
DIGITAL DCS90 WAN Communication Controller -- OpenVMS
Version (Europe Only)
Contacts
For VARS, Resellers, and Systems Integrators, contact your distributor
for more information and ordering details.
All others, contact the following:
Europe: Pierre-Yves Nectoux, DTN 887-4194, [33] (0)450094194, AEO
Highlights
* Flexible and cost-effective WAN Communication Controller with two 64
kilobit-per-second
synchronous lines -- Now available on DIGITAL OpenVMS Alpha systems
* Ethernet attached -- Independent of the system's internal bus
* Sharable among workstations connected on the LAN
* Supports all standard WANDD protocols, including HDLC, X.25, and
BISYNC
* Can be programmed to support any user-specific protocol
Product description
The DIGITAL DCS90 WAN Communication Controller is now available on
DIGITAL OpenVMS Alpha systems. This cost-effective controller allows
any system running either the DIGITAL UNIX or OpenVMS operating system
to connect to Wide Area Networks (WANs) through two 64 Kbit-per-second
lines.
The DIGITAL DCS90 controller is independent of the workstation's or
server's internal bus, as it is Ethernet attached. However, the
behavior of the controller is the same as that of a card plugged in a
workstation. Communication between the workstation or server and the
controller is fully transparent. Applications running on the host see
the DCS90 controller as locally connected.
Being connected on the Ethernet, the DIGITAL DCS90 controller becomes
sharable among up to 20 hosts, running either the DIGITAL UNIX or
OpenVMS operating system, connected on the same Ethernet. In addition,
two hosts can simultaneously use one line of the same DIGITAL DCS90
controller.
The DIGITAL DCS90 controller supports all standard protocols available
in the WAN Device Driver
(WANDD), including X.25, HDLC, SDLC, and LAPB as lower level protocols,
and DECnet or TCP/IP as upper layer protocols. It is fully compatible
with any application running above WANDD, and therefore with any other
DIGITAL WAN board (such as DSYT1, DNSES, PBXDI.) In addition, the
controller supports IBM BISYNC protocol. An IBM 2780/3780 emulation
product is also available as an option on the OpenVMS version. Note
that WANDD is part of the layered product CD-ROM.
The DCS90 controller has a programmable interface that allows it to be
adapted to any user's communication needs. Specific protocols can be
implemented either by modifying an existing protocol or developing a
new one.
Benefits
* Software investment protection -- Uses the DIGITAL standard WANDD
software
* Hardware investment protection -- Independent of the connected
systems' internal bus
* Cost effective -- Sharable among up to 20 workstations
* Adaptable -- Can be programmed to meet any specific need
Availability and ordering
The DIGITAL DCS90 WAN Communication Controller, available in Europe
only from DIGITAL and its
business partners, can be ordered now. Shipments of the OpenVMS version
will begin February 15. 1997.
(The DIGITAL UNIX version is currently available.) NOTE: If X.25
protocol is used, an X.25 license must be ordered.
Order No. Description Price
DCS90 OpenVMS Alpha Versions
00-DEPIV-ME DCS90 for OpenVMS for DEChub 90 (1) $3,300
00-DEPIV-xx (2) DCS90 for OpenVMS for standalone use (1) 3,450
2P-VLPIV-AA DCS90 for OpenVMS add-on license for one host 350
DCS90 DIGITAL UNIX Versions
00-DEPIF-ME DCS90 for DIGITAL UNIX for DEChub 90 (1) 3,300
00-DEPIF-xx (2) DCS90 for DIGITAL UNIX for standalone use (1) 3,450
2P-VLPIF-AA DCS90 for DIGITAL UNIX add-on license for one host 350
(1) Includes software on CD-ROM media and a license for one host. An
add-on license must be ordered for any additional hosts.
(2) Replace xx with one of the following country codes: AD = Denmark;
AE = United Kingdom; AI = Italy; AK = Switzerland; AT = Israel; AX =
Central Europe; BJ = India
Resources
Internal
* Notes file -- ANNECY::DCS90
* Information on WANDD -- SPD SP4247 (DIGITAL UNIX), SP4737 (OpenVMS)
* DCS90 information -- AEOBN0::EIC$TN:[DCS90]
___________
DIGITAL, the DIGITAL logo, Alpha, DEChub, DECnet, and OpenVMS are
trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation.
IBM is a registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation.
UNIX is a registered trademark in the United States and other countries
licensed exclusively through X/Open Company, Ltd.
Sales Update January 27, 1997
|
|
DCS90 Most Frequently Asked Questions
Q: WHEN SHOULD I USE A DCS90
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A : The DCS90 can be used everywhere a communication board is needed. It
can even replace existing or past communication boards such as DSYT1,
DNSES....as it is fully compatible. The DCS90 seats over ethernet instead
of being plugged in the system's bus. However, this distinctive feature is
completely transparent to the system.
Q : WHAT ARE THE DIFFERENCES BETWEEN THE EXISTING DIGITAL WAN CARDS
AND THE DCS90 ?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A : The DCS90 has the same behavior as the Digital cards which are plugged
in the Stations and Servers (DNSES, PBXDI...) as it uses the same software
interface (WANDD). The only differences are :
* It is a bus independent solution which allows it to be used
whatever the internal bus is (PCI, EISA, ISA,...) and
whatever the number of slots available on the targeted
system is.
* It is sharable between up to 20 systems. This offers a low
cost way of implementing high availability for connection to
the network.
* Some functionalities have even been added (more protocols
available, programming interfaces available ..)
Q : WHAT IS THE COMPETITION ?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A : The DCS90 competes with the other communication boards supported on
Digital UNIX and OpenVMS.
There is no direct competition from other manufacturers on these operating
systems. However , what we can say is that there is no equivalent concept
(bus independent , sharable cards) in the main competitor's portfolio (SUN,
HP, IBM). This gives to Digital one more competitive advantage when selling
stations or servers to be connected to WAN.
Q : HOW IS THE DCS90 POSITIONED TOWARDS COMMUNICATION SERVERS ?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A : A communication server is a box plugged on Ethernet and offering large
WAN connectivity. However the communication server's concept is different
than the DCS90 one: In a communication server, the software is running on
the communication server itself and thus, an application running on the
system cannot control the communication.
Regarding the DCS90 , the software is running on the system and thus the
application running on this system is controlling the communication. If we
take X.25 as an example , the software used will be the standard X.25
software from Digital. It will run on the host system and will use the
DCS90 as the associated hardware (native mode).
In addition, prices of communication servers are higher than the DCS90
price.
To summarize, the DCS90 has both the advantages of a communication server
(bus independent, sharable, programmable.. ) and the advantages of a board
(price, communication control.. )
One of the main communication server manufacturer is Simpact Associates.
Q : HOW IS THE DCS90 POSITIONED TOWARDS ROUTERS ?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A : The answer given for previous question concerning the control of the
communication applies.
In addition, as indicated in the name, the routers route the protocols. The
DCS90 does not.
Q : WHAT ARE THE PROTOCOLS SUPPORTED BY THE DCS90 ?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
A : The DCS90 supports character oriented protocols, such as Bisync or BSC
or bit oriented protocols such as HDLC, LDLC, LAPB... Upper layer
protocols such as X25, 2780, DECNET, TCP/IP, SNA ... are also supported by the
DCS90. In addition, the DCS90 allows the users to program their specific
protocols though an API compatible with old VAX WANDD API.
|