Cisco IOS Software for the S/390 Series

Cisco IOS for S/390 is built to support more users concurrently with lower CPU demands than any other host-based TCP/IP implementation. Cisco IOS for S/390 was designed and developed for multiple virtual storage (MVS). The result is that Cisco IOS for S/390 requires fewer host resources to support a greater number of concurrent users. This means increased productivity now, and a longer period of use before hardware upgrades are necessary.

Used in conjunction with Cisco's Channel Interface Processor (CIP), Cisco IOS for S/390 provides nondisruptive, fault-tolerant host access while off-loading CPU-intensive processing.

• FTP client and server

Cisco IOS for S/390 offers the fastest, most efficient FTP implementation available for file transfers to and from MVS systems. ASCII, EBCDIC, and double-byte character translation is supported, and files can be transmitted to and from MVS regardless of data structures. MVS partitioned data sets are handled as directories for interfacing with GUI-based FTP clients.

• TN3270 client and server

Cisco IOS for S/390's TN3270 server gives thousands of users nondisruptive, fault-tolerant access to business applications on the mainframe. In mainframe environments where application availability is a critical factor, the TN3270 server in the Cisco IOS for S/390 can maintain sessions in the event of channel controller or mainframe channel I/O failure. It also uses fewer host resources than competitive host-based TN3270 solutions.

• Standard LPD/LPR print services

Cisco IOS for S/390 provides support for standard LPD and LPR printing services. The LPD server makes MVS print queues available to remote systems using the Berkeley LPD protocol.

• Enterprise print server (optional)

Cisco IOS for S/390 allows MVS users to send print data to TCP/IP network printers via Job Control Language (JCL) and Time Sharing Option (TSO) commands transparently, accepting output destined for Job Entry Subsystem (JES) or a 328X virtual telecommunications access method (VTAM) defined printer, translating the print data and forwarding the print requests to the network printers. It can also accept Logical Unit (LU) 1 and LU3 print data directly from a mainframe application such as Customer Information Control System (CICS) or Information Management System (IMS), and can deliver the data to a TCP/IP node for printing with formatting maintained. TCP/IP users can send print files to Cisco IOS for S/390 using the print commands for their local environments. Cisco IOS for S/390 receives the files and sends them to the JES print queue, where they can be printed on local or remote mainframe printers, or routed to other JES Network Job Entry (NJE) nodes for processing.

• Mainframe cycle off-load using Cisco's Channel Interface Processor (CIP) TCP assist feature

When used in conjunction with Cisco CIP processors using the TCP assist feature, Cisco IOS for S/390 ensures reduced CPU utilization. The Cisco IOS for S/390 off-loads the CPU-intensive portions of the TCP stack to the CIP while maintaining the TCP endpoint on the host.

• Nondisruptive, fault-tolerant host access

When used in conjunction with Cisco CIP processors using the TCP assist feature, Cisco IOS for S/390 ensures fault-tolerant host access. This capability allows recovery if any CIP or host-based router fails. Fault-tolerant host access is maintained, user sessions continue without interruption or delay, and CPU cycles are saved.

• Application programming interfaces for distributed application development

With Cisco IOS for S/390, businesses can develop new client/server applications for MVS platforms, take advantage of third-party software, and continue to run existing applications. Cisco IOS for S/390 provides application programming interfaces (APIs) that enable application-to-application communications, permitting new, distributed applications to interface with TCP/IP.

Cisco IOS for S/390 also includes run-time compatibility with IBM and independent software vendor applications built using OpenEdition or inter-user communication vehicle socket APIs. Also, Cisco IOS for S/390 features compatibility with IBM FTP, which means that scripts, applications, and files containing IBM FTP syntax can be used without modification.

• MVS/ESA, OS/390--any version

• ACF/VTAM 3.1 or later

• OS PL/1 Transient Library 1.5 or later, or LE/370 1.3 or later