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SNAP-IX provides features and benefits that range from simplifying configuration and improving problem diagnosis to enhancing network performance.
When upgrading an older version of SNAP-IX to a newer version, you can preserve your present system configuration by using the SNAP-IX migration utilities. The migration utilities support all of the earlier versions of SNAP-IX.
Migration involves converting configuration files from older versions of SNAP-IX into a format that the current version of SNAP-IX can use. The migration procedure is described in detail in SNAP-IX Migration Guide.
SNAP-IX is designed with configuration options and administration facilities that reduce configuration time and network complexity. For example:
The easiest way to define and modify the SNAP-IX configuration is to use the Motif administration program (xsnaadmin). This program provides a graphical user interface from which you can view and manage SNAP-IX resources. It also simplifies configuration by exposing only the fields whose values typically vary from one installation to another, using default values for other fields.
The Motif administration program includes help screens that provide overview information for SNA and SNAP-IX, reference information for SNAP-IX dialogs, and guidance for performing specific tasks.
SNAP-IX also includes a Web Administration program, providing similar functions to the Motif administration program. This allows you to administer SNAP-IX from your browser without the need to start an X session or telnet session to the SNAP-IX server, and is particularly useful when connecting over slow or unreliable links.
Resources can be added, deleted, or modified while the system is running, without having to stop and restart the system.
Configuring a node or network is also made easier through the APPN network's dynamic configuration. For example, APPN end nodes and applications dynamically register configuration data to support LU 6.2 sessions, thus making session configuration optional. Further, by having the node control point act as the default local LU, you can avoid LU 6.2 configuration altogether.
APPN also supports dynamic link station configuration in the absence of configured link stations.
Other configuration and administration methods are discussed in User Interface Choices.
The Motif administration program (see Easy Configuration) is the recommended interface for configuring and managing SNAP-IX. However, you have a choice of interfaces for SNAP-IX, enabling you to work with the one that suits your equipment, needs, or preferences.
The Web Administration program allows you to administer SNAP-IX from your browser without the need to start an X session or telnet session to the SNAP-IX server, and is particularly useful when connecting over slow or unreliable links.
The command-line administration program, snaadmin, can be used to issue commands to manage individual SNAP-IX resources. snaadmin can be used either directly from the Solaris command prompt or from within a shell script.
All SNAP-IX administration tools, including the Motif administration program, the Web administration program, and the command-line administration program, use the NOF API to configure and manage SNAP-IX resources. You can use the NOF API to implement your own administration functions.
Configuration information is stored in a plain text file that can be modified using standard Solaris utilities such as vi, awk, and sed. In a network that contains many machines with similar configurations, an administrator can produce configuration files for all machines by using one configuration file as a template.
Client/server configuration provides the following benefits:
Concentrating SNA resources on servers reduces the load on clients, improving client performance and minimizing the storage needed to provide SNA services to clients.
A single data link can be shared by multiple users on different machines, eliminating the need for each machine to have a physical SNA network connection.
Multiple servers can provide redundant connectivity (for example, by having multiple servers providing access to the same host). Having multiple paths to an SNA resource enables load balancing across the different servers and provides immediate backup in the event that a particular server or link fails.
By using LU pools across multiple servers, the administrator can easily configure and add servers and users.
Having fewer links and PUs for host connectivity reduces the size of the host VTAM definition.
Administration utilities can be used to configure and manage both node resources (for any computer in the domain) and shared resources. The client/server support provided by SNAP-IX administration tools enables transparent administration of all domain resources from any computer in the domain.
SNAP-IX optimizes network speed by using different traffic-management methods that balance traffic flow according to network size.
In APPN networks, SNAP-IX supports automatic network routing (ANR) and intermediate session routing. While intermediate session routing works efficiently for small networks, it degrades the performance of larger ones. ANR can provide faster delivery, especially in large networks.
For larger networks, you can use the connection network option to improve communication efficiency. The connection network option creates a communications path directly between nodes. Using a connection network enables traffic to bypass intermediate network nodes, resulting in faster session establishment.
SNAP-IX also uses adaptive session-level pacing, which automatically adjusts congestion by regulating the rate at which LUs send message units to partner LUs.
SNAP-IX is fully scalable. There are virtually no hard-coded limits in the software; it is limited only by the resources available in the Solaris system (such as memory, CPU speed, link bandwidth, and disk space). If you want to monitor or limit the resource utilization of SNAP-IX, refer to SNAP-IX Administration Command Reference.
With networks becoming more complex and moving to an open architecture, security emerges as a major issue. In SNA networks running SNAP-IX, you can protect your assets by defining various levels of security through configuration and by implementing certain types of links.
LU 6.2 users can define session security to ensure that the proper LUs are engaged in a session, resource security to restrict access to a particular application, and conversation security to deny access to all applications associated with a particular LU. Additional security is possible through data encryption routines.
3270 emulation programs can be restricted by an administrator so that different users have access to different LUs or different features.
SNAP-IX offers the following network management options:
MDS-NMVT can work as a centralized, distributed, or hierarchical management scheme. It is based on a focal point/entry point architecture that gives you a high degree of flexibility.
Focal points are control nodes that manage the network according to the data they collect from entry points (management applications that reside on all other nodes in the network).
In centralized management, a single focal point acts as a control point for the entire network.
In distributed management, several focal points share in managing the network.
In hierarchical management, focal points are nested according to function.
MDS-NMVT can thus be adapted to manage host-mediated, standard APPN, and very large APPN networks.
A NetView operator can use SPCF to issue SNAP-IX configuration and administration commands from the NetView terminal, to control the SNAP-IX node remotely.
A NetView operator can use UCF to issue Solaris commands on the SNAP-IX computer from the NetView terminal.
To help you to maintain reliable system operation, SNAP-IX provides a range of problem-diagnosis tools and display functions.
Problem-diagnosis tools are available to help you during the different stages of configuration and operation. They include the following:
Status and error messages to guide you through configuration routines and system operation
Service logs for collecting network error and failure information
Trace facilities for gathering and formatting detailed problem information
A data collection utility for gathering problem data to provide to service personnel
Display functions provide you with status information about:
LU-LU sessions
APPN intermediate sessions
Active links
APPN topology databases, which store link information
SNAP-IX also includes the Management Services (MS) API, which is used to develop tools for sending and receiving network alerts and problem data.
To support network integration, growth, and change, the SNAP-IXAPIs can be used to develop applications for a particular LU, platform, or operating system as your business needs dictate. CPI-C is an especially important API because it is consistent across different platforms and operating systems. It is used to develop applications that can run on any system.
Enterprise Extender (HPR/IP) also provides a mechanism for integrating SNA and TCP/IP networks.
TN server provides TN3270 users on TCP/IP networks with access to 3270 applications on the host.
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