Rules of Thumb NetWare SNA Gateway Novell has strived to make the NetWare SNA Gateways reliable, efficient and easy to use. To aid you in configuring the NetWare SNA Gateway for optimal reliability and performance, we asked our engineers what components they would use if they were installing the product. Here's what they said: PROTOCOLS AND ADAPTERS The NetWare SNA Gateway works with the Novell SPX/IPX and the IBM NetBIOS protocols. We recommend using SPX/IPX. We also recommend you that you use personal computers and LAN adapters from the recommended list included in this document, as each has been tested thoroughly with the gateway. COAX CONNECTION A Coax connection supports up to five host sessions. We recommend any personal computer and appropriate LAN adapter from the list in this document. The gateway can operate in nondedicated mode in any workstation on the LAN (to reduce cost). However, when used in nondedicated mode, the gateway is at the mercy of the workstation user and susceptible to rebooting by using . COAXMUX CONNECTION A CoaxMux connection supports 40 host sessions. Use any personal computer and appropriate LAN adapter from the list of tested hardware in this document. Use the Novell CoaxMux Adapter for the host connection. We recommend that the gateway run in dedicated mode for optimal performance and reliability. REMOTE CONNECTION The NetWare SNA Gateway ELS Remote supports up to 16 host sessions and the NetWare SNA Gateway Remote supports up to 128 sessions. For a connection with up to 16 sessions, use a personal computer and appropriate LAN adapter from our recommended list. Use the Novell Synchronous Adapter for a PC bus configuration or the IBM MPA (Multiprotocol Adapter) for a microchannel bus configuration. This gateway configuration may operate in nondedicated mode on any workstation on the LAN (to be more cost effective). However, be aware that when used in nondedicated mode the gateway is at the mercy of the workstation user and susceptible to rebooting by using . We recommend that this gateway be run in dedicated mode. NOTE: When using a microchannel computer and the IBM MPA, IBM recommends that the maximum line speed be no greater than 19.2 Kbps. For connections to an IBM host with up to 128 sessions, the best performer is a 386 based PC and appropriate LAN adapter from our recommended list. Use the Novell Synchronous/V.35 Adapter to operate at speeds up to 64 Kbps or the Synchronous Adapter for speeds up to 19.2 Kbps. These configurations can support up to 97 LAN workstations and 128 host sessions, but for maximum performance configure only for the number of host sessions required. With fewer host sessions supported, more memory and processing power is available to operate the gateway. For optimal performance and reliability, run this gateway in dedicated mode. When used in nondedicated mode, the gateway is at the mercy of the workstation user and susceptible to rebooting by using . TOKEN RING HOST CONNECTION A Token Ring connection supports up to 128 host sessions. This option allows you to connect directly through the IBM host Token Ring interface. The interface can be on a 3174 controller, a 37xx communications processor, or a 9370 host processor. This option is a great way to connect workstations on Token Ring networks or non-Token Ring LANs directly to the IBM Token Ring Interface for a high performance host connection. The best gateway performer for this connection is a 386 based Personal computer and appropriate LAN adapters from our recommended list. We recommend an IBM Token Ring Adapter for the host connection. This configuration can support up to 97 LAN workstations and 128 host sessions, but for maximum performance configure only for the number of host sessions required. With fewer host sessions supported, more memory and processing power is available to operate the gateway. For optimal performance and reliability, run this gateway configuration in dedicated mode. Special performance hint: When connecting Token Ring workstations through the Gateway, use two Token Ring adapters, one to handle the LAN traffic and one to handle the host interface. This configuration will provide optimal performance. Configuration guidelines are as follows: CONFIG.SYS using IBM LAN Support Program 1.1 One Token Ring Card Configuration: DEVICE=DXMC0MOD.SYS 4000XYYYYYYY Two Token Ring Cards:* DEVICE=DXMC0MOD.SYS ,,,4000XYYYYYYY Note: 4000XYYYYYYY refers to the locally administered ring address of the gateway. Please see the NetWare SNA Gateways Administration Guide for details. * Three commas signifies the use of the IBM 16/4MB Token Ring card. Use two commas for the IBM 4MB Token Ring card. Special configuration hint: The NetWare SNA Gateway can connect a non-Token Ring LAN to a token ring connected host by using both a token ring and the appropriate non Token Ring LAN adapter (such as Ethernet) in the Gateway machine. The Token Ring board should be configured as the secondary adapter. AS/400 TOKEN RING CONNECTION An AS/400 Token Ring connection supports up to 64 host sessions. This connection provides LAN connectivity to an IBM AS/400 host computer directly through the IBM Token Ring interface. The recommendations that apply to this connection are described in the previous section, TOKEN RING HOST CONNECTION. In addition, the following guidelines will help you in the installation of the gateway. The NetWare SNA Gateway is supported through the IBM AS/400 3270 Remote Attachment Feature. IBM 3278/79 display and IBM 3287 (LU type 1) printer emulation is supported. Chapter 13 of the "IBM AS/400 Communications User Guide" describes how the capability differs between a 3270 device attached to an AS/400 and a 5250 device in an AS/400 environment. Some of the primary differences are: o The display has the appearance of a 5250 terminal with a 3270 status line. o Certain terminal features, such as the Field Exit key, are not supported. Refer to the NetWare SNA Gateway Administration Guide for more information on these terminal features. o The AS/400 does not support concurrent LU2 (3270 emulation) and LU6.2 (APPC) sessions through a single gateway. o The IBM 5250 API is not supported. Thus, applications written to this API will not be supported. o Additional AS/400 memory may be required to attach the SNA Gateway to the AS/400. Consult your IBM Systems Engineer regarding performance and memory requirements. The following IBM AS/400 applications have been tested with the NetWare SNA Gateway: o IBM OfficeVision/400 o IBM AS/400 Query HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE RECOMMENDATIONS FOR NETWARE SNA GATEWAY PRODUCTS The following is a list of personal computers and LAN adapters that have been tested in the listed environments. We recommend them for use with NetWare SNA Gateways as gateway servers. Each configuration has been tested extensively with SFT NetWare 2.15 and NetWare 386, the IBM PC Local Area Network Program with the listed adapters, and representative user software. At the time of publication we are unable to recommend the use of the Epson Equity 1+ and 3+ as gateway server machines, as each has failed to perform consistently during initial testing. We also do not recommend the use of third party vendor's IPX software such as SmartIPX from Madge Networks, Inc. The SNA Gateway connections tested for a PC bus environment include Coax, Remote, CoaxMux, and Token Ring. The connections tested for a microchannel architecture bus environment include Coax, Remote, and Token Ring. STANDARD TEST BED ENVIRONMENTS Local Area Networks for SPX: SFT NetWare v. 2.15 NetWare 386 v. 3.0/3.1 Local Area Networks for NetBIOS: IBM/MS-DOS 3.3/4.0, or COMPAQ DOS 3.31 was used on all nodes when applicable. IBM LAN Support Program 1.1 CONFIGURATION NOTES The Ethernet IRQ must be changed from 3 to 9 when used with an IBM Multi- protocol Adapter because the Multiprotocol Adapter also uses IRQ 3. Use the Change Configurations option of the System Reference Diskette. When using the IBM LAN Support Program with NetBIOS, a workstation CANNOT be loaded on top of the gateway server. If you are using a VGA card, you may need to verify your memory addresses. 220K of memory must be available on the LAN workstation when using Word 4.0. When you return from a host session while using Word 4.0 in Graphics mode, you must press to regain the Word 4.0 screen. In order to restore a Lotus 1-2-3 Graphics Display after hotkeying back from a host session, enter /s to take you to a DOS prompt. From the DOS prompt, type EXIT. USER SOFTWARE TESTED WITH NETWARE 3270 LAN WORKSTATION SOFTWARE Lotus 1-2-3 NetWorker 2.01 Microsoft Word 4.0 SideKick WordPerfect 5.0/Office NetWare 3270 Send-Receive program with both IND$FILE and NVL$FILE IBM DisplayWrite 4 XCOM 6.2 File Transfer RECOMMENDED HARDWARE FOR PERSONAL COMPUTER BUS ENVIRONMENT Computers ACER 900S1 ACER 910B1 AST 386/33 COMPAQ Systems (all models) {Deskpro 386/25: For remote connections use memory address C0 or C4, as RAM uses B8-C0.} {Deskpro 386s: Memory addresses C0 and C4 cannot be used for gateway configuration. Everex Step 386/33 IBM AT 286 NCR 386-916 NEC Powermate 386/25 Novell 386a Novell 386ae Toshiba 3200 Wyse 386/25 Zenith 386 LAN Adapters 3Com EtherLink 3C505 3Com EtherLink 3C503 ACER Ethernet IBM Token Ring Adapter IBM Token Ring Adapter II IBM Token Ring 16/4 Novell NE-1000 Novell NE-2000 Proteon ProNET Model p1344 RX-Net Standard Microsystems Arcnet 3270 Adapter Boards IBM 3270 Coax Adapter IBM Token Ring Adapter IBM Token Ring Adapter II IBM Token Ring 16/4 Novell Coax Adapter for PC Novell CoaxMux Adapter for PC Novell Synchronous Adapter for PC Novell Synchronous/V.35 Adapter for PC RECOMMENDED HARDWARE FOR EISA BUS ENVIRONMENT Personal COMPAQ SystemPro 386/33 Computers COMPAQ 32-bit Dual Speed LAN Token Ring Adapter RECOMMENDED HARDWARE FOR Microchannel BUS ENVIRONMENT Computers ALR 486/25 PS/2 Model 50 PS/2 Model 50Z PS/2 Model 50SX PS/2 Model 60 PS/2 Model 70A21 PS/2 Model 70E61 PS/2 Model 80 LAN Adapters 3Com Etherlink/MC3C523 IBM Token Ring Adapter /A IBM Token Ring Adapter II/A IBM Token Ring Adapter 16/4/A Novell NE/2 DISPLAY ADAPTERS FOR ALL ENVIRONMENTS Model 3 & 4 Model 5 Ahead Systems VGA Enhancer VGA Yes Ahead Systems EGA Wizard/Deluxe EGA Yes California Computer Systems Supervision No Yes {1} Compaq VGA VGA Yes {2} Genoa Super EGA Hi Res+ 4850-7 EGA No IBM VGA VGA Yes {2} Paradise Auto Switch EGA 350 EGA {3} No Paradise VGA Plus VGA {3} Yes {2} STB Multi RES II EGA No Taxan Advanced EGA 570 Plus EGA No Techmar Graphics VGA VGA No Tseng Labs EVA EGA Yes Tseng Labs Ultra Pac No Yes {1} Vega VGA Video Seven VGA Yes {2} {1} Requires loading of M5MONO before loading the workstation {2} Tested with a NEC MultiSync 3D monitor. Requires loading M5MULTI prior to loading workstation. {3} May give unwanted results if used in conjunction with a mouse driver. MEMORY MANAGEMENT SOLUTIONS For the Gateway > RYBS HICard For the Workstation > Helix Software Connecting/ROOM > SoftLogic Carousel/Ole (NetBIOS only) LAN Adapters Scheduled for Testing Novell NE 2/2 Software Scheduled for Testing Above Software Above Disk GUPTA SQL Gateway/APPC LAN Systems LANSpace Merrill & Bryan Utility Shuttle