INTERFACING IBM MICROCOMPUTERS AND SAS SOFTWARE E. Jeffrey Hutchinson . . Avco Lycoming Division Karin P. Hutchinson ...... General Dynamics
ABSTRACT MICROCOMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS What happens when you mix 10% IBM PC, With the IBM 30B1K mainframe acting as 30% IBM PCjXT, 10% IBM PC AT, 40% IBM the central processor, AVCO LYCOMING 3270 PC and 10% COMPAQ PLUS portable runs an intensive and powerful computer computers with SAS Software? If done environment (Figure 1). Employees of properly, you will obtain the most AVCO LYCOMING have a wide selection to powerful brew currently available. pick from when accessing the mainframe via microcomputers (Figure 2). Access As a case study this paper will cover methods include coaxial communications the installation of over 100 IBM or via IBM 3270PC, IRMA or FORTE emUlation compatible microcomputers in a corporate boards; dial-up asynchronous environment. Topics to be covered communications via SMARTCOM, CROSSTALK, include: OR SYMPHONY; dial-up bisynchronous communications using IBM's SNA/SDLC 1). Hardware and software package, and electronic mail configurations capabilities via ONTIME and EASYLINK. 2). Communications between the Also, reviews of dial-up asynchronous mainframe and the microcomputers 327x emUlation using packages such as 3). Problem areas to watch out for CXI's emUlation is taking place. 4). A review of a successful SAS Software application. COAXIAL COMMUNICATIONS The microcomputer hardware that will be In the coaxial environment (Figure 3) covered includes the IBM PC/XT, IBM PC users may select either IBM 3270 PC's or AT, IBM 3270 PC, and the COMPAQ PLUS. other microcomputers equipped with FORTE or IRMA boards. Coaxial users are required to be located near a IBM 3274 AVCO LYCOMING CORPORATE AND COMPUTER controller, although this does give them ENVIRONMENT channel speed communications and high-speed intelligent file transfer. Aveo LYCOMING is a division of the Also supported is full screen (IBM 3278) FORTUNE 50 TEXTRON corporation. emUlation with all of SAS software Headquartered in stratford, Connecticut, especially SAS/FSP Software and IBM's AVCO LYCOMING is a manufacturer of ISPF. As an additional feature, the turbine engines for both military and 3270PC and FORTE board provides (IBM commercial markets. Current 3279 S3G) graphics emUlation allowing applications of its engines include the usage of BAS/GRAPH SoftWare. General Dynamics' Ml tank, the fixed wing British Aerospace BAe 146 quiet jet The fastest growing use of coaxial commuter, helicopters such as the Boeing microcomputer communication is the IBM Vertol CHINOOK, and futuristics 3270PC. AVCO LYCOMING is currently applications such as LCAC landing replacing its 3279 B03 & S3G terminals crafts. with this workstation. In addition to traditional microcomputer capability the AVCO LYCOMING has two major IBM 3270PC provides up to 4 consecutive manufacturing plants located in host sessions, 2 notepads, and 1 Stratford, Connecticut and Greer, South microcomputer session all running Carolina. In addition, there are concurrently. It also includes all 3279 Maintenance Operation Centers (MOC) and capabilities wit!l the exception of the marketing and field support centers test mode. located throughout the world. There are minor problems associated with Running under a centralized computer the coaxial communications. The IRMA environment, the heart of the computer board doe.s not support mainframe power lies with an IBM 308lK located in graphics, and although the FORTE board Stratford. This 30B1K is running under does, it can cost three times more. The MVS/XA, with IMS, CICS, and TSO/ISPF FORTE board when used with IBM RGB operating environments. Major user monitors causes a slight flicker which orientated software packages include SAS can be resolved by installing a higher Software, RAMIS II, ISSCO Software, resolution monitor. The 3270PC also has Interactive Chart Utility, SIMPLAN, and drawbacks; it requires usage of the IBM GDDM 4. latest releases of SAS Software, lacks
638 additional ports for expansion, is based COMPAQ PLUS, microcomputers, with on the IBM PC/XT instead of the IBM PC internal hard drives, and EPSON or IBM AT, distorts PC graphics, requires a dot matrix printers. Purchasing is done specialized controller software (IBM either locally or through VPA agreements 3274), and should be used with GDDM 4. with IBM. All equipment is given on-site maintenance support, some loaned DIAL-UP COMMUNICATIONS equipment is necessary to augument the existing base. Software for the In the dial-up environment (Figure 4) equipment includes DOS 2.1 or 3.0, users may access the host by several SYMPHONY, dBASEIII, and either MULTIMATE methods. TTY 1200 baud asynchronous or WORDSTAR. optional software could communications can take place with include WORDSTAR 2000, and MICROSOFT packages such as the HAYES internal FORTRAN OR COBOL. Optional Hardware Smart com II modem. Communications error could include Polaroid Palette, IBM checking speed is limited to 1200 baud color dot matrix printer, HP 4 or 6 pen and low-speed screen dump file transfer plotters, HP LASERJET or THINKJET is available. Full screen emulation and printers, NEC letter quality printers, main frame graphics capabilities are not IRMA or FORTE 327x emulation boards, and supported. This limits you to using Base IBM SNA/SDLC communication packages with SAS Software and packages that require CODEX modems. The following sections using options similar to SAS/GRAPH or presents a detailed hardware SAS/FSP Software. AVCO LYCOMING is configuration of equipment currently currently reviewing asynchronous being installed. emulation packages and protocols to resolve these limitations. IBM PC(XT Access is also available through dial-up Current new purchases of IBM PC/XT are SNA communications using IBM's SNA/SDLC limited to overseas installations, where package and the CODEX bicynchronous IBM PC AT's are not available or modem. The major advantages of this is practical. Normally the IBM PC/XT is higher speed communications (2400-4800 configured with 640K ram, ten megabyte baud), full screen emulations (SAS/FSP internal harddrive, IBM RGB color Software), and improved file transfer monitor with graphics, QUADRAM capability. The unit acts as a Remote multifunction boards, Hayes Smartcom II Job Entry (RJE) or 3278 terminal. internal moqems, and EPSON FX-IOO+ dot matrix printers. ELECTRONIC MAIL COMMUNICATIONS In the Electronic Mail environment IBM PC AT (Figure 5) AVCO LYCOMING uses two major electronic mail packages; ONTIME and The current standard stand alone EASYLINK. communications with these microcomputer is the IBM PC AT enhanced, packages is asynchronous at 300 - 2400 with 640K ram, 20 megabyte internal hard baud rates, with file transfer screen drive, IBM RGB color monitor with dump capabilities. The major advantage graphics, Hayes Smart com II internal is the short transmission distance from modems, and EPSON FX-lOO+ dot matrix your microcomputer to their local nodes printers. which are located throughout the world. Our selection of these packages was COMPAO PLUS based on two specialized needs. The first was the need for electronic mail When transportability is needed, and some type of TELEX or TWX emulation normally a COMPAQ PLUS is installed. which EASYLINK supplies us. The second The unit is configured with 640K ram, was easy electronic mail capability with ten megabyte internal hard drive, our overseas's offices which ONTIME QUADRAM multifunction boards, Hayes provides. Although this does not provide Smart com II internal modems, and EPSON direct communication with our host FX-80 dot matrix printers. computer, SAS SoftWare produces report output which can be sent to the field, IBM 3270PC modified, and re-transmitted back to Stratford. The current standard coaxial microcomputer is the IBM 3270PC. AVCO MICRO COMPUTER SELECTION LYCOMING currently has standardized on AND STANDARDIZATION the 3270PC model 6, which includes, 640K of ram, 10 megabyte internal hard drive, Over two years ago AVCO LYCOMING IBM color monitor, All Points selected IBM or IBM compatible computers Addressable (APA) PC graphics board, as the standard for the division. Based program symbols board for mainframe on AVCO LYCOMING's experience most new graphics, 3270 PC control program, and microcomputers installations include IBM IBM dot matrix printers. AT, IBM XT, IBM 3270PC model 6, or
639 SAS SOFTWARE - MICROCOMPUTER APPLICATION microcomputer could be done quickly and easily with the IBM 3270PC file transfer Aveo LYCOMING has developed several program_ Once the data was in a format applications using SAS software and LOTUS 1-2-3 could understand, loading it microcomputers to save many hours of into LOTUS 1-2-3 via the IMPORT command work. One of the major advantages of SAS was used. A problem remained in Software is it's ability to reformat or converting the file structure to one produce output in many different LOTUS 1-2-3 could recognize. This was formats. One example is the following: resolved using SAS Software. !. The Cost Accounting Department had data LOTUS 1-2-3, SYMPHONY, DBASE II, and located on the IBM mainframe computer. DBASE III will recognize delimited data They, like many other departments were for loading purposes. This means that also using microcomputers and had the data should have a delimiter such as partial data in a LOTUS 1-2-3 a comma between each field, and spreadsheet. They needed to take an alphanumeric data should be enclosed in extract of the mainframe database (flat quotations. Since SAS SoftWare allows file), convert it to a layout that LOTUS you to format data as needed this task 1-2-3 could understand, transfer it to a can be accomplished by creating a DATA microcomputer and load it into LOTUS STEP, INPuTing the data, and PUTing the 1-2-3 so that they could perform data back out with the delineators. The spreadsheet analysis off-site_ following are examples of the file extract, the SAS Software code, and the Most of the steps, although tedious, resulting file that would be read into were easy. Transfer of data to the LOTUS I-2-3. EXAMPLE OF INPUT DATA
I2345HUTCHINSON,KARIN P. GENERAL DYNAMICS 230IOIB5 22222SMITH,I. R. PSA 22020I85 33222TOPPING, Y. LLOYD US ARMY 2I030IB5 69696TAYLOR, DONALD A. BAE 22040IB5
EXAMPLE OF SAS SOFTWARE DATA STEP
DATA SUGIB5; INPUT @OI ACCOUNT 5.0 @06 VEN NAME $25. @3I COMPANY $IB. @49 CODE 2.0 @5I INV_MM $2. @53 INV_DD $2. @55 INV_YY $2.; INV_DATE = INV_MMII '/'1 IINV_DDI 1 '/'IIINV_YY; FILE PRINT; PUT @OI ACCOUNT @06 ','" @OB VEN_NAME @33 '",''' @36 COMPANY @54 ''',' @56 CODE @58 ','" @60 INV_DATE @68 ''''; CARDS;
EXAMPLE OF RESULTING LOTUS DELIMITED FILE
12345, "HUTCHINSON, KARIN P. ","GENERAL DYNAMICS ",23, "01/01/85" 22222, "SMITH, I. R. ","PSA ",22, "02/01/85" 33222,"TOPPING, Y. LLOYD ","US ARMY ",21,"03/01/85" 69696, "TAYLOR, DONALD A. ", "BAE ",22, "04/01/85"
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641 AVCO LYCOMING MICROCOMPUTER COMMUNICATIONS
IBM IBM 3270 IBM 3081K PCXT PC I""' ~ ASYNC AVCo LYCOMING - STRATFORD DIAL-UP I CONNECTICUT REMOTE IBM I IBM 3274 PCXT CONTROLERS ~ SNAI IBM LOCAL SDLC IBM I 3270 IBM 3274 - I-- PCXT IBM PC CONTROLERS PCXT IRMA I IBM ELECTRONIC ~ IBM PCXT MAIL PCXT USA - SERVICE - OVERSEAS
Figure 2
AVCO LYCOMING COAXIAL COMMUNICATION
IBM 3279
IBM IBM IBM 3270 3081K 3274 PC MVS/XA CONTROLER MODEL6
IBM PCXT (IRMAI FORTE)
Figure 3
642 AVCO LYCOMING DIAL-UP COMMUNICATIONS
IBM M I 0 IBM 3081K H MODEM D r E PCXT MVSIXA M
Figure 4
Aveo LYCOMING
ELECTRONIC MAIL COMMUNICATIONS
IBM IBM PCXT PCXT STRATFORD ANYWHERE W~ USA
ELECTRONIC D t MAIL IBM SERVICE 3270 (EASYLlNK, ONTYME) PC
IBM IBM 3081K PCXT HOST OVERSEAS
Figure 5
Please direct inquiries to: E. Jeffrey Hutchinson Decision Support Systems, 44A Aveo Lycoming 550 South Mai11 street Stratford, Connecticut 06497
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