Datapro Reports on C13-010-301 clalapft)" Data Communications Processors
( Communications Processors: Comparison Columns
In this report: Synopsis
Vendors ...... -302 Editor's Note The vendors furnished information For information on the communica for the columns during January and Comparison tions processor market, see "Com February 1991. When a vendor did Columns ...... -305 munications Processors: Market not provide information for a spe Overview"; for information on com cific entry, and we could not locate munications processor technology, that information in our files, we have see "Communications Processors: listed "Vendor did not specify" on Technology Overview." To assist the appropriate line. Datapro wishes readers in researching the communi to thank the vendors for their coop cations processor market, this report eration. ( contains comparison columns listing the principal characteristk. ilf 65 In addition to the lines allocated for products offered by 28 vendors. vendors to indicate specified infor mation for their models, we have In the Comparison Column Entry added space at the bottom of the col Descriptions, we have briefly de umns for vendor notations about scribed and defined the characteris options or special features of their tics featured in the columns. We products. suggest that the reader become famil iar with the descriptions of the en The absence of any company or tries before reading the columns. product from these columns means that the company either failed to re spond to our repeated requests for information or declined to be part of the survey.
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CI 1991 McGraw-HIli, Inccrporated. Reproduction Prohibited. MAY 1991 Datapro ResaarOO Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA C13-010-302 Communications Datapro Reports on Processors: Data Communications Processors Comparison Columns
Encore Computer 6901 W. Sunrise Boulevard Fort Lauderdale, FL33340-9148 (305) 587-2900 International Business Machines Corp. (IBM.) Vendors Old Orchard Road Armonk, NY 10504 Contact your local IBM representative. Lemcom Systems, Inc. 2104 W. Peoria Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85029 (602) 944-1543 Amdahl Communications Micom Communications Corp. 1250 E. Arques Avenue, MS: 276 4100 Los Angeles Avenue Sunnyvale, CA 94088 (408) 746-6000, (800) 233-8489 Simi Valley, CA 93063-8100 (805) 583-8600 Apertus Technologies Morning Star Technologies 7275 Flying Cloud Drive 1760 Zollinger Road Eden Prairie, MN 55344 (612) 828-0300 Columbus, OH 43221 (614) 451-1883, (800) 558-7827 Bull HN Information Systems, Inc. NCR Technology Park, 2 Wall Street 2700 Snelling Avenue N. Billerica, MA 01821-4199 (508) 294-7000 St. Paul, MN 55113 (612) 638-7777 Carse, Woodworth and Associates Int'l. Netlink, Inc. 15750 Winchester Boulevard, Suite 104 3214 Spring Forest Road Los Gatos, CA 95030 (408) 395-2000 Raleigh, NC 27604 (919) 878-8612, (800) 638-5465 Commtex Inc. Periphonics Corp. 1655 Crofton Boulevard 4000 Veterans Highway Crofton, MD 21114-1341 (301) 721-3666 Bohemia, NY 11716 (516) 467-0500 Computer Communications, Inc. Simpact Associates, Inc. 2610 Columbia Street 9210 Sky Park Court Torrance, CA 90503 (213) 320-9101, (800) 421-1178 San Diego, CA 92123-4302 (619) 565-1865, (800) 448-4188 Computer Designed Systems Systech Corp. 14050 21st Avenue N. 6465 Nancy Ridge Drive Minneapolis, MN 55447 (612) 553-2042 San Diego, CA 92121 (619) 453-8970 Computer Logics Ltd. Thomas Engineering Co. 31200 Carter Street 2440 Stanwell Drive Solon, OH 44139 (216) 349-8600, (800) 354-059 Concord, CA 94520 (415) 680-8640, (800) 832-8649 Computer Network Technology Corp. TIL Systems, Inc. 6655 Wedgwood Road 225 Stedman Street, Suite 27 Maple Grove, MN 55369 (612) 420-4466, (800) 638-8324 Lowell, MA 01851 (508) 970-1189, (800) 752-1736 Computerm Corp. Tri-Data Corp. 100 Wood Street 3270 Scott Boulevard Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 391-7804, (800) 873-0303 Santa Clara, CA 95054 (408) 727-3270, (800) 874-3282 Concurrent Computer Corp. Unisys Corp. 106 Apple Street P.O. Box 500 Tinton Falls, NJ 07724 (908) 758-7000,(800) 631-2154 Blue Bell, PA 19424 (215) 986-4011 Control Data Corp. Computer Products Div. 8100 34th Avenue S., P.O. Box 0 Minneapolis, MN 55440 (612) 853-8100 Emulex Corp. 3545 Harbor Boulevard, P.O. Box 6725 Costa Mesa, CA 92626 (714) 662-5600, (800) 854-7112
MAY 1991 @ 1991 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Reaearch Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA Datapro Reports on Communications C13-010-303 Data Communications Processors: Comparison Columns Processors
( can support distributed information channels. De- applications. multiplexing restores the Communications datastream to its original Network Architecture number of channels. Processors Compliance. Some com- munications processors Terminal-Initiated Appli- Comparison Column function exclusively within cation Switching. This their vendors' network entry indicates that the Entry Descriptions architectures; others sup- processor, at the termi- port open architectures nal's request, supports such as X.25. If a proces- the selection of applica- Computer Systems PU Type 1, PU Type 2, PU sor supports no network tions within a session be- Interfaced Type 4, and PU Type 5. architecture, it may be a tween an attached Manufacturer/Models. If Remote Line Con centra- transparent device. terminal and an attached processors serve IBM tor. A "yes" response host. and plug-compatible Native T1 Support. A indicates that the proces- mainframes, the vendor "yes" response indicates Dynamic Line Reconfigu- sor can serve as a line indicated that information that the T1 was pur- ration. Vendors noted if concentrator located re- here. Vendors of proces- chased from a carrier and the processor can switch motely from any host pro- sors operating in open is used on an "as is" ba- a session, without opera- cessor in its network. network architectures sis. tor intervention, from a connection with a failed also listed the computers Max. Hosts Served by Number of T1 Lines Sup- line or component to a interfaced here. One Concentrator. Since ported. Indicates the many concentrators can healthy connection when Direct Attachment of maximum number of T1 serve more than one host, it senses the failure. Host. This entry distin- lines supported as well as vendors noted the maxi- guishes between a front- the number of T1 inter- LAN Connectivity. This mum number here. end processor and a face modules. entry indicates which local area networks (LANs) can network processor, which Host-Independent Net- Communications Line f be connected to the pro- does not connect directly work Processor. Some Capacity cessor. to the host. models can control a net- No. Half-Duplex Lines work based on open ar- Functional Attachable. In half-duplex Interface to Ethernet chitecture without the Characteristics operation, transmission LAN. If the processor can direction of a host com- Front-End Processor. occurs alternately in ei- connect to an Ethernet puter. The front-end processor ther direction, but not in Local Area Network (FEP) intercepts and han- Host Channel Extender. both directions simulta- (LAN), it is noted here. neously. This entry lists dies communications ac- The architectures of some Protocol Conversion. the number of half-duplex tivities for the host. processors enable them Some of the popular to function as host chan- lines attachable to the Max. Hosts Attachable to forms of protocol conver- nel extenders. processor. FEP. In this space, the sion are async to 3270 vendor noted the highest Terminal Controller. The Highest Line Speed Sup- BSC, async to Uniscope, number of hosts that can architectures of some ported (bps). Vendors SDLC to X.25, and async be channel attached to processors enable them filled in line speeds in bits to X.25. per second (bps). the system. to function as terminal Error Control. Some types controllers. Max. Hosts Supported Communications of error control tech- Simultaneously. This en- Store-and-Forward Features/Functions niques are parity checking try notes the highest num- Switching. Some proces- Multiplexing/ with retransmit, parity ber of hosts that can be sors can function as Demultiplexing. Multi- checking, longitudinal re- active at the same time. standalone, store-and- plexing refers to the dundancy check (LRC) forward message switch- division of a transmission and cyclic redundancy PU'Type within Network. ing. facility into two or more check (CRC), and auto- This entry indicates the channels, either by split- matic repeat request physical unit (PU) type Distributed Processing ting the frequency band (ARQ)-cyclic redundancy within the network. These Node. In addition to their into narrower bands or by check (CRC). devices are also known principal networking func- allotting a common chan- ( as Node Types (NTs). The tions, some processors nel to several different most common types are
@ 1991 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. MAY 1991 Datapro Research Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA Communications Datapro Reports on C13~010-304 Processors: Data Communications Processors Comparison Columns
(~ -, \ j System along with the communi- that support local opera- Network "- Characteristics cations processor's main tors' consoles can also Management/Control Processor Type. Some of memory word size, yields support an operator's Diagnostic Tests Sup- the processors are propri- the level of data trans- console attached over ported. Examples of diag- etary. Other widely used ferred (e.g., byte or communications lines. nostic tests are remote processors are Tymnet; block). and local loopback, port/ Support for X.2S Level 3 Motorola 6800, Z80B, link status, and internal Type of Data Transfer Capabilities. X.25 is a MC68010, MC68020; LSI diagnostics. Supported between CCITT recommendation 11/23,LSI11/73;andln- Memory and Communi- that specifies the inter- Data Collected. The pro- tel 286, 386, and 486. cation Lines, Mass Stor- face between user data cessor can collect data Main Memory Word Size age, and Other terminal equipment (DTE) relating to traffic loading, (bits). In most cases, the Peripherals. In some and packet-switching data line outages, line hits, link main memory word size is communications proces- circuit-terminating equip- loading, node/link/ also the width of the pro- sors, only the CPU has ment (DCE). X.25 Level 3 software status, port sta- cessor's internal trans- access to main memory, defines procedures for tistics, error rates, mission path along its and other components call initiation, data trans- accounting, trace, and bus. must interrupt the CPU to fer, interrupts, reset, re- events. read from or write infor- start, and clearing. Main Memory Storage Pricing and mation to main memory. Capacity (bytes). This Communications Availability In others, microproces- entry lists the capacity of Operating Software Purchase Price ($). Ven- sors in the subsidiary main memory in bytes. Operating System Imple- dors provided the price of components share control Large main memory ca- mented in. This entry ex- the unit, excluding any of main memory with the pacity is useful for trans- plains how the processor options; monthly mainte- CPU and can read and mission with high-speed stores its control pro- nance and monthly lease/ write memory on their protocols in which large gram: wired directly into rental prices may also be own. The latter process is blocks of data must be the hardware, in software listed. called direct memory ac- stored for retransmission that must be loaded into cess (DMA). Date of First Commercial in case of error. memory from the outside, Delivery. The date on I/O, Backup, and Diag- in firmware (local read- Hard Disk Storage Ca- which the product nostic Peripherals. Most only memory) on-board pacity (M bytes). This reached the marketplace. communications proces- the processor, or in some entry indicates the largest sors interact only with combination. Serviced by. Usually the disk capacity available, their attached hosts and vendor offers service on usually represented in IPL Method. This entry terminals, relying on host an on-site or factory megabytes (MB). The indicates how the proces- disk systems for storage repair/return basis. In hard disk provides rapid sor receives its initial pro- and on host software for some cases, a third party restart and recovery ca- gram load (IPL): from its detailed diagnostics. provides the service. pabilities and allows us- host processor, from a Some newer models, ers to store multiple locally attached diskette however, support local Comments. This space copies of software. activated by an operator, disk storage for control affords vendors the op- or from on-board read- portunity to describe sig- Data Transferred across software, traffic, and sup- only memory. nificant or unusual 1/0 Lines. Communica- port information and fea- features, capabilities, or tions processors config- ture diagnostic consoles User Programmability. applications that are not ured as front ends for direct operator inter- This entry indicates the reflected in the standard transfer data to and from vention. programming method entries. the host through an I/O used. Support for Remote Con- channel (line). The width, sole. Some processors in bits, of the I/O channel,
MAY 1991 ~ 1991 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Oatepro Research Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA Datapro Reports on Communloatlon. C13-010-305 Data Communications Prooeuonl Processors Com,.rtaon Column.
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( Amdalll CommunlcllllOn8 Amdahl Communlcatlona Apertua TacIInoIogIn BuD HN Information Byalllma, Inc.
4741-110 4745-210 DatIl Star 5000 DATANET 8/05 DPS 7000
CompiMr Byatama InIIIrI'acad Manufacturer/Models 370 class malnframas 370 class mainframes IBM E various unix Bull DPS 7000
Direct Attachment of Host Ves Ves Ve. Ves Func\lonaJ Charactallatlca Front-end Processor Ves Ves Vendor did not specify Ves MIX. Hosts Attachable to FEP 4 8 Vendor did not specify 1 Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 2 6 Vendor did not specify 1 PU Type within Network 4 4 2 5, DSA node/FE to host Remota Une Concentrator Ves Vendor did not specify Ves No Max. Hosts Served by One Concentretor SNA/NCP SNA/NCP defined II or more 1,000 Host-Independent Network Processor No No Ves No Host Channel Extender No No No No Terminal Controller No No Vas Ves Store-end-Forward Switching No No No No Distributed Processing Node No No Vas No Network Archltacture Compliance SNA, esc, X.25 SNA, BSC, X.25 SNA, BSC,TCP/IP BSC, OSI, X.25, DSA Native T1 Support No No Ves Vendor did not specify Number of T1 Unes Supported Not applicable Vendor did not specify 4 Not applicable Communications Une Capeclty No. Half-duplax Lines Attachable 64 266 12 or more 15 Hlghast Une Speed Supported (bps) 256K 256K T-1 64K Communications Features/Functions MUltlPlexlr:l/lDemUItlPlexlng No No No Ves Terminal-In lated Application Switching No No Vas Ves ~namlc Une ReconfIguratlon No No Ves Ve. N Connectivity Token-ring 4 MB Token-ring, Etharnet Ethernet Interface to Ethamet LAN No No Vas No Protocol Conversion SOLS to X.25, async to X.25 SOLS to X.25, async to X.26 Async to 3270 esc, async to Async, VIP, DSC, RCI X.25, 3270 to Async
Error Control Parity check w/retransmlt Parity check w/ratrensmlt LRC & CRC Parity check w/retransmlt on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC detection/correction on error, LRC & CRC detection/correction, detection/correction, detection/correction, psrlty, ARQ-CRC parity psrlty
By.... ChllractaIIltlce Proceaaor Type Proprlatery Proprlatery Intel 286, Asyncmetrlc Proprietary Multiprocessing Main Memory Word Size (bite) 16 16 16,2M/module 111 Main Memory Stora8; Capsclty (bytes) 8M 8M 2M 2M Herd Disk Storage psclty (Mbytes) 67 IOrmatted 87 IOrmatted 40 Not applicable Date Tranalerred Acrose I/O Lines Byte, block Byte, block Byte WOrd, 38 bit Date Tranafarred Between: Memory and Communications Llnas DMA and Interrupt DMA and InterruPt DMA, DMA and Interrupt DMA and Interrupt Memory and Ma88 Storaga DMA and Interrupt DMA and Interrupt DMA and Interrupt Vendor did not specify Memory and Other Peripherals Interrupt Interrupt DMA and Interrupt DMA
I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Perlpharals FEP oonsole, dlsketta, FEP console, diskette, Dlsk8tts, disk FEP console, diskette, patch panel, disk pstch panel, disk host/mainframe Support lOr Remota Console Ves Vel Vas Ves Support lOr X.25 Level 3 Capsbillties Ves Ves No Ves Communications Operating Software Operating Syatem Implemented In Softwara Softwara Softwara Software, flrmwara IPL Method Download from host, Download from hoat, Manual load, Internal Download from host, IPL Internal sail-load Internal self-load self-load, IPL dlsk8tta diskette, tele-Ioad User Programmability No No No No
Network M8nagement Contra! Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remota loopback, Local/remota Ioopback, Local/remote Ioopback, Local/remota IOOpback, Internal diagnostics, Internal dlagnostlce, Intamal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, problem determination, problam determination, problem datermlnatlon, problem datermlnatlon, porIfIlne status pori/line atetus porIfIlne atetus port/line stetus, network management Data Collected NPA NetIIlew stetlstlcs NetIIlew/NPA Node/link/software stetus, Traffic loading, line outages, port node/link/software status, statl8tlcs, traos, evente, accounting, line outagas, link loading port statistics, traos, error rates, events, link loading Pricing and Availability Purchase Prlos ($) 100,650.00 132,000.00 5K-50K 12,000.00 Monthly Purchase ($) 303.00 319.00 Vendor did not specify 150.00 Month~ Laase/Rantal (S) Not applicable Not applicable Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Date 0 First Commarclal Delivery June 1988 June 1988 June 1969 Septembar 1967 ( Serviced by Amdehl Amdahl Apertus Technology Bull Worldwide Info Sys Comm ..... Runs both NCP-3 or NCP-4 Runs NCP-3 or NCP-4 and Communications server and NCP-5; runs In 3725 NCP-5; runs In 3725 mode or provides various host mode or 3745 mode 3745 mode aOO888 by tarmlnals (3270 async)
o 1991 McGraW-Hili, Incorporated. Raproductton Prohibited. MAY 1991 Detapro Re_rch Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA C13-010-308 CoInmunlclltlon. Datapro Reports on Processors ~1'81 Data Communications CoInparl... Column.
i- ." lull HN InfonnIdIon Bull HN IIIforIMtIon Bull HN Informallon Cam, Woodworth and .,...,Ino. 8'.... lno • System., Inc. AaeocIIttIe 11It'1. -
DATANET 1/10 DATANIT 1/20 DATANET .,., COMJ3X Communication Gateway All TCP\IP UNIX Hoeta
Compuler 8yatema Interlaced Manufacturer/Model. Bull DPS7. DPS7000, DPSI, DPS7, DPS7ooo, DPSB, DPS88, Bull DPS7, DPS7000, DPS8, Vendor did not specify DPSIOOO, DPS88, DPS80, DPS80, DPSBOOO, DPS8000 DPSBOOO, DPS88, DPS90, DPS8000 DPS9000 Direct Attachment of Hoat Yea Ve. Yea Ves functional Characterlllllc8 Front-end Processor Yea Ve. Yea Yes Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 1 or 2 4 4 1 Max. Hoeta Supported Simultaneously 1 or 2 4 4 Unllmltad PU Type within Network DSA node 2, 4, DSA node 2, 4, DSA node PU Type 2.1, LU 8.2 Remote Una Con08ntretor Ves Yea Yes No Max. Hoeta Served by One Concentrator 1,000 1,000 1,000 Vendor did not spaclfy Host-Independent Network Processor Ve. Ve. Yea No Hoat Channel Extender No No No No Terminal Controller Yea Yea Ves Yea Stors-end-Forward Switching No No No Ves DlBtrlbutad Proce.slng Node No No No No Network Archltectura Compliance BSC, OSI, DSA SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25, DSA SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25, DSA SNA, X.25, TCP/IP Nallve T1 Support Vendor did not spsclfy Ve. Yea No Number of T1 Unea Supported Not applicable Vendor did not spaclfy Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Communications Une Capeclty No. Hall-duplex Unes Attachable 31 127 127 24 Highest Une Speed Supported (bps) 84K 2.5M 2.50M 84K Communications Featuras/Functlone Multlplexlng/Dernultlplexlng Yea Vas Yea No Terminal-Initiated Application Switching Yea Yea Yea Yes Dynamic Une RaconfIguration Ve. Yea Yes Yes LAN Connectivity Ethernet Ethernet Ethernet Token-rlng, Ethernet Intlrface to Ethernet LAN No No No Yea Protocol Conversion Mync, VIP, DSC, RSI SDLS to X.25 SDLS to X.25, async, VIP, SDLS to X.25, async to BSC, RCI X.25, SNA to TCP/IP
Error Control Parity check w/retrsnsmit Parity chack w/retrsnsmlt Parity check w/retransmit Parity check w/retransmlt on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC on error detection/correction, detection/correction, detection/correction, parity parity perlty
System CharaClllrlatlce Processor Type Proprietary Proprlstsry Proprietary Intli 188, Intel 286, 186, 386, 488 family Main Memory Word Siza (bits) 18 18 18 18 Main Memory Stora8! capacity (bytes) 2M 2M 2M IBM Hard Disk Storage peclty (Mbytes) Not applicable None None 120M Data Transferred Across I/O Unes Word (38 bit) Word (38 bit) Word (38 bit) Block Date Transferred Between: Memory and Communications Lines DMA, Interrupt DMA and Interrupt DMA, Intlrrupt Vendor did not spaclfy Memory end Mass Storage Vendor did not spaclfy Not applicable Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Memory and Other Peripherals DMA DMA DMA Vendor did not specify I/O, Backup, and DiagnostIC Peripherals FEP console, host/malnfram8 FEP console, diskette, FEP console, dlskelle, FEP console, dlsketta, Host,Imalnframe host/mainframe magnetlc tape, printlr Support for Remote Console Yes Yea Yes Yes Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities Ves Vas Yes Yes Communications Operating Software Operating SysI8m Implemented In Softwara, ftrmwara Software, ftrmware Software, ftrmware Software, OS/2, ComJ3X IPL Method Download from hOlt, Download from hOlt, IPL Download from host, IPL IPL diskette tale-load diskette, Tele-load diskette, tele-load User Programmability No No No No
Network Management Control Dlagnoatlc Tasta Supported Local/remota Ioopback, Local/remota Ioopback, Local/remota loopback, Local/remote loopback, Intimal dlagnostlca, Intimal dlagnoatlcs, Internal diagnostics, Intimal diagnostics, problem determination, problem del8rmlnatlon, problem del8rmlnatlon, port/line stetus portJllne status, network portJIlne status, Network portJllne status, network management management management Data Collected Trallic loading, Trefllc loading, Trafllc loading, Line outages, port nodeJ1lnkJaoftware statu8, nodejHnkJsofIware status, nodeJ1lnkJsoftware status, ststlstlcs, line hRs, accounting, line Outage8, accounting, line outages, accounting, line outages, error rates port statistics, trace, port statistics, trace, port ststlstlCs, trace, error ratee, aventa, link error retea, &venti, link error ratas, &venti, link loading loading loading PrIcIng and Availability Purchese Price ($) 33,880.00 47,990.00 47,980.00 25,000.00 Monthly Purcheae ($) 244.00 329.00 329.00 250.00 Month~ Leese/Rentll ($) 1,180.00 1,640.00 1,640.00 Not applicable Data 0 First Commercial Delivery September 1985 S8ptember 1985 September 1985 $$ptember 1987 Serviced by Bull Worldwide Info Sye Bull Worldwide Info Sys Bull Worldwide Info Sys CWA Commenta SNA to TCP/IP Gateway supports seven layer protocol translation between user appllcetlons
MAV1991 ~ 1991 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Dstspro Research Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA
C13-010-308 Communication. Datapro Reports on Processors ProoeaonI Data Communications Com,.rI..... Columna
Computer ~rk Technology Compulenn Corp. c-un.nt Computer Corp. Concurrent Computer Corp. Corp. CHANNELllnk 3100/3110.,...,.. Channel extenlkln PnIcom-2 Pracom ..
CompuIer Syatema Interlaced Manufacturer/Models IBM S/370 & compat., Cray IBM S1370, and compatibles Concurrent Computer Sertes Concurrent Computer Sertes Suparcomputers, 3200 3200 DEC/VAX-B1 Bus Direct Attachment of Host Ves Ves Ves Ves Functional Chal'llctarlltlca Front-end Processor No Ve8 Ve. Ves Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 8 7 1 1 Max. Hosts Supported Simuiteneously 8 7 1 1 PU Type within Network All PU types Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Remote Une ConQ8ntrator Ves Ves No No Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator Vendor did not specify 28 Vendor did not specify N Host-Independent Network Proces80r Ves Ve8 No No Host Channel Extender Ves Ves No No Terminal Controller No No No No Store-and-Forwerd Switching Ves No No No Distributed Processing Node No No Ves Ves Network Architecture Compliance SNA, DECnet, BSC, OSI, Tl'llnsparent OSI, X.25 OSI, X.2S X.2S, TCP/IP Native 11 Support Ves Ves No No Number of 11 Unas Supported 12 4 No No Communications Line Capacity No. Half- Error Control Parity check w/retrensm~ LAC & CRC LRC & CRC LRC &CRC on error, ARQ-CRC detection/correction detection/correction detection/correction Byatem Chal'llClllrlatlca Processor Type MC88020 IBM Serles/1 and Z80 Motorola 88000 Motorola 88000 Main Memory Word Size (bits) 32 16 32 32 Main Memory stora~ Capacity (bytes) Up to 10MB 2M S12K S12K Hard Disk Stol'llge pacIty (MbyteS) Vendor did not specify Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Date Transferred Across I/O Unes Block Byte, block Byte Byte Date Tran8ferred Between: Memory and Communications Unes DMA DMA DMA, Interrupt DMA, Interrupt Memory and Mass Storage DMA None Not applicable Not applicable Memory and Other Peripherals Vendor did not specify DMA None None I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Parlpherals Battary, Back-Up, RAM FEP console, dl8kette None None Support for Remote Con80le Ves Vel No No Support for X.26 Level 3 Capabll~s No No Ves Ves Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented In Software Software, firmware Firmware Firmware IPL Method Internel self-load Internal self-load, IPL Download from host Download from host diskette, optional User Programmability Via console User conftgurable Via user-created programs Via user-creetad programs Network MenIIgament Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remote Ioopback, Internal diagnostics Internal diagnostics Internal diagnostics Internal diagnostics, problem determination, port/line stetus Dete Collected Trafllc loading, Tralllc loading, line Nodefllnk/software status, Node/link/software stetus, nod'fllnk/software stetus, outages, traca, error accounting, line outages, accounting, line outeges, line outages, port rates, realtime monitor trace trace statistics, trace, line h~, error rates, evente, link loading PrIcing and Avalleblltty Purchase Price ($) Contect vendor 73,000.00 4,000.00 6,000.00 Monthly Purchase ($) Vendor did not specify 813.00 37.00 58.00 Monthir Lease/Rental ($) Vendor did not specify 1,621.00 Not applicable Not applicable Date 0 Flret Commercial Delivery 1987 December 1962 Not available Not available Serviced by StorageTek, IBM Compulerm and IBM Concurrent Computer Corp. Concurrent Computer Corp. o-ments CHANNELlnk delivers Chan.extension 8Uppt. Software environment Softwara environment networking solutions for for print .. CRTs, check utilizes 08/32 Rev 8.1.3 or utilizes 08/32 Rev 8.1.3 or dete center consolidation, sortsrs, Mag tape, and FEPs higher. Procorn board II higher. Procom board 18 dlaster recovery, multiple w~ satalllte-8l11c1ent provided with 08/32 driver provided with OS/32 drlvar data centars protocols. support support MAY 1991 o 1991 McGraw-Hili, Incorporatad. Reproduction Prohlbltad. Datapro Resasrch Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA Oatapro Reports on Communlcatlona C13-010-308 Date Communications Proc.. eora. Processors Comparleon Columna ( Concurrent Computer Corp. Control Data Corp. Emule. Corp. Encore Compuler SCP SerIal Communlcatlona CDCNET 2800 Serle. DCP-288 QISC (Quad Sync SerIal ProcaHOr Conlnlllar) 8521 Computer Syatam. Intertacad Manufacturer/Models Concurrent Computar Series Control Data Corporation/ ISA, Micro Channel PCs Concept 32/67, Concept 3200 CDCNET 2600 Serlas 2040, Concept 32/97 Direct Attachmant of Host Ves Ves Ves Ves Functl_1 ChereClllrl.1Ice Front-and Processor Ves Ves Ves Ves Max. Hoets Attachable to FEP 1 3 1 1 Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 1 3 8 1 PU Type within Network Not applicable Not ayallable Not applicable Vandor did not specify Remota Une Concentrator No Ves Vas No Max. Hosts Servad by One Concentrator Vendor did not specify Unllm~ed 8 Vendor did not specify Hoet-Independent Network Processor No Ves No No Hoet Channel Extender No No No Ves Terminal Controller No Ves Ves Ves Stora-and-Forward Switching No No Ves No Dlstrlbutad Processing Node Ves Ves Ves No Network Architecture Compliance X.25 BSC, OSI, X.25, TCP/IP SNA, BSC, X.25 OSI, X.25 NstlYe T1 Support No No No Ves Number of T1 Unes Supported No Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 4 Communications Line Capacity No. Half-duplex Lines Attachable 4 84 8 4 Highest Una Speed Supported (bps) 56K 256K 1M 2.048M Communications Features/Functions Multlplexlng/Demultlplexlng Ves Ves Ves Ves Termlnel-Inltlatad Application Switching No Ves Ves Ves Dynamic Llna Reconfiguratlon No Vas Ves Ves LAN Connectlvlty None Ethernet None Not applicable Interface to Ethernet LAN No Vas No Vendor did not specify Protocol Conversion No Async to X.25 Async to 3270 BSC, SDLS to Not applicable X.25, async to X.25 Error Control LRC & CRC Parity check w/retransmlt Parity check w/retransmlt LRC & CRC detactlon/~rrectlon on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC detection/correction detaction/correctlon dataction/correctlon, psrlty, ARa.cRC 1I': '" 8yatam Cheraclerlatlca Procassor Type Motorola 68000 MC 68030 Intel 286 Thompson 5025 Main Mamory Word Size (bits) 32 16 18 32 Main Mamory Storact Capacity (bylas) 512K 1M-16M 1M 128K Hard Disk Storage apaclty (Mbylas) Not applicable No disk Not appllcabla Not applicable Data TransfBrred Across I/O Unes Byte Block Byte Block Data Transfarred Between: Mamory and Communications Lines DMA, Interrupt DMA, Interrupt DMA and Intarrupt DMA and Intarrupt Memory and Mass Storage Not applicable Not ayallabla Not applicable DMA Memory and Other Peripherals None Intarrupt Shared memory Not appllcabla I/O, Backup, and Dlagnoatlc Peripherals None FEP console Not applicable Disk, magnetic tape Support for Ramota Consola No Ves Ves No Support for X.25 Leyel 3 Capsbllities Vas Ves Ves Ves Communications Operating Softwara Operating Systam Implementad In Rrmwara Softwara, firmwara Software Softwara IPL Method Download from hoet Download from host Download from host Intarnel self-load User Programmability Via user-creatad programs No Via user-creeted programs Via user-selectad parameters Network Management Control Dlagnoatlc Tests Supported Intarnal diagnostics Local/remota loopback, None Local/remota loopback, Internal diagnostics, problem detarmination, problem datarmlnatlon, porl/llne status port/llne status Data Collactad Nodefllnk/software status, Trafllc loading, Vendor did not specify Node/link/software atatus, accounting, line outeges, nodefllnk/software status, accounting, line outeges, trace accounting, line oulagas, port statistics, events port statistics, llna hits, error ratas, events, link loading PrIcIng and Availability Purchase PrIce ($) 6,500.00 12,000.00 1,695.00 15,000.00 Monthly Purchase ($) 12.00 100.00 Not applicable 87,00 Monthly Leese/Rental ($) Not appllcabla Vendor did not specify Not applicable Not applicable Data of Rret Commercial Delivery 1987 December 1985 1986 December 1989 Serviced by Concurrent Computer Corp. Control Data Corp. Emulex Corp. Encore Computer Corp. ( Comments Purchase price Is $6,500 A modular multlnode local without software; $7,500 area network product with with software extanded faeturea Including front-end funct., router, full X.25 4» 1991 McGraW-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. MAV 1991 Datapro Research Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA C13-010-310 Communlc.tIon. Datapro Reports on Processors P ...... O ... I Data Communications ComPllrl.on Column. /' Internallonal Bu8I_ International aulln_ Inlerilllllonal Bual_ International Bualna.. Machlna. CcIIp. (IBM) Machl_ Corp. (IBM) Machine. Corp. (IBM) Machl_ Corp. (IBM) j IBM 3746130 IBM 3746 110 IBM 3746170 11M 3746 210 Computer By_m. Interfaced Manufacturer/Models IBM 43XX, 937X, 308X, 3090 IBM 43XX, 937X, 3OBX, 3090 IBM 43XX, 937X, 308X, 3090 IBM S/370, 43XX, 937X, 3033, 308X, 3080 Direct Attachment of Host Ves Ves Ves Ves FunctloMl CharaClllrlallc8 Front-end Processor Ves Ves Ves Ves Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 4 4 4 18 Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 256 with token ring 256 with token ring 256 with token ring 258 with token-ring PU Type within Network 4 4 4 4 Remota Line Concentrator Ves Ves Ves Ves Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator 256 256 256 258 Host-Independent Network Processor No No No No Host Channel Extender No No No No Terminal Controller No No No No Store-and-Forward Switching No No No No DIstributed Processing Node No No No No Network Archltacture Compliance SNA SNA SNA SNA, X.25 Native T1 Support Ves Ves Ves Ves Number of T1 Unes Supported 2 1 2 16 Communications Une CapaCity No. Half-duplex Lines Attachable Not applicable 32 112 896 Hlghast Une Speed Supported (bps) 1.544M 1.544MB 1.544Mb 1.544M Communications Features/Functions Multtplexlng/Demultlplexlng Ves Ves Ves Ves Termlnel-Inltlated Application Switching No No No No Dynamic Line Reconflguratlon Ves Ves Ves Vas LAN Connectivity Token-ring Token-ring Token-ring Token-ring Interface to Ethernet LAN No No No No Protocol Conversion Ves Ves Ves Ves Errer Control LAC & CRC LRC & CRC LRC & CRC LRC &CRC detectlon/correctton detection/correction detectton/correctlon detectton/correctlon By_m CharaClerl.ttc8 Processor Type Proprletery Proprletery Proprletery Proprletery Maln Memory Word Size (bits) B 1B B B Maln Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) BM BM Vendor did not specify BM, (per CCU) Hard Disk Storage Capacity (Mbytes) 67 formatted 67 formatted 67 formatted 67 formatted Date Transferred Across I/O Unes Block Block Block Block Date Transferred Betwaen: Memory and Communications Lines DMA DMA DMA DMA Memory and Mass Storage DMA DMA DMA DMA Memory and Other Peripherals DMA DMA DMA DMA I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals FEP console FEP console FEP console Vendor did not specify Support for Remota Console Ves Ves Ves Ves Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabll~les Ves Ves Ves Ves Communications Operating Software Operattng System Implemented In Software Software Software Software IPL Method Internal self-load Internal self-load Internal self-load Internal self-load User Programmability Ves Ves Ves Ves Network Management Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Locsl/remota loopback, Locsl/remota loopback, Ves Ves Internal dlagnosttcs, Internal diagnostics, problem determlnatton, problem determlnatton, portJllne stetus port/line stetus Date Collected Traffic loading, Tratllc losdlng, Ves Ves nodefllnk/software stetus, nodefllnk/software status, accounting, line outages, accounting, line outeges, port stettstlcs, trace, port stetlstlcs, trace, line hits, error rates, line hits, errer rates, events, link loading events PrIcInll and Availability Purchese Price ($) 21,420.00 31,590.00 26,7BO.00 147,050.00 Monthly Purchase ($) 220.00 232.00 220.00 350.00 Monthly Lease/Rental ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Date of Firat Commercial Delivery 1989 1989 1989 March 1988 Serviced by IBM IBM IBM IBM Comments Contect local IBM rep. Contact local IBM rep. Contect local IBM rep. Max. hosts supportad simultaneously using token ring Is 256 MAV 1991 • 1991 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohlb~ed. Datapro Research Group. Delran NJ 08076 USA Datapro Reports on CommunlClltlolltl C13-010-311 Data Communications Proceuoral Processors Compart_n Columna ( IntemIIIIonal aual.,... Lamcom Syetaml, Inc. Lamcom Syetaml, Inc. Mlcom Communlcltlons Machlna. Corp. (IBM) IBM 3745 410 Distributed Natwo/II DNP 8000 Mlcom/MBE Proce.1III' CompUlar Syetam. Inlllrtacacl Manufacturer/Modals IBM S/370. 43XX. 937X. IBM 43XX. 30XX, 937X IBM 43XX, 30XX, 937X 370 class mainframes 3033, 308X, 3080 Direct Attachment of Hoet Yes Ya. Yes No Functional Characteristic. Front.. nd Processor Yes Yes Yes No Max. Hosts Attachabla to FEP 18 32 18 33 Max. Hosts Supportad Simultanaously 258 with token-ring 32 16 33 PU Type within Network 4 2,4 2,4 1 and 2 Remote Line Concentrator Yes Yes Yes Yes Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator Up to 256 32 16 33 Host-Independent Network Processor No Yes Yes Yes Hoet Channel Extender No No No No Terminal Controller No No Yes Yes Store-and-Forward Switching No No No No Distributed Prooesslng Node No Yes Yes Yes Network ArchHacture Compliance SNA, X.25 SNA,BSC SNA,BSC SNA, esc, OSI, X.25 HDLC, TCP/IP Native Tl Support Yes No Yes No Number of Tl Lines Supportad 16 Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Communications Une Capacity Vendor did not specify No. Half-duplex Unes Attachable 696 1,024 1,000 Vendor did not speCify Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 1.544M 64K 2.0486M 128K Communications Features/Functions Multlplexlng/Demultlplexlng Yes Yes Yes Yes Terminal-Initiated Application SwHchlng No Yes Yes Yes Dynamic Une Raconfiguratlon Yes Vendor did not specify Yes Yes LAN Connectivity Token-ring Vendor did not specify Token-ring Ethernet Interface to Ethernet LAN No No No Yes Protocol Conversion Yes Aaync to 3270 BSC, async to Async to 3270 BSC, esc to SDLC to X.25, ealnc to X.25 3270 SDLC SDLC async to 3270, B C, HDLC to X.25 Error Control LRC & CRC Parity check w/rstransmlt LRC & CRC LRC and CRC detectlon/cor- detection/correction on error, LRC & CRC detection/correction, rectlon detection/correction, parity, ARQ-CRC parHy, ARQ-CRC Syetam Charactarllllc. Proceasor Type Proprietary MC8809 MC88020 Motorola 6800 Main Memcry Word Size (blta) Vendor did not specify 32 32 16 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) 8M, (per CCU) 4M 2M, per MC88020 2M Hard Disk Storage CapacHy (Mbytes) 67 formatted Vendor did not specify Non-volatile RAM Vendor did not specify Date Transferred Across I/O Lines Block Byte, block By1e, block Block Date Transferred Between: Memory and Communications Unes DMA DMA and Interrupt DMA and Interrupt DMA Memory and Mass Storage DMA DMA and Interrupt DMA Intarrupt Memory and other Peripherals DMA Not applicable Not available DMA I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Perlpherels Vendor did not specify FEP console, diskette FEP console, diskette PC-basad network menage- ment system Support for Remote Console Yes Yes Yes Yes Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities Yes No No Yes Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented In Software Software Software Firmware IPL Method Internal self-load Intarnal self-load Internal self-load Internal self-load User Progremmability Yes Via user-selected Via user-selected Yes, via console parameters, via parameters, via user-created programs, via user-created programs, via console console Network Management Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Yes Local/remote Ioopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Internal diagnostics, Intamal diagnostics, porI/llne stetus, In- problem determination, problem daterminatlon, ternal diagnostics, port/line status port/line status problem determination Data Collactad Yes Traffic loading, TraffiC loading, Traffic loading, line nodafllnk/software status, node/link/software status, outages, line hits, link line outages, trace, line line outages, trace, line loading, node/link/ hits, error rates, link hlta, error rates, events, software status port loading link loading statistics, error rates, accounting, trace, events Pricing end AveilabHIty Purchase Price ($) 221,450.00 18,450.00 20,000.00 9,700 Monthly Purcheae ($) 538.00 Vendor did not specify 150.00 200 Monthly Lesse/Rental ($) Vendor did not spsclfy 632.00 685.00 Vendor did not specify Date of First Commercial Delivery March 1988 1980 1991 1988 (- Serviced by IBM HDS)Hltachl Data Systems Hitachi Data Systsms Mlcom Commenta Max. hosts supported Appears to host as locally Concurrently used as Runs NCP-3 or NCP-4 and simultaneously using attached IBM 3274-1 A, IBM IBM-compatible FEP and NCP-5; runs In 3725 mode or token-ring Is 256 3274-10, or IBM 3737. RCTCA, 81 concentrator for 3745 mode Upgraded version 1988 networking IBM compatible DES Encryption o 1991 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. MAY 1991 Datapro Research Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA Datapro Reports on Communlclltlon. C13-010-313 Data Communications ProC ••aonl Processors Comp.rlaon Column. NCR NCR NCR NCR - NCR Ii846-B NCR 58U-B NCR 5885-B NCR 5875-B Computer Syatema Interfaced Manufacturer/Models IBM 360/370, 303X, 308)(, IBM 360/370, 303X, 30ax, IBM 360/370, 303X, 308X, IBM 360/370, 303X, 3OBX, 3090, 43XX, plus compatible 3090, 43XX, plua compatible 3090, 43XX, plus compatible 3090, 43XX, plus compatible Amdahl & Hitachi (NAS) Amdahl & Hltechl (NAS) Amdahl & Hitachi (NAS) Amdahl & Hltechl (NAS) Dlracl Attachment of Host Vea Ves Ves Ves Funcllonal ChllrllClerlatica Front-end Processor Ves Vea Ves Ves Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 4 8 8 16 Max. Hosts Supported Simuiteneously 4 8 8 16 PU Type within Network 4,5 4, 5 4, 5 4,5 Remote Line Concentrator Ves Vea Ves Ves Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator Throughput dependent Throughput dependent Throughput dependent Throughput dependent Host-Independent Network Processor No No No No Host Channel Extender Ves Ves Ves Ves Terminal Controller Ves Ves Vea Ves Store-and-Forward Switching Vea Vea Ves Ves Distributed Prooeasing Node Ves Ves Ves Ves Network Architecture Compliance SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25 SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25 SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25 SNA, esc, OSI, X.25 Native Tl Support Ves Ves Ves Ves Number of Tl LInes Supported 4 16 16 24 Communications Une Cepaclty No. Half-duplex Unes Attachable 1264 - 9.6K FOX line 512 - 9.6K FOX lines 512 1,024 Highest LIne Speed Supported (bps) T-l (1.544/2.048M) T -I (1.544/2.048M) T -I (1.544/2.048M) T-l (1.544/2.048M) Communications Features/Functions Multlplexlng/Demultlplexlng Ves Ves Ves Ves Terminal-Initiated Application Switching Ves Ves Ves Ves Dynamic LIne Reconfiguratlon Ves Ves Ves Ves LAN Connectivity Token-ring, Ethernet Token-ring, Ethemet Token-ring, Ethernet Token-ring, Ethernet Interface to Ethernet LAN Vea Ves Ves Ves Protocol Conversion ~nc to 3270 BSC, SOLS to Async to 3270 esc, SOLS to As~nc to 3270 BSC, SOLS to Async to 3270 BSC, SOLS to X. 5, async to X.25 X.25, async to X.25 X. 5, async to X.25 X.25, async to X.25 Error Control LRC &CRC LRC & CRC LRC & CRC LRC & CRC detactlon/correctlon detectlon/corracllon detection/correction detection/correction ~ Syatem Characterlstlca Processor Type Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprtetary Main Memory Word Size (bite) 32 32 32 32 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) 16M 16M 16M 16M Hard Disk Storage Capacity (Mbytes) 80 80 80 80 Date Transferred Across I/O Unes Byte, file, block Byte, file, block Byte, file, block Byte, file, block Date Transferred Between: Memory and Communications Unes DMA and Interrupt DMA, Interrupt, beth DMA, Interrupt, DMA, interrupt Memory and Mass Storege DMA DMA DMA DMA Memory and Other Peripherals DMA DMA DMA DMA I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals FEP console, disk, printer FEP console, disk, printer, FEP console, disk, printer, FEP console, disk, printer, universal comm. adaptar universal comm. adapter universal comm. adapter Support fer Remote Console Ves Ves Ves Ves Support fer X.25 Level 3 Cepabilltles Ves Ves Ves Ves Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented In Software Software Software Software IPL Method Downloed from host, manual Download from host, manual Download from host, manual Download from host, menual load, Internal sail-load, load, internal sail-load load, Internal sell-load, load, Internal sell-load, User Programmability Via user-selected Via user-selected Via user-selacled Via user-selected parameters, via parametars, via parametars, via parametars, via user-created programs, via user-created programs, via user-created programs, via user-created programs, via console console console console Network Management Control Diagnostic Teats Supported Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopbeck, Local/remote IOOpbeck, Local/remote loopback, Internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, problem detarmlnatlon, problem detarmlnatlon, problem determination, problem determination, port/line stetus port/ilne stetus port/line status port/line status Date Collected Traffic loading, Tra1!lc loading, Traffic loading, Traffic loading, node/link/software status, node/llnk/software stetus, node/link/software stetus, node/link/software status, lICCOuntlng, line outeges, accounting, line outages, accounting, line outages, accounting, line outages, port stetlstlcs, trace, port statistiCS, trace, port stetlstlcs, trace, port stetlstlcs, trace, line hits, error rates, line hits, error rates, line hits, error rates, line hits, error rates, evente, link loading events, link loading evente, link loading events, link loading PrIcing and Availability Purchase Price ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Monthly Purchase ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Monthly Lease/Rentel ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Date of First Commercial Delivery Septamber 1990 Septamber 1990 Aprtll991 Aprtl1991 Serviced by NCR NCR NCR NCR ( Commenta NCR 6500/6600 and 9800 are NCR 8500/6600 and 9800 are NCR 6500/6600 and 9800 are NCR 8500/8800 and 9800 are other computer systems othar computer systems other computer systems other computer systems Interfaced Interfaced Interfaced interfaced @ 1991 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. MAV 1991 Datepro Research Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA C13-01 0-314 CommunlClltlon. Datapro Reports on Processors PI'OM.MN= Data Communications CownpariMn Column NeIIInk, Inc. NeIIlnk, Inc. Per/phonlca CoIp. PerIphonICI Corp. INA LInk aNA-Hub VPS 7000 VP8 7500 Computer Syatema Interfaced Manufacturer/Modeis IBM (anc:/ compatible) SNA IBM (and compatible) SNA ISM 3274 SNA/SDLCfS/syne, IBM 3274 SNA/SDLC/Blsync. hosts hosts IBM 5251 SDLC, Aayne IBM 5251 SOLC, Async Direct Attachment of Host No Ves Ves Ves Fun~1 Charactarldca Front.. nd Proosseor No No Ves Ves Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP Vendor did not spsc/fy Vendor did not specify 4 4 Max. Hosts Supported SImultaneously Vendor did not spsc/fy Vendor did not specify 4 4 PU Type within Network 2, PU 5 2, PU 5 2 2 Remote Line Conoantretor Ves Ves Ves Ves Max. Hosts Served by One Concantretor 2 Up to 8 4 4 Host-Independent Network Processor No No Ves Ves Host Channel Extender No No Ves Vas Terminal Controller No No Ves Vas Store-end-Forward Switching No No No No Distributed Processing Node No No Ves Vas Network Architecture Comp/lance SNA SNA SNA. SSC, uyne SNA, sse, ssync Native Tl Support No No No No Number of T1 Lines Supported Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Can be upgraded Can be upgraded Communications Une CspacIty No. Half-duplex Unas Attachable 8 18 84 84 Highest Una Speed Supported (bps) 84K 84K 19.2K 19.2K Communications Featuras/Functlons Multtplexlng/Damultlplaxlng Yes Vas Ves Ves Terminal-Initiated Application SwItching Ves Ves Ves Yes Dynamic Line Reconfiguratlon No No Yes Yes LAN Connectivity Vendor did not specify Token-ring Token-rlng Token-rlng Interfaca to Ethernet LAN No No No No Protocol Conversion No IBRO 30/40 to SNA. asyne to Aayne to 3270 BSC Aaync to 3270 BSC SNA Error Control ParIty check w/retranamlt Parity check w/ratransmit Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify on error. LRC & CRC on error. LRC & CRC detection/correction detection/correction. parity // Syatem Chanlcter/dca Processor Type Intel 188. Intel 288. 8088 8088 Motorola 88000/68030 Motorola 88000/88030 Main Memory Word Size (bits) 18 18 32 32 Main Memory Storage Ca~ (bytes) 1M 1M 8M. 32MB volca SM. 32MB voIca Hard Disk Storage Capacity ( bytes) 20 Vendor did not specify 43MB min.; 800MB max. 43MB min.; 800MB max. Dete Transferred Acro88 I/O Unes Block Block Byte Byte Data Transferred Between: Memory and Communications Unes DMA and Interrupt DMA and Intsrrupt Interrupt Interrupt Memory and Mass Storage DMA anc:/ Interrupt Interrupt Interrupt Interrupt Memory and Other Parlpherals Interrupt Vendor did not specify Interrupt Interrupt I/O. Backup. and Dlagnosttc Peripherals Disk ROM Diskette. magnetic tapa Diskatts. disk. megnetlc tape Support for Remota Console Yes Yes Ves Ves Support for X.25 Laval 3 Capabilities No No Yes Ves Communlcattons Operating Software Operating System Implemented In Software Software. firmware Proprietary software Proprletery software IPL Method Download from holt. Download from hOlt Internal self-load Internal self-load Internal self-load User Programmability VIa user-sa/ected VIa user-selactsd Via user.. elactsd Via user-selactad parametsrs parametsrs parameters. via paremeters.vla user-crasted programs. via user-creatad programs. via consola consola Network ManaglllMllt Control Diagnostic Testa Supported LocaIJremots Ioopback, Local/remota /oopbeck. Local/remota loopback. Local/remote Ioopbeck. Internal diagnostics. Internal diagnostics. Internel diagnostics. Internal diagnostics. problam determination. problem determination. pOl1fllne status port/nne status port/line ststua portf/Ine atstus Dete CoIlacted Trafllc loading. Trame loading. Trame loading. Trafllc loading. nade/llnk/software status. node/llnk/software atstus. node/link/software status. node/link/software status. line outages. port line outages. port line outages. port line outages. port ststtetIcs. trees. line statistics. trees. line atstlstles. line hits. statistics. line hits. hits, error rates. events. hits. error rstes. events. error rates. events error rates. events; link link loading link loading loading Pricing and AvaHabilty Purchase PrIes (S) 4.500.00 8.000.00 35K to 150K 35K to 150K Monthly Purchase ($) Vendor did not spac/fy Vendor did not specify Of purchase pries Vendor did not specify Monthly Lease/Rentsl ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Dete of First Comrnerc/aI Delivery Vendor did not specify August 1987 1987 1987 Serviced by Dlctsphhone Dictsphhone Perlphonlcs Corp. Per/phonics Corp. Commenta SNA PU and Line SNA PU and Une Supports analog Supports analog telephone Concsnt.; Multiple Concentration; Host-based telephone conn. & can be conn. & can be expanded "- host _; supp.for confg.mang;. LU priority sched. expanded to 84 lines per to 84 lines per unit. SNA dla/-In davlcall; LU unit, vocab.& appl.deveIop. vocab. & app/. priority aCheduling. tools development MAV 1991 lIP 1991 McGraw-Hili. Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA Oatapro Reports on Communlcetlon. C13-010-31S Oata Communications ProeMao,.: Processors Comperlaon Column. f Perlphonlca Corp, Perlphonlca Corp. Slmpect "~tH, Inc, Slmpect "-IIItw, Inc, VPS 8000 VP81100 CNS 1000 ProgNIIImabie ICP1822 Q-bu. Syatam. Communlclltlon. Network Sarve Computer Sy.tern. Inlerlaced ManufacturerfModals IBM 3274 SNA/SDLC/Blsync, IBM 3274 SNA/SDLC/Blsync, All models of IBM Q.bus systems IBM 5251 SDLC, Async IBM 5251 SDLC, Async Direct Attachment of Host Ves Ves No Ves FllllCllonel Characterletlca Front-end Processor No No Ve. Ves Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 4 4 258 Not applicable Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 4 4 258 1 unit Is board level PU Type wtthln Network 2 2 Vendor did not specify 2, Software dependent Remote Line Concentrator Ves Ves Vendor did not specify No Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator 4 4 Vendor did not specify Not applicable Host-Independent Network Processor Ves Ves Ves No Host Channel Extender Ves Ves Vendor did not specify No Terminal Controller Ves Ves Vendor did not specify No Store-and-Forwerd Switching No No Vendor did not specify No DIstributed Processing Node Ves Ves Ves No Network Architecture Compliance SNA, BSC, async SNA, esc, async esc, X.25, TCP/IP BSC, X.25 Netlve Tl Support Ves Ves Ves No Number of Tl Unas Supported 2 2 1 Nona Communications Une Capacity No. Half-duplex Lines Attachable 2 T-l SPANS 2 T-l SPANS 8 4 or 16 w/expender Highest Une Speed Supported (bps) 19.2K 19.2K 1.544M 1M Communications Features/Functions Multiplexing/Demultlplaxing Ves Ves Vendor did not specify No Terminal-Initiated Application Switching Ves Ves Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Dynamic Une Reconfiguratlon Ves Ves Ves Vendor did not specify LAN Connectivity Token-ring Token-rlng Ethernet None Interface to Ethernet LAN No No Vas No Protocol Conversion Async to 3270 BSC Async to 3270 BSC lt25 to TCP/IP No Error Control Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Parity check w/retrsnsmlt Parity check w/retransmit on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC detection/correction, detection/correction, perlty parity \ r Syatam Cheracterletlca Processor Type Motorola 68030/68000 Motorola 68030/88000 MC68010 DEC MICRO/T-ll Main Memory Word Siza (bits) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 16 16 Main Memory Stora8e Cspaclty (bytes) 8M, 32 voice 8M, 32M voice 1M, 2M, 8M 512K Hard DIsk Storage apaclly (Mbytes) 4.3MB min.; 600 MB max. 4.3MB min.; 600 MB max. Not applicable Not appllceble Data Transfarrad Across 1/0 Lines Byte Byte Byte, block Software dependent Data Transfarrad Between: Memory and Communications Lines Interrupt Interrupt Interrupt DMA, Interrupt, Memory and Mass Storage Interrupt Interrupt Vendor did not specify Not applicable Memory and Other Peripherals Interrupt Interrupt DMA, Interrupt Not applicable I/O, Backup, and DIagnostic Peripherals Dlsketta, magnetic tape Diskette, magnetic tape FEP console FEP console Support for Remote Console Ves Ves Ves No Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities Ves Ves Ves Ve. Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented In Proprietary Proprietary Software Hardware, RAM IPL Method Intarnal self-load Download from hoat, Download from hoat Download from host Internal self-load User Programmability Via user-selected Via user-salected Via user-crested programs Via user-selected parametars, via parameters, via parametars, via user-creatad programs, via user_ted programs, via user-crested programs console console Network Manallement Control Diagnostic Tests Supportad Intamal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics Local/remote Ioopback, Local/remote loopback, port/llne status Intamal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, portfIlne status porI/lina status Data Collected Traffic loading, Traffic loading, Traffic loading, port Noda/llnk/software status, node/link/software status, nodefllnk/software status, statistics, link loading port statistics, trace, line outages, port llna outages, port llna hits, error rates, statistics, line hits, statistics, Iina hits, eventa arror ratas, events error rates, events PrIcIng and AY1IIIabIUty Purchase PrIce ($) 150,000.00 35Ktol50K Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Monthly Purchase ($) Vendor did not specify Vandor did not specify Vendor did not specify 295.00 Monthly Lease/Rentel ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Not applicable Date of First Commercial Delivery 1987 1987 September 1990 Vendor did not specify Servloed by Perlphonlcs Perlphonlcs Simpact Slmpact & DIgital equip. ( Commanta Connects dll'8ctiy to Connects dll'8ctiy to Hardware Includes board, digital speech ne!Wk. or digital speech netwk. or distribution panel, and digital PBX unit. digital PBX unit, cables Main memory storage 32 MB voice C) 1991 McGraW-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. MAV 1991 Detapro Research Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA ------.-.~.~ = '" .---~-~--.,- . "~~~-.~-.--,--~-,-- -~""------.------,-,~ -, ------C13-010-318 Communlcdona Datapro Reporta on Processors Proc...... 1 Data Communications Com,.rlaon Columna '\ Slmpact AaIocIatIe. Inc. Slmpect AI--'. Inc. SlmPIICI "-1Idea, Inc. SlmPIICI ~.. Inc. ,, ICP1832 VAUI .,...... ICP3222 ICP3232 VAXBI Syateml ICP8OOOfIOOO VMEIluI Compul8r SYIlWmI Interlaced Manufacturer/Models VAXBI Systems Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Direct Attachment of Host Ves Yea Yes Yea Functional Ch_rlatIca Front.. nd Processor Yea Yes Ves Ve. Max. H08I8 A!techeble to FEP Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable 1 Max. H08I8 Supported Simultaneously 1 1 1 1 PU Type within Network 2, Software dependent 2, Software dependent 2, 4, software dependent Not applicable Remote Une Conosntrator No No No Vendor did not specify Max. H08I8 Served by One Conosntrator Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Host-Independent Network Processor No No No No Host Channel Extender No No No Yea Terminal Controller No No No No Store-and-Forward Switching No No No No Distributed Processing Node No No No No Network Architecture Compllanos BSC, X.26 BSC, X.26 BSC, X.25 SSC, OSI, X.25 Native T1 Support No No No Yes Numbsr of Tl Lines Supported Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable 1 Communications Une Capacity No. Half-duplex Lines Attachable 4 4 4 18 Highest Une Speed Supported (bps) 1M 1M 1M 1.8M Communications Features/Functions Multiplexlng/Demultlplexlng No No No No Termlnal-Inltlsted Application Switching No No No No Dynamic Line Recon!lguratlon Vendor did not specify Vas No Yes LAN Connectivity Not applicable None None Vendor did not specify Interfaos to Ethernet LAN No No No Vendor did not specify Protocol Conversion No No No Vendor did not specify Error Control Parity check w/ratrensmlt Parity check w/retransmlt Parity check w/ratrensmlt Parity check w/retransmlt on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC& CRC on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC detection/correction, detection/correction, detection/correction, detection/correction, perlty parity parity parity System Charecterlatlca / Proosssor Type DEC MICRO/T-l1 MC88020 MC88020 MC88020 Main Memory Word Size (bits) 18, 18,32 32 32 32 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) 612K 1M 1M 1M Hard Disk Storage Capacity (Mbytes) Not applicable Not applicable Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Date Transferred Across I/O Lines Byte Byte Byte Block Date Transferred Batwean: Memory and Communications Unes DMA, Interrupt, DMA, Interrupt DMA, Interrupt DMA Memory and Mass Storage Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Vendor did not specify Memory and Other Peripherals Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Vendor did not specify I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals FEP console FEP console FEP console Vendor did not specify Support for Remote Console No No No Vendor did not specify Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities Yes Yes Yes Yes Communications Operating Software Operetlng System Implemented In Hardware, RAM Hardware, RAM Hardware, RAM Software IPL Method Download from host Download from hOSt Downlosd from host Download from host User Programmability Via user-selected Via user-selected Via user-selected Via uaer-selected paramsters, via parameters, via paramsters, .via parameters,vla uaer-created progrems user-created programs user-created programs user-created programs Network Management Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remote loopback, Local/remote Icopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote Ioopbsck, Internal diagnostics, Internal dlegnostlcs Internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics porIfllne status port/1lne status portlllne status Data Collected Node/link/software status, Node/llnk/software status, Node/link/software status, Port statistics, line hits, port atetlstlcs, traos, port statistiCS, traos, port statistics, traos, error ratas, link loading line hits, error rates, line hits, error rates, line hits, error retes, events events events PrIcing and Availability Purchaae Prlos ($) Contact vendor Contact vendor Contect vendor Contact vendor Monthly Purchase ($) 296.00 295.00 295.00 Vendor did not specify Month~ Lease/Rental ($) Not applicable Not applicable Vendor did not specify Vendor did not spaclfy Date 0 First Commercial Delivery Vendor did not SCfy Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify November 1989 Serviced by Digital Equip. & Impact Simpact Simpact Simpact Commanta ~--' MAV 1991 @ 1991 McGrew-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Reaearch Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA Datapro Reports on Communication. C13-010-317 Data Communications Proce...... : Processors Comparlaon Column. ( Syatech corp. Thomaa Englnaerlng Co. ThDmlle Engln.. rlng Co. TIL Sya""'a, Inc. DCP 1820 LAN·TEC UNI·TEC PDX Plue Computer Syatame Interfaced Manufacturer/Models VME Bus compatible systems LAN·Tec Unl·Tec TIL Systems with SNA HPAD. X.25. SDLC TPAD, Blsyn HPAD Direct Attschment of Host Yes No No No FunClional Characterletlca Front.. nd Processor Yes No No No Max. Hosts Attschable to FEP Vendor did not specify None None None Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously Vendor did not specify 8 4 with 32 users, 12 with 16 Vendor did not specify PU Type within Network Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 2 2 Remota Line Concentrator Vendor did not speCify No Yes Yes Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 20 SNA or X.25 Vendor did not specify Host-Independent Network Processor No Yes Yes Yes Host Channel Extender Yes No No No Terminal Controller Yes Yes Yes Yes Store-and· Forward Switching No No No Yes Distributed Processing Node Yes No No No Network Architecture Compliance SNA, BSC, X.25 BSC, VIP, Unlsoope SNA, BSC, X.25, VIP, SNA, BSC, X.25 Unlsoope, IPARS Native T1 Support Vendor did not specify No No No Number of T1 Lines Supported Vendor did not specify Not appllceble Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Communications Line Capeclty No. Half-duplex Lines Attschable 4 8 44 32 Highest Une Speed Supported (bps) 1.6Mb 19.2K 56K 64K Communications Features/Functions MuHlplexing/Demultlplexlng Yes Yes Yes No Termlnal-Inltlatad Application Switching No Yes Yes No Dynamic Une Reoonflguratlon Yes No Yes Vendor did not specify LAN Connectivity Vendor did not specl1y Token-ring, Arcnet Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Intarface to Ethernet LAN Vendor did not spec~ Yes No No Protoool Conversion A~C to 3270 BSC, DLS to Async to TCP/IP Async to 3270 BSC, asynch Async to 3270 BSC, SDLS to X. 5, async to X.25 to unlsoope, SDLS to X.25, X.25, async to X.25 async to X.25, Async to VIP Error Control Parity LRC & CRC Parity check w/retransmlt Vendor did not specify detection/oorrectlon, on error, LRC & CRC ( perHy detection/oorrectlcn Syetem Characterl8llce Processor Type Intel 186 Z8OB, Intel 286 Z8OB, MC68010, MC68000 NS32532 Main Memory Word Size (bHs) 8 Vendor did not specify 16 32 Main Memory Storage Capeclty (bytes) 512K 2M 512K to 8M 16 max. Hard Disk Storage CapacHy (Mbytes) Not applicable 20,40,80 No hard disk, 1.2M floppy Vendor did not specify Data Transferred Across 1/0 Lines Byte Byte, block Byte Byte Data Transferred Between: Memory and Communications Lines DMA, Interrupt Intarrupt Interrupt Intarrupt Memory and Mass Storage DMA, Interrupt DMA Interrupt Intarrupt Memory and Other Peripherals DMA, Interrupt Intarrupt Not applicable Intarrupt 1/0, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals Not applicable Dlsketts Dlsketta, prlntar Dlsketta Support for Remota Console Yes Yes Yes Yes Support for X.25 Level 3 Capebillties Yes No Yes Yes Communications Operating Software Operating Systam Implementad In Firmware Software Software Software IPL Method Download from host IPL dlsketta IPL dlsketta IPL dlsketta User ProgrammabliHy Via usar-salected Via usar-creatad programs Via user-selected Via user-salected perametars, via parameters, via oonsole perameters, via oonsole usar-(lreated programs Network Management Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remota loopback, Local/remota Ioopback, Internal diagnostics, Porl/llna status Internal diagnostics, Intamal dlagnoetlcs, problem determination, pori/line status problem determination, porlfllna status pori/line status Data Collected Vendor did not specify Traffic loading, Node/link/software status, Accounting, port accounting, port trace, events statlstica, trace, line statistics, trace, events, hits, error rates link loading PrIcing and Availability Purchase Price ($) Vendor did not specify 2,995.00 3,495.00 Vendor did not specify Monthly Purchase ($) Not applicable 25.00 90.00 Vendor did not specify Monthly Lease/Rentsl ($) Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable Vendor did not specl1y Data of First Commercial Delivery January 1987 July 1990 1985 Vendor did not specify (- Serviced by Systach Corp. Vendor did not specify Thomas Engineering Vendor did not specify C_ta Flexible channel Protocol oonverslon also Maximum number of configurations: R5-232, Inetudes to BSC, VIP, and hosts served !a' one R5-449/422, V.11, and V.35 Unlsoope oonoentrator VIP, Protoool oonvers.are Unisoope VIP to X.25 o 1991 McGrew-HIli, Inoorporated. Reproduction ProhibHed. MAY 1991 Datapro Research Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA --~ ~ ~~,~- "-~------"-~~-~ ~~------~-~~.. ,.~.,~.-~,=~~ .--~-~~~-=--.~ .. , . C13-010-318 COmmunlcatl.... Datapro Reports on Processors Pro... ,.. Data Communications COm,.rlaon Column. / TrI-Data Corp. Trl-DaIB Corp. Unleye Corp. Unleye Corp. " j NlltY(ay 1000 NlltY(ay 2000 CP2000 DCP/5 Computer SpteIM Interfaced Manufacturer/Models Most IBM systams Most IBM systams Unlsys A & V serles All models of Unlsys mainframes 1100/2200 and System 80 Direct Attachment of Host Ves Ves Ves No Function" Chlracl8rlatlca Front-end Processor No No Ves No Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 99 No Max. Hosts Supported Simuiteneously Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 99 Vendor did not specify PU Type within Network 2 2 2,5 2,4,5 Remote Une Concentrator No No Ves Ves Max. Hosta Served by One Concentrator Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Unlimited Any host In network Host-Independent Network Processor Ves Ves No Ves Host Channel Extender No No No No Terminal Controller No No Ves No Store-and-Forward Swltchlng No No No Ves DIstributed Processing Node Ves Ves No No Network Architecture Compliance SNA SNA SNA, OSI, X.25, Unlsys BNA, SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25, DON, TCP/IP X.21, Unl DCA Nattva Tl Support No Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify No Number of T1 Unes Supported Vendor did not specify 4 Vendor did not specify 11 Communlcetlons Une Capacity No. Half-duplex Lines Attachable Vendor did not spaclfy 4 58 11 (V.35) Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 19.2K 58/64K 64K 64K Communications Features/Functions MUIllPleXlng/DemUItiPIexI';Pc No No Ves Ves Terminal-Initiated Appllca on Switching Ves Ves Ves Ves Dynamic Line Reconftgurallon Ves Ves Ves Ves LAN ConnectMty LocelTalk (AppleTalk) Token-rlng,LocaITalk Vendor did not specify Ethernet Interface to Ethernet LAN No Ves Ves Ves Protocol Conversion SNA SNA SOLS to X.25, BDLC to ET "'ltnch to unlscope, SOLS to X.25 X. 5, esync to X.25, 3270/Unl, Unl/3270 Error Control LRC & CRC LRC & CRC Parity check w/retrensmlt Parity check w/retransmlt detection/correction detection/correction on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC detection/correction detection/correction, ARQ-CRC Syatem Chiracterllllca Processor Type Z80 clone, HD64180 SPARC Intel 80386 Proprlstary Main Memory Word Size (bits) 32 32 16 18 Main Memory Store8e Capacity (bytes) 4M 4M 5M 2M Hard Disk Storage apaclty (Mbytes) N/A Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 80 Data Trensferred Across I/O Unes Byte Byte Byte Byte Data Transferred Between: Memory and Communications Lines DMA DMA DMA, DMA end Interrupt DMA Memory and Mass Storage N/A N/A DMA and Interrupt DMA Memory and Other Peripherals DMA and Intarrupt DMA and Intarrupt Not appllceble DMA I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals MAC/PC MAC/PC Disk FEP console, diskette, patch penel, disk, printer Support for Remote Console Ves Ves Ves Ves Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities Vendor did not specify No Ves Ves Communications Operating Software Operating Systam Implemented In Software Softwara Software, firmware Software IPL Method Across-LAN automatic Across LAN; automatic Download from host Download from hOBt, IPL diskette User Programmability Via console Via console No Via user-craatad programs Network Management Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Internal diagnostics, Intarnal diagnostics, Local/ramote loopback, Local/remote Ioopbeck, problem determination, problem determination, Internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, porI/Ilne status portfllne status problem determination, problem determination, portfllne status portfllne status Data Collected Node/llnk/software status, Node/link/software status, Tramc loading, Traffic loading, line outages, port line outages, port node/llnk/sof!ware status, nodefllnk/software status, statistics, trace, line statistics, trace, line line outages, port line outages, port hits, evente hits, events statistics, trace, line statistics, trace, line hits, error ratas, link hits, error rates, link loading loading Pllclng Ind AveUlbll1ty Purchase Price ($) 2,195.00 to 3,195.00 14,995.00 18,888.00 9,800.00 Monthly Purchase ($) Vendor did not specify Not applicable 141.50 172.00 Monthly Lasse/Rentel ($) Vendor did not specify Not applicable 705.00 Vendor did not specify Data of First Commercial Dallvery May 1988 May 1989 1988 March 1989 Serviced by DEC DEC Unlsys Unlsys Comments When used as a front-end processor, multiple CP2000s are connected to the A & V " serles mainframes via 802.3 LAN MAV 1991 @ 1991 McGraW-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohlbltad. Datapro Research Group. Dalran NJ 08075 USA Datapro Reports on CommunlcaUoM C13-010-318 Data Communications Proceaaonl Processors Comparlaon Columns ( UnI.y. Corp. UnI.y. Corp. Unl.,. Corp. Un.,. Corp. DCP/15 DCP/25 DCP/30 DCP/35 Comp"'" Sy.tema Inlarl.ced Manufacturer/Models All models of Unlsys All models of Unlsys All models of Unlsys All models of Unlsys 1100/2200 and System 80 1100/2200 and System 80 1100/2200 and System 80 1100/2200 and System 80 Direct Attachment of Host Yes Yea Ves Ves FunClional Cllllrecterlatica Front·and Processor Yes Yea Ves Ves Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 2 8 21 21 Max. Hosts Supported Simuiteneously 2 8 21 21 PU Type within Network 2,4,5 2, 4, 5 2,4,5 2,4,5 Remote Une Concentrator Yea Ves Yea Yes Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator Any host In network Any host In network Vendor did not specify Any host In network Host-Independent Network Processor Yes Ves Ves Ves Host Channel Extender No No No No Terminal Controller No No No No Store-and-Forward Switching No No No No Distributed Processing Node No No No No Network Architecture Compllanca SNA, BSC, OSI, TCP/IP, X.21 SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25, SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25, SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25, clr.sw. TCP/IP, X.21 clr.sw. TCP/IP, X.21 clr.sw. ICP/IP, X.25 clr.sw. NaUve T1 Support Vendor did not specify Ves Yea Ves Number of Tl Lines Supported Vendor did not specify 2 3 3 Communications Une Capacity No. Half-duplex Lines Attachable 52 184 880 872 Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 84K WAN, 10M LAN 258K WAN, 10M LAN 1.544M/2.048M, Tl/El 1.544M/2.048M Communications Features/Functions Multtplaxing/Demultlplaxlng Yes Yea Ves Yea Terminal-Initiated Application Switching Yes Yea Ves Yes Dynamic Line Reconflguratlon Yes Yea Vendor did not specify Ves LAN Connectivity Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Ethernet Ethernet Interlaca to Ethernet LAN Ves Yea Yea Ves Protocol Conversion Asynch to unlscope, SOLS to T. to unlscope, SOLS to ~ch to unlsoopa, SOLS to Asynch to unlscope, SOLS to X.25, eayno to X.25, X. 5, .ync to X.25, X. ,async to X.25, X.25, async to X.25, 3270/Unl, Unl/3270 3270/Unl, Unlf3270 Unl/3270, 3270/Unl 3270/Unl, Unl/3270 Error Control Parity check w/retransmlt Parity check w/retransmlt Parity check w/retransmlt Parity check w/retransmit on error, LAC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC detectlon/correcUon, detection/correction, detection/correction, detacUon/correctlon, ((t ARQ-CRC ARQ-CRC ARQ-CRC ARC-CRC S,.tem Chllrecterlatlca Processor Type Proprletery Proprietary Proprletery Proprletery Main Memory Word Size (bits) 18 32 32 32 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) 4M 8M 8M 8M Hard Disk Storage Capacity (Mbytes) Vendor did not specify 2) 20MB per I/O module 20, 20MB per I/O module 2) 20 MB per I/O module Date Transferred Across I/O Lines Byte, block, word Byte, block, word Byte, block, word Byte, block, word Data Transferred Between: Memory and Communications Unes DMA DMA DMA DMA Memory and Mass Storage DMA DMA DMA DMA Memory and Other Peripherals Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, patch panel, disk, printer patch panel, disk, printer patch panel, disk, printer patch panel, printer Support for Remote Console Yes Yes Yes Yes Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities Yes Ves Ves Yea Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented In Software, firmware Software, firmware Software, firmware Software, firmware IPL Method Downlosd from host, IPL Download from host, IPL Download from host, IPL Download from host, IPL diskette diskette diskette diskette User Programmability Via user-craated programs Via user-selected Via user-created programs Vie user-created programs parameters Network Managament Control Dlagnosttc Tests Supported Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote Ioopbeck, Local/remote loopback, internal dlagnosttcs, Inlamal diagnostics, Internal dlagnosttcs, problem determlnatton, problam determination, problem determination, problem determination, port/line 818tus PDrllline stetus pori/line stetus PDrllline stetus Date Collected Trallic loading, Trallic loading, Trallic loading, Trallic loading, node/llnk/software stetus, noda/llnk/software stetus, nada/llnk/software stetus, node/llnk/software stetus, line outeges, port line outagas, port line outeges, port line outeges, port stetistlcs, traca, line stetistlcs, line hits, stetlsttcs, traca, line stetistlcs, traca, line hits, events, link loading error ratas, link loading hits, error rates, events, hits, error rates, events, link loading link loading Pricing and Availability Purchase Prica ($) 55,000.00 31,000.00 55,000.00 125,500.00 Monthly Purchase ($) 89.10 Vendor did not specify 175.00 Vendor did not specify Monthly Lease/Rentsl ($) 800.00 Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Dete of First Commercial Delivery April 1987 Vendor did not specify October 1988 Vendor did not specify Servlcad by Unisys Vendor did not specify Unlsys Vendor did not specify Commenta Up to 31 line module slots Up to 93 line module slots Required software is DCP/OS (" plus Tetcom 8R2 or higher release level. Up to 92 line module slots @ 1991 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. MAV 1991 Datepro Research Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA C13-010-320 Communication. Datapro Reports on Processors Proc... ora. Data Communications Comparl.on Column. Unlaya Corp. Unl.,. Corp. / DCP/50 DCP/55 Computer s,...... Inlltrfacecl Manufacturer/Models All modsls of Unlsys All models of Unlsys 1100/2200 and System 80 1100/2200 and System 80 Direct Attachment of Host Yes Yes Functional ChllraChlrlatlca Front-end Prooessor Yes Yes Max. Hosts Attacheble to FEP 56 48 Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 56 Unlimited PU Type within Network 2,4,5 2,4,5 Remote Une Concentrator Yes Yes Max. Hosts Served by Ona Concentrator Any host In network Any host In network Host-Independent Network Procaasor Yes Yes Host Channel Extender No No Terminal Controller No No Store-and-Forward Switching No No DIstributed Processing Node No No Network Architecture Compliance SNA, esc, OSI, X.25, X.21 SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25, circuit switch ICP/IP, X.21 clr.sw. Native Tl Support Yes Yes Number of Tl Lines Supported 12 12 Communications Une Capacity No. Half-duplex Unes Attachable 1912 1538 Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 1.544M/2.048M 1.544M/2.048M Communications Festures/Functlons Multlplexlng/Demultlplexlng Yes Yes Terminal-Initiated Application Switching Yes Yes Dynamic Line Reconfiguratlon Yes Yes LAN Connectivity Ethernet Ethernet Interface to Ethernet LAN Vendor did not Specl~ Yes ProtoooI Conversion As~ to UnlS~, DLS to Asynch to unlacopa, SOLS to X. 5, async to X. , X.25, esync to X.25, 3270/Unl, Unl/3270 3270/Uni, Unl/3270 Error Control Parity check w/retransmlt Parity check w/retransmit on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC detection/correction, detectlon/corraction, ARQ-CRC ARQ-CRC System Characteristics Processor Type Proprlstery Proprletery Main Mamory Word Size (bits) 32 32 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) 8M 16 Hard Disk Storage Capacity (Mbytes) 2) 20M per I/O module 2)20M per I/O Date Transferred Across I/O Lines Byte. block. word Byte, block, word Date Transferred Batwesn: Memory and Communications Lines DMA DMA Memory and Mass Storage DMA DMA Mamory and Other Peripherals DMA Vendor did not specify I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals FEP console, dlsketta, FEP console, diskette, patch panel, disk, printer patch panel, mag.tepe, Support for Remote Console Yes Yes Support for X.25 Lavel 3 Capabilities Yes Yes Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented In Software, firmware Software, firmware IPL Method Download from host, IPL Download from host diskette Ussr Programmability Via ussr-created programs Via user-created programs Network Management Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remote Ioopback, Local/remote loopback, Internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, problam dstermlnatlon, problem determination, port/line status port/line status Date Collected Trafllc loading, Trafllc loading, nods/link/software status, node/link/SOftware status, line outages, port line outages, port statistics, trace, line statistics, trace, line hlta, error ratas, events, hits, error ratas, events, link loading link loading PrIcIng and Availability Purchass PrIce ($) 275,000.00 398.00 Monthly Purchase ($) 595.00 Vendor did not specify Monthly Lasse/Rental ($) 4,680.00 Vandor did not specify Dste of First Commercial Delivery December 1987 Vendor did not specify /'-- Serviced by Unlsys Vendor did not specify Up to 247 line module Required software Is DCP/OS slots; three lOP In a Telcom 9R/or highest single 10M release leVel. Thres lOP In a slngie 10M • MAY 1991 CI 1991 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated: Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Resesrch Group. Delran NJ 08075 USA Datapro Reports on C13-010-301 Data Communications Processors ( Communications Processors: Comparison Columns In this report: Synopsis Vendors ...... -302 Editor's Note In addition to the lines allocated for For information on the communica vendors to indicate specified infor Comparison tions processor market, see Report mation for their models, we have Columns ...... -305 C 13-0 10-10 1; for information on added space at the bottom of the col communications processor technol- umns for vendor notations about ogy, see Report C13-010-201. To options or special features of their assist readers in researching the com products. munications processor market, this report contains comparison columns The absence of any company or ( listing the principal characteristics of product from these columns means 42 products offered by 16 vendors. that the company either failed to re spond to our repeated requests for In the Comparison Column Entry information or declined to be part of Descriptions, we have briefly defined the survey. the comparison column entries used in the columns. We suggest that the reader consult the key to become fa miliar with the descriptions of the entries before reading the columns. Vendors furnished information for the columns during January and Feb ruary 1990. When a vendor did not provide information for a specific entry, and we could not locate that information in our files, we have listed "Vendor did not specify" on the appropriate line. Datapro wishes to thank the vendors for their coop eration. ( © 1990 McGraw· Hill. Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. MAY 1990 Delran NJ 08075 USA C13-010-302 Communications Datapro Reports on Processorsl Data Communications Processors Comparison Columns Infotron Systems Corp. 9 N. Olney Avenue Cherry Hill, NJ 08003 (609) 424-9400 International Business Machines Corp. (IBM) Vendors Old Orchard Road Armonk, NY 10504 Contact your local IBM representative. Lemcom Systems, Inc. 2104 W. Peoria Avenue Phoenix, AZ 85029 (602) 944-1543 Amdahl Communications NCRComten 1250 E. Arques A venue, MS 200 2700 Snelling Avenue N. Sunnyvale, CA 94088 (408) 746-6000 St. Paul, MN 55113 (612) 638-7777 Bull HN Worldwide Information Systems NTX Communications Corp. Technology Park, 2 Wall Street 508 Tasman Drive Billerica, MA 01821-4199 (617) 895-6000 Sunnyvale, CA 94089 (408) 747-1444 Chi Corp. Periphonics Corp. 31200 Carter Street 4000 Veterans Highway Solon, OH 44139 (216) 349-8600 Bohemia, NY 11716 (516) 467-0500 Computer Communications, Inc. SBE 2610 Columbia Street 2400 Bisso Lane Torrance, CA 90503 (213) 320-9101 Concord, CA 94520 (415) 680-7722 Computer Network Technology Corp. Thomas Engineering Co. 6655 Wedgwood Road 2440 Stanwell Drive Maple Grove, MN 55369 (612) 420-4466 Concord, CA 94520 (415) 680-8640 Computerm Corp. Unisys Corp. 100 Wood Street P.O. Box 500 Pittsburgh, PA 15222 (412) 391-7804 Blue Bell, PA 19424 (215) 986-4011 Control Data Corp. Computer Products Div. / 8100 34th Avenue S., P.O. Box 0 Minneapolis, MN 55440 (612) 853-8100 MAY 1990 © 1990 McGraw-Hill, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. Delran NJ 08075 USA Datapro Reports on Communications C13-010-303 Data Communications Processors: Comparison Columns Processors f Store-and-Forward TerlJ'linal-initiated Appli- Communications Message-Switching. cations Switching. This Some processors can entry indicates that the Processors function as standalone, processor, at the termi- Comparison Column store-and-forward mes- nal's request, supports sages switches. the selection of applica- tions within a session be- Entry Descriptions Distributed Processing tween an attached Node. In addition to their terminal and an attached principal networking func- host. tions, some processors Computer Systems 37X5, SNAfSDLC, ACP, can support distributed Dynamic Line Reconfigu- Interfaced NCP, CTCA, EP, and applications. ration. Vendors noted if the processor can switch Manufacturer/Models. If 3270 BSC. Network Architecture a session, without opera- processors serve IBM Compliance. Some com- PU Type within Network. tor intervention, from a and plug-compatible munications processors This entry indicates the connection with a failed mainframes, the vendor function exclusively within physical unit (PU) type line or component to a indicated that information their vendors' network within the network. These healthy connection when here. Vendors of proces- architectures; others sup- devices are also known it senses the failure. sors operating in open port open architectures network architectures as Node Types (NT). The most common types are such as X.25. If a proces- Interface to Ethernet also listed the computers PU Type 1, PU Type 2, PU sor supports no network LAN. If the processor can interfaced here. Type 4, and PU Type 5. architecture, it may be a connect to an Ethernet Direct Attachment to transparent device. Local Area Network Remote Line Concentra- Host. This entry distin- (LAN), it is noted here. tor. A "yes" response Communications Line guishes between a front- ( indicates that the proces- Capacity protocol Conversion. end processor and a sor can serve as a line No. Half-Duplex Lines Some of the popular network processor, which concentrator located re- Attachable. In half-duplex forms of protocol conver- do not connect directly to motely from any host pro- operation, transmission sion are async to 3270 the host. cessor in its network. occurs alternately in ei- BSC, async to Uniscope, Functional ther direction, but not in SDLC to X.25, and async Max. Hosts Served by Characteristics both simultaneously. This to X.25. One Concentrator. Since Front-End Processor. entry lists the number of many concentrators can Code Conversion. The The front-end processor half-duplex lines attach- serve more than one host, most common code con- (FEP) intercepts and han- able to the processor. vendors noted the maxi- version is from ASCII to dies communications ac- mum number here. Highest Line Speed Sup- IBM's EBCDIC. Baudot to tivities for the host. ported (bps). Vendors ASCII can also occur. Host-Independent Net- Max. Hosts Attachable to filled in line speeds in bits work Processor. Some Error Control. Some types FEP. In this space, the per second (bps). models can control a net- of error control tech- vendor noted the highest work based on open ar- Communications niques are parity checking number of hosts that can chitecture without the Features with retransmit, parity be channel-attached to direction of a host com- Multiplexing/ checking, longitudinal re- the system. puter. Demultiplexing. Multi- dundancy check (LRC) Max. Hosts Supported plexing refers to the and cyclic redundancy Host Channel Extender. Simultaneously. This en- division of a transmission check (CRC), and auto- The architectures of some try notes the highest num- faCility into two or more matic repeat request processors enable them ber of hosts that can be channels, either by split- (ARQ)-cyclic redundancy to function as host chan- active at the same time. ting the frequency band check (CRC). nel extenders. into narrower bands or by System IBM Emulation. Some allotting a common chan- Terminal Controller. The Characteristics types of IBM emulation nel to several different architectures of some Processor Type. Some of performed by the commu- information channels. De- processors enable them the processors are propri- ( nications processors in- multiplexing restores the to function as terminal etary. Other widely used clude 270X/370X, 370X/ datastream to its original controllers. processors are Tymnet, number of channels. Motorola 6800, Z80B, © 1990 MCGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. MAY 1990 Delran NJ 08075 USA C13-010-304 Communications Datapro Reports on Processors: Data Communications Processors Comparison Columns ,/ '\. \~... MC68010, MC68020, LSI has access to main mem- Support for X.25 Level 3 and local loop back, port! 11/23, LSI 11/73, Intel ory, and other compo- Capabilities. X.25 is a link status, and internal 186, and Intel 286. nents must interrupt the CCITT recommendation diagnostics. CPU to read from or write that specifies the inter- Main Memory Word Size Data Collected. The pro- information to main mem- face between user data (bits). In most cases, the cessor can collect data ory. In others, micropro- terminal equipment (DTE) main memory word size is relating to traffic loading, cessors in the subsidiary and packet-switching data also the width of the pro- line outages, line hits, link components share control circuit-terminating equip- cessor's internal trans- loading, node/link/ of main memory with the ment (DC E). X.25 Level 3 mission path along its software status, port sta- CPU and can read and defines procedures for bus. tistics, error rates, write memory on their call initiation, data trans- accounting, trace, and Main Memory Storage own. The latter process is fer, interrupts, reset, re- events. Capacity (bytes). This called direct memory ac- start, and clearing. entry lists the capacity of cess (DMA). Pricing and Operating Software main memory in bytes. availability I/O, Backup, and Diag- Operating System Imple- Large main memory ca- Purchase Price ($). Ven- nostic Peripherals Sup- mented in. This entry ex- pacity is useful for trans- dors provided the price of ported. Most plains how the processor mission with high-speed the unit, excluding any communications proces- stores its control pro- protocols in which large options. sors interact only with gram: wired directly into blocks of data must be their attached hosts and the hardware; in software Date of First Commercial stored for retransmission terminals, relying on host that must be loaded into Delivery. The the date on in case of error. disk systems for storage memory from the outside; which the product Data Unit Transferred and on host software for in firmware (local read- reached the marketplace. across I/O Channel. detailed diagnostics. only memory) on-board Serviced by. Usually the Communications proces- Some newer models, the processor; or in some vendor offers service on sors configured as front however, support local combination of these. / an on-site or factory .' ends transfer data to and disk storage for control IPL Method. This entry repair/return basis. In from the host through an software, traffic, and sup- indicates how the proces- some cases, a third party I/O channel. The width, in port information and fea- sor receives its initial pro- provides the service. bits, of the I/O channel, ture diagnostic consoles gram load (IPL): from its along with the communi- for direct operator inter- host processor, from a Comments. This space cations processor's main vention. locally attached diskette affords vendors the op- memory word size, yields Support for Remote Con- activated by an operator, portunity to describe sig- the level of data trans- sole. Some processors or from on-board read- nificant or unusual ferred (e.g., byte or that support local opera- only memory. features, capabilities, or block). tors' consoles can also applications that are not Network reflected in the standard Data Support, Memory support an operator's Management/Control entries. and Comm. Lines. In console attached over Diagnostic Tests Sup- some communications communications lines. ported. Examples of diag- processors, only the CPU nostic tests are remote MAY 1990 © 1990 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. Delran NJ 08075 USA Datapro Reports on Communications C13-010-305 Data Communications Processors: Processors Comparison Columns ( Vendor Amdahl Communications Amdahl Communications Bull HN Worldwide Bull HN Worldwide Information Systems Infonnation Systems Product Amdahl 4745-110 Amdahl 4745-210 DATANET 8/05 DPS 7000 DATANET 8/10 Computer Systems Interfaced Manufacturer/Models 370 class mainframes 370 class mainframes Bull DPS 7000 Bull DPS7, DPS7000, DPS8, DPS8000, DPS88, DPS90, DPS9000 Direct Attachment to Host Yes Yes Yes Yes Functional Characteristics Front-end Processor Yes Yes Yes Yes Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 4 8 1 lor 2 Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 2 6 1 lor 2 IBM Emulation 270X/370X, ACP, EP, 270X/370X, ACP, EP, 370X/37X5, NCP 370X/37X5, NCP 370X/37X5, NCP, SNA/SDLC 370X/37X5, NCP, SNA/SDLC PU Type within Network PU Type 4 PU Type 4 PU Type 5, DSA node/FE to DSA node host Remote Line Concentrator Yes Vendor did not specify No Yes Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator SNA/NCP-defined SNA/NCP-defined 1,000 1,000 Host-Independent Network Processor No No No Yes Host Channel Extender No No No No Terminal Controller No No Yes Yes Store-and-Forward Switching No No No No Distributed Processing Node No No No No Network Architecture Compliance SNA, BSC, X.25 SNA, BSC, X.25 BSC, OSI, X.25, DSA BSC, OSI, DSA Communications Line Capacity No. Half-Duplex Lines Attachable 64 256 15 31 Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 256K 256K 64K 64K Communications Features/Functions Multiplexing/Demultiplexing No No Yes Yes Terminal-Initiated Applications Switching No No Yes Yes Dynamic Line Reconfiguration No No Yes Yes Interface to Ethernet LAN No No No No Protocol Conversion SDLC to X.25, async to X.25 SDLC to X.25, async to X.25 Async, VIP, DSC, RCI Async, VIP, DSC, RSI Code Conversion ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC Error Control Parity check w/retransmit Parity check w /retransmit Parity check w/retransmit Parity check w /retransmit on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC ( detection/correction, detection/correction, detection/correction, detection/correction, parity, ARQ-CRC parity parity parity System Characteristics Processor Type Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Main Memory Word Size (bits) 16 16 16 16 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) 8M 8M 2M 2M Data Transferred Across I/O Channel Byte, block Byte, block Word, (36 bit) Word (36 bit) Data Transfer Supported between: Memory and Comm. Lines DMA & interrupt DMA & interrupt DMA & interrupt DMA & interrupt Memory and Mass Storage DMA & interrupt DMA & interrupt Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Memory and Other Peripherals Interrupt Interrupt DMA DMA I/O, Backup, and DiagnostiC Peripherals FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, FEP console, hosl/mainframe patch panel, disk patch panel, disk host/mainframe Support for Remote Console Yes Yes Yes Yes Support for X.25 Level 3 Capebilities Yes Yes Yes Yes Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented in Software Software Software, firmware Software, firmware IPL Method Host download, internal Host download, internal Host download, IPL Host download, self-load, hard disk self-load, IPL & hard disk diskette, tele-Ioad tele-Ioad User Programmability No No No No Network Management/Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, internal diagnostiCS, internal diagnostics, problem determination, problem determination, problem determination, problem determination, port/line status port/line status port/line status, network port/line status, network management management Data Collected NPA NetView statistics NetView/NPA Traffic loading, Traffic loading, node/link/software status, node/link/software status, accounting, line outages, accounting, line outages, port statistiCS, trace, port statistics, trace, error rates, events, link error rates, events, link loading loading Pricing and Availability Purchase Price ($) 100,650.00 132,000.00 12,000.00 33,890.00 Monthly Maintenance ($) 303.00 319.00 150.00 244.00 Monthly Lease/Rental ($) Not available Not available Vendor did not specify 1,160.00 Date of First Commercial Delivery June 1986 June 1988 September 1987 September 1985 (~ Serviced by Amdahl Amdahl Bull Worldwide Info Sys Bull Worldwide Info Sys Comments Runs NCP-3 or NCP-4 Runs NCP-3 or NCP-4 and and NCP-5; runs in 3725 NCP-5; runs In 3725 mode or mode or 3745 mode 3745 mode © 1990 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. MAY 1990 Delran NJ 08075 USA C13-010-306 Communications Datapro Reports on Processors Procassors: Data Communications Comparison Columns '\ Vendor BuU HN Worldwide Bull HN Worldwide Chi Corp. Computer Communications, Information Systems Information Systema Inc. / Product DATANET 8/20 DATANET 8/30 CCP 3206 Date Express Computer Syatems Interfaced Manufacturer/Models DPS7, DPS7000, DPS8, DPS88, Bull DPS7, DPS7000, DPS8, Sperry 11 ~O, 2200 Any host SNA compatible, DPS90, DPS8000, DPS9000 DPS8000, DPS89, DPS90, SM compatible, TCP/IP DPS9000 compatible Direct Attachment to Host Yes Yes Yes Yes Functional Characteristics Front-end Processor Yes Yes Yes Yes Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 4 4 2 Open-ended Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 4 4 2 Open-ended IBM Emulation 370X/37X5, NCP 370X/37X5, NCP 3270 BSC 270X/370X, ACP, 370X/37X5, SNA/SDLC PU Type within Network PU Type 2, PU Type 4, DSA PU Type 2, PU Type 4, DSA PU Type 2 PU Type 2 node node Remote Line Concentrator Yes Yes Yes Yes Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator 1,000 1,000 Unlimited 256 Host-Independent Network Processor Yes Yes Yes Yes Host Channel Extender No No No Yes Terminal Controller Yes Yes Yes Yes Store-and-Forward Switching No No No Yes Distributed Processing Node No No No Yes Network Architecture Compliance SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25, DSA SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25, DSA OSI, X.25, TCP/IP SNA, X.25, TCP/IP Communications Line Capacity No. Half-Duplex Lines Attachable 127 127 16-line expansion 256 Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 2.5M 2.50M 64K Tl Communications Features/Functions Multiplexing/Demultiplexing Yes Yes Yes Yes Terminal-Initiated Applications Switching Yes Yes Yes Yes Dynamic Line Reconfiguration Yes Yes Yes Yes Interface to Ethernet LAN No No Yes Yes Protocol Conversion SDLC to X.25 SDLC to X.25, async, VIP, Async to uniscope SDLC to X.25, async to BSC, RCI X.25, ALC, TCP/IP Code Conversion ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC Error Control Parity check w/retransmit Parity check w/retransmit LRC & CRC Parity check w/retransmlt on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC detection/correction on error, LRC & CRC detection/correctIOn, detectIOn/correctiOn, detection/correction, parity parity parity, ARQ-CRC System Characteristics Processor Type Proprietary Proprietary Concurrent Computer 3205 Motorola 6600 Main Memory Word Size (bits) 16 16 32 18 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) 2M 2M 8M 8M Data Transferred Across I/O Channel Word (36 bit) Word (36 bit) Byte Byte, file, blOck Data Transfer Supported between: Memory and Comm. Lines DMA & interrupt DMA & Interrupt DMA & interrupt DMA & interrupt Memory and Mass Storage Not applicable Vendor did not specify Byte or ESI channel DMA & interrupt Memory and Other Peripherals DMA DMA DMA & interrupt DMA & interrupt I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, FEP console MagnetiC tape Host/mainframe host/mainframe Support for Remote Console Yes Yes Vendor did not specify Yes Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities Yes Yes Yes Yes Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented in Software, firmware Software, firmware Software Software, firmware IPL Method Host download, IPL Host download, IPL Host download Disk diskette, tele-Ioad diskette, tele-load User Programmability No No Via user-selected Via user-selected parameters parameters, via console Network Management/Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, problem determination, problem determinatIOn, port/line status problem determination, port/line status, network port/line status, network porl/llna status management management Data Collected Traffic loading, Traffic loading, Node/link/software status, Traffic loading, node/link/software status, node/link/software status, port statistics node/link/software status, accounting, line outages, accounting, line outages, accounting, line outages, port statistics, trace, port statistics, trace, port statisticS, trace, error rates, events, link error rates, events, link line hits, error rates, loading loading events, link loading Pricing and AveUabil1ty Purchase Price ($) 47,990.00 47,990.00 35,000.00 Vendor did not specify Monthly Maintenance ($) 329.00 329.00 300.00 Vendor did not specify Monthly Lease/Rental ($) 1,640.00 1,640.00 Not available Vendor did not specify Date of First Commercial Delivery September 1965 September 1965 1965 Vendor did not specify Serviced by Bull Worldwide Info Sys Bull Worldwide Info Sys Chi Corp. Vendor did not specify "- Comments Fully compliant TCP/IP and Ethernet support; allows for PC LAN Interface to 1100s with full UTS emulation at each PC MAY 1990 @ 1990 McGraw-Hili; Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Detapro Research. Delran NJ 08075 USA Datapro Reports on Communications C13-01 0-307 Data Communications Processors: Processors Comparison Columns ( Vendor Computer Network Technology Computenn Corp. Control Date Corp. Control Date Corp. Corp. Product CHANNELlink 3800/3890 channel extension CDCNET 2600 Series Distributed Network System system (DNS) Computer Systems Interfaced Manufacturer/Models IBM S/370 & compal.. Cray IBM S/370, 43XX. 30XX. and Control Data Corp. IBM & compatibles. Unisys, Supercomputers. DEC/VAX-BI compatibles CDCNET 2600 Series Digital Equipment, AT&T, Bus Control Data Direct Attechment to Host Yes Yes Yes Yes Functional Charactarietics Front-end Processor Yes Yes Yes Yes Max. Hosts Attechable to FEP 8/unit 7 2 16 Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 255/network 7 2 16 IBM Emulation CTCA Not applicable 3270 BSC, SNA/SDLC CTCA PU Type within Network PU Type 1, PU Type 2, Not applicable PU Type 2 PU Type 5 channel attached Remote Line Concentrator Yes Yes Yes Yes Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator 255 7 All connected to LAN 64 comm line connect Host-Independent Network Processor Yes Yes Yes Yes Host Channel Extender Yes Yes No Yes Terminal Controller No No Yes Yes Store-and-Forward Switching Yes No Yes No Distributed Processing Node Yes No Yes Yes Network Architecture Compliance SNA, BSC, TCP/IP Transparent OSI, X.25 SNA, BSC, X.25 Communications Line Capecity No. Half-Duplex Lines Attechable 16 8 64 per 01 192 Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 100.0M 1.544M (T1) 256K 1.544M clear channel Communications Features/Functions Multiplexing/Demultiplexing Yes No Yes No Tenninal-Initiated Applications Switching No Yes Yes Yes Dynamic Line Reconfiguration Yes No Yes Yes Intertace to Ethernet LAN Yes No Yes Yes Protocol Conversion Yes No Async to X.25 BSC-SNA, SNA-BSC Code Conversion None None ASCII to EBCDIC, Vendor did not specify international sets Error Control LRC & CRC LRC & CRC Parity check w/retransmit Parity check w/retransmit detection/correction detection/correction on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC ( detection/correction detection/correction System Charactaristics Processor Type MC68020, MC68000 IBM Series/l MC680oo, 68020, 68030 Proprietary Main Memory Word Size (bits) 32 16 16 24 Main Memory Storage CapacHy (byles) 10M 512K 1M, 2M, 3M, 4M, 8M, 12M 3M Date Transferred Across I/O Channel Block Byle, block Block Block Data Transfer Supported between: Memory and Comm. Lines DMA DMA DMA & interrupt DMA Memory and Mass Storage Not applicable None Not available DMA Memory and Other Peripherals PC DMA Interrupt DMA I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals Remote dial-in access FEP console, diskette FEP console, printer FEP console SUpport for Remote Console Yes Yes Yes Yes Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities No No Yes Yes Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented in Finnware Software, finnware Hardware, software, firmware Software IPL Method Internal self-load Internal self-load, IPL Host download Internal self-load, remote diskette console User Programmability Via user-selected User configurable Via user-selected No parameters parameters Network Management/Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remote loopback, Internal diagnostics Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, problem determination, port/line status problem determination, port/line status, remote port/line status problem resolution Data Collected Traffic loading, Traffic loading, line Traffic loading, Traffic loading, node/link/software status, outages, trace, error node/link/software status, node/link/software status, line outages, port rates, realtime monitor accounting, line outages, line outages, port statistiCS, trace, line port statistics, trace, statistics, trace, line hits, error rates, events, line hits, error rates, hits, error rates, events, link loading events, link loading link loading Pricing and Availability Purchase Price ($) 45,000.00 73,000.00 13,670.00 Vendor did not specify Monthly Maintenance ($) Vendor did not specify 613.00 70.00 Vendor did not specify Monthly Lease/Rental ($) Vendor did not specify 1,621.00 Not available Not available Date of First Commercial Delivery January 1987 December 1982 December 1985 1986 Serviced by Storage Technology Computerm and IBM Control Data Corp. Control Data Corp. (- Commenta Channel extension support A modular multinode local CHANNELIink delivers networking solutions for for printers, CRTs, check area network product with date center consolidation, sorters, mag tape, and EEPs extended features including disaster recovery, multiple with satellite-efficient front-end functions data centers protocols @ 1990 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. MAY 1990 Delran NJ 06075 USA C13-010-308 Communications Datapro Reports on Processors Processors: Data Communications Comparison Columns " \ Vendor Inlolron Systems Corp. Infolron Systems Corp. Infotron Systems Corp. International Buslnaaa Machlna. Corp. (IBM) \", /' Product 892NP 990NP 992NP IBM 3270 Computer Systems Interlaced Manufacturer/Models Not applicable Not applicable Not applicable IBM 43XX, 303X, 308X, 309X Direct Attachment to Host No No No Yes Functional Characteristics Front-end Processor No No No Yes Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP None None None 4 Max. Hosts Supported SimuRaneously None Over 10 Over 10 4 IBM Emulation None 3270 BSC 3270 BSC Yes PU Type within Network None None None Vendor did not specify Remote Line Concentrator Yes Yes Yes Yes Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator 2 Over 10 Over 10 4 Host-Independent Network Processor Yes Yes Yes No Host Channel Extender No No No No Terminal Controller No No No No Store-and-Forward Switching No No No No Distributed Processing Node Yes Yes Yes No Network Architecture Compliance Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary SNA Communications Line Capacity No. Half-Duplex Lines Attachable 104 channels 840 640 28 Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 64K 64K 64K 64K Communications Features/Functions Multiplexing/DemuRiplexlng Yes Yes Yes Yes Terminal-Initiated Applications Switching Yes Yes Yes No DynamiC Line Reconfiguration Yes Yes Yes Yes Interlace to Ethernet LAN No No No No Protocol Conversion No No No Yes Code COnversion None None None Yes Error Control ARQ-CRC ARQ-CRC ARQ-CRC LRC & CRC detection/correction ,./ System Characteristics Processor Type 6502,60186 6502, 8086, 80186 6502, 8086, 60186 Proprletery Main Memory Word Size (bits) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 18 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 1M, to 2M Data Transferred Across I/O Channel Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Block Data Transfer SuppOrted between: Memory and Comm. Lines DMA & Interrupt DMA & interrupt DMA & interrupt DMA Memory and Mass Storage Not applicable Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify DMA Memory and Other Peripherals Not applicable Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify DMA I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals FEP console, network FEP console, disketta FEP console, diskette FEP console manager Support for Remote Console Yes Yes Yes Yes Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities No Yes Yes Yes Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented In Firmware Software, firmware Software, firmware Software IPL Method Internal self-load EEPROM EEPROM Internal self-load User Programmability Via console Via console Via console Yes Network Management/Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remote loopback, Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify problem determination Data Collected Traffic loading, line Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify outages, trace, error rates, events Pricing and Availability Purchase Price ($) 11,200.00 20,000.00 20,000.00 Vendor did not specify Monthly Maintenance ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Monthly Lease/Rental ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Date of First Commercial Delivery October 1986 June 1964 June 1984 1986 Serviced by Infotron Infotron Infotron IBM -'''. Commente 8 nodes per network; Provides adaptive routing; Provides adaptive routing; Contact local IBM rep. ANM-800 network manager comprehensive network comprehensive network optional; multiple links up management features; bisync management features; bisync to 64K, auto aRemate emulation and emulation and routing async/BSC/SOLC support async/BSC/SDLC support MAY 1990 @ 1990 McGraW-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduotlon Prohibited. Oatapro Research. Delran NJ 06075 USA ,-~~-,-~ .... -----~~--- Datapro Reports on Communications C13-010-309 Data Communications Processors: Processors Comparison Columns Vendor International Busine.. International Buslne.. International Bualne•• International Busine.. ( Machines Corp. (IBM) Machine. Corp. (IBM) Machine. Corp. (IBM) Machines Corp. (IBM) Product IBM 3725 IBM 3745 130 IBM 3745 150 IBM 3745 170 Computer Systems Interfaced Manufacturer/Models IBM S/370 (except Models IBM 43XX, 937X, 308X, 3090 IBM 43XX, 937X, 308X, 3090 IBM 43XX, 937X, 308X, 3090 115 & 125), 303X Direot Attaohment to Host Ves Ves Ves Ves Functtonal Characteristics Front-end Processor Ves Ves Ves Ves Max. Hosts Attaohable to FEP 8 4 4 4 Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 8 Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not speoify IBM Emulation 270X/370X Ves Ves Ves PU Type within Network Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Remote Line Concentrator Ves Ves Ves Ves Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator 8 Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Host-Independent Network Processor No No No No Host Channel Extender No No No No Terminal Controller No No No No Store-and-Forward Switching No No No No Distributed Processing Node No No No No Network Architecture Compliance SNA SNA SNA SNA Communications Line Capacity No. Half-Duplex Lines Attaohable 258 w/expanslon Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not speoify Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 256K (LIC Type 4B) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Communications Features/Functions Multiplexing/Demultiplexing Ves Ves Ves Ves Terminal-Initiated Applications Switching No No No No Dynamio Line Reoonfiguration Ves Ves Ves Ves Interface to Ethernet LAN No No No No Protocol Conversion Ves Ves Ves Ves Code Conversion Ves Ves Ves Ves Error Control LRC & CRC LRC & CRC LRC & CRC LRC & CRC ( detection/correction detection/correction detection/correction detection/correction System Characteristics Processor Type Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Proprietary Main Memory Word Size (bits) 18 18 18 18 Main Memory Storage Capaoity (bytes) 3M Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Data Transferred Across I/O Channel Block Block Block Block Data Transfer Supported between: Memory and Comm. Lines DMA DMA DMA DMA Memory and Mass Storage DMA DMA DMA DMA Memory and Other Peripherals DMA DMA DMA DMA I/O, Baokup, and Diagnostio Peripherals FEP console FEP console FEP console FEP console Support for Remote Console Ves Ves Ves Ves Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities Ves Ves Ves Ves Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented in Software Software Software Software IPL Method Internal self-load Internal self-load Internal self-load Internal self-load User Programmability Ves Ves Ves Ves Network Management/Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Vendor did not speolfy Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Data Collected Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not speoify Pricing and Availability Purchase Price ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Monthly Maintenance ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Monthly Lease/Rental ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Date of Flrs1 Commercial Delivery 1983 . 1989 1989 1989 Serviced by IBM IBM IBM IBM (- Commente Contact local IBM rep. Contact local I BM rep. Contact local IBM rep. Contact local IBM rep. @ 1990 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. MAV 1990 Delran NJ 08075 USA C13-010-310 Communications Datapro Reports on Processors Processors: Data Communications Comparison Columns -", Vendor International Business International BuslneS8 Lemcom Systems, Inc. Lemcom Systems, Inc. Machine. Corp. (IBM) Machines Corp. (IBM) j Product IBM 3745 210 IBM 3745 410 Distributed Network DNP 9000 Processor Computer Systems Interlaced Manufacturer/Models IBM S/370, 43XX, 937X, IBM S/370, 43XX, 937X, Vendor did not specify Lemcom Systems, Inc. DNP 3033, 308X, 3080 3033, 308X, 3080 9000 Direct Attachment to Host Yes Yes Yes Yes Functional Characteristics Front-end Processor Yes Yes Yes Yes Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 16 16 32 16 Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 8 8 32 16 IBM Emulation Yes Yes 270X/370X, EP, 370XI37X5, 3270 BSC, SNA/SDLC, CTCA, 3270 BSC, SNA/SDLC, CTCA ASCII, custom PU Type within Network Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify PU Type 2, PU Type 4 PU Type 2, PU Type 4 Remote Line Concentrator Yes Yes Yes Yes Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator Unlimited Unlimited 32 16 Host-Independent Network Processor No No Yes Yes Host Channel Extender No No No No Terminal Controller No No Yes Yes Store-and-Forward Switching No No No No Distributed Processing Node No No Yes Yes Network Architecture Compliance SNA, X.25 SNA, X.25 SNA,BSC SNA, BSC Communications Line Capacity No. Half-Duplex Lines Attachable 512 512 1,024 Over 1,000 Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 1.544M 1.544M 64K 2.0486M Communications Features/Functions Multlplexing/Dsmultiplexing Yes Yes Vendor did not specify Yes Terminal-Initiated Applications Switching No No Yes Yes Dynamic Line Reconfiguration Yes Yes Vendor did not specify Yes Interface to Ethernet LAN No No Vendor did not specify No Protocol Conversion Yes Yes Async to 3270 BSC, async to Async to 3270 BSC, BSC to 3270 SDLC SDLC Code Conversion Yes Yes ASCII to EBCDIC, others ASCII to EBCDIC programmable Error Control LRC & CRC LRC & CRC Parity check w/retransmit LRC & CRC detection/correction detection/correction on error, LRC & CRC detection/correction, detection/correction, parity, ARQ-CRC parity, ARO-CRC System Characteristics Processor Type Proprietary Proprietary MC6809 MC68020 Main Memory Word Size (bits) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 32 32 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) 8M (per CCU) 8M (per CCU) 4M 2M Data Transferred Across I/O Channel Block Block Byte, block Byte, block Data Transfer Supported between: Memory and Comm. Lines DMA DMA DMA & interrupt DMA & Interrupt Memory and Mass Storage DMA DMA Vendor did not specify DMA Memory and Other Peripherals DMA DMA Vendor did not specify Not available I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify FEP console, PC as console FEP console, diskette Support for Remote Console Yes Yes Vendor did not specify Yes Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities Yes Yes Vendor did not specify No Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented in Software Software Software, firmware Software IPL Method Internal self-load Internal self-load Internal self-load Internal self-load User Programmability Yes Yes Via user-selected Via user-selected parameters, via parameters, via user-created programs user-created programs, via console Network Managemenl/Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Internal diagnostics, Local/remote loopback, problem determination, internal diagnostics, port/line status, online problem determination, trace capabilities port/line status Data Collected Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Traffic loading, node/link/software status, line outages, trace, line hits, error rates, events, link loading Pricing end Availability Purchase Price ($) 137,800.00 207,250.00 15,000.00 Contact vendor Monthly Maintenance ($) 775.00 725.00 Contact vendor Contact vendor Monthly Lease/Rental ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Date of First Commercial Delivery March 1988 March 1988 1980 1990 / Serviced by IBM IBM Hitachi Data Systems Hitachi Data Systems Commenta Contact local IBM rep. Contact local IBM rep. FEP looks to host processor Concurrently used as "'--- as IBM 3274-1A, IBM IBM-compatible FEP and 3274-10, or IBM 3737 RCTCA, and as concentrator; DES encryption to be added in late 1990 MAY 1990 @ 1990 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. Delran NJ 08075 USA Datapro Reports on Communications C13-010-311 Data Communications Processors: Processors Comparison Columns ( Vendor NCR Cormen NCR Comten NCR Comten NCR Comten Product Model 5620 Model 5655 Model 5665 Model 5675 Computer Systems Interfaced Manufacturer/Models IBM 360/370, 303X, NCR IBM 360/370, 303X, 308X, IBM 360/370, 303X, 308X, IBM 360/370, 303X, 308X, 8500/8600, 308X, 43XX 43XX, & compat. 43XX, & compal. 43XX, & compal. Direct Attachment to Host Ves Ves Ves Ves Functional Characteristics Front-end Processor Ves Ves Ves Ves Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 2 8 8 16 Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 2 8 8 16 IBM Emulation 270X/370X, EP, 370X/37X5, 270X/370X, EP, 370X/37X5, 270X/370X, EP, 370X/37X5, 270X/370X, EP, 370X/37X5, NCP, 3270 BSC, SNA/SOLC NCP, 3270 BSC, SNA/SOLC NCP, 3270 BSC, SNA/SDLC NCP, 3270 BSC, SNA/SDLC PU Type within Network PU Type 4 PU Typa 4 PU Type 4 PU Type 4 Remote Line Concentrator Ves Yes Ves Ves Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not spacify Vendor did not spaclfy Host-Independent Network Processor No No No No Host Channel Extender Ves Ves Ves Ves Terminal Controller Ves Ves Yes Ves Store-and-Forward Switching No No No No Distributed Processing Node Ves Ves Ves Yes Network Architecture Compliance SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25 SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25 SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25 SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25 Communications Line Capacity No. Half-Duplex Lines Attachable 64 512 1,024 1,024 Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) Tl or token-ring Tl or token-ring n or token-ring Tl or token-ring Communications Features/Functions Multiplexing/Demultiplexing Ves Ves Ves Ves Terminal-Initiated Applications Switching Ves Ves Ves Ves Dynamic Line Reccnfiguration Ves Ves Ves Ves Interface to Ethernet LAN No No No No Protocol Conversion Async to 3270 BSC, SDLC to Async to 3270 BSC, SDLC to Async to 3270 BSC, SDLC to Async to 3270 BSC, SDLC to X.25, async to X.25 X.25, async to X.25 X.25, async to X.25 X.25, async to X.25 Code Conversion ASCii to EBCDIC ASCii to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC Error Control LRC & CRC LRC & CRC LRC & CRC LRC & CRC ( detection/correction detection/correction detection/correction detection/correction System Characteristics Processor Type Proprietary Proprietary Proprietery Proprietary Main Memory Word Size (bits) 32 32 32 32 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) 4M 8M 16M 16M Data Transferred Across I/O Channel Block Block Block Block Data Transfer Supported between: Memory and Comm. Lines DMA & interrupt DMA & Interrupt DMA & interrupt DMA & interrupt Memory and Mass Storage DMA DMA DMA DMA Memory and Other Peripherals DMA DMA DMA DMA I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, disk, printer disk, printer disk, printer disk, printer Support for Remote Console Ves Ves Ves Ves Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities Ves Yes Ves Ves COmmunications Oparating Software Operating System Implemented in Software Software Software Software IPL Method Host download, disk Host download, disk Host download, disk Host download, disk User Programmability Via user-selected Via user-selected Via user-selected Via user-selected parameters parameters parameters parameters Network Managemenl/Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, problem determination, problem determination, problem determination, problem determination, port/line status pori/line status port/line status portJline status Data Collected Traffic loading, Traffic loading, Traffic loading, Traffic loading, node/link/software status, node/link/software status, node/link/software status, nodeJllnk/software status, line outages, port line outages, port line outages, port line outages, port statistiCS, trace, line statistiCS, trace, line statistiCS, trace, line statistics, trace, line hits, error rates, events, hits, error rates, events, hits, error rates, events, hits, error rates, events, link loading link loading link loading link loading, none Pricing and Availability Purchase Price ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Monthly Maintenance ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Monthly Lease/Rental ($) Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Date of First Commercial Delivery March 1989 March 1989 March 1989 March 1989 (' Serviced by NCR Comten NCR Comten NCR COmlen NCR Comten Comments Field-upgradable processor Fleld-upgradable processor Field-upgradable processor Field-upgradable processor performance; Tl, performance; n, performance; Tl, performance; Tl, token-ring, and host token-ring, and host token-ring, and host token-ring, and host connectivity can be connectivity can be connectivity can be connectivity can be expanded in field expanded In field expanded in field expanded in field @ 1990 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. MAY 1990 Delran NJ 09075 USA ------C13-010-312 Communications Datapro Reports on Processors Processors: Data Communications Comparison Columns "- Vendor NT)( Communications Corp. Perlphonlca Corp. Perlphonica Corp. Periphonlc8 Corp. / Product NT)( 3800 VPS 7000 VPS 7500 VPS 9000 Computer Systams Intarlaced Manufacturer/Models IBM 3090, 308X, PCM IBM 3274 SNA/SDLC/Blsync, IBM 3274 SNA/SDLC/Bisync, IBM 3274 SNA/SDLC/Bisync, IBM 5251 SDLC, Async IBM 5251 SDLC, Async IBM 5251 SDLC, Async Diract Attachment to Host Yes Yes Yes Yes Functional Charactarlstics Front-end Processor Yes Yes Yes Yes Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 4 4 4 4 Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 2 4 4 4 IBM Emulation CTCA 270X/370X, 370X/37X5, 3270 270X/370X, 370X/37X5, 3270 270X/370X, 370X/37X5, 3270 BSC, SNA/SDLC BSC, SNA/SDLC BSC, SNA/SDLC PU Type within Network Vendor did not spaclfy PU Type 2 PU Type 2 PU Type 2 Remote Une Concentrator No Yes Yes Yes Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator Vendor did not specify 2 2 2 Host-Independent Network Processor No Yes Yes Yes Host Channel Extender No Yes Yes Yes Terminal Controller No Yes Yes Yes Store-and-Forward Switching No No No No Distributed Processing Node No Yes Yes Yes Network Architecture Compliance SNA SNA, BSC, async SNA, BSC, async SNA, BSC, async Communications Line Capacity No. Half-Duplex Lines Attachable 8 1 - 64 analog 1 ·64 analog 1 - 64 analog Highest Une Speed Supported (bps) 6M 9600 9600 9600 Communications Features/Functions Mu~iplexing/Demultiplexing Yes Yes Yes Yes Terminal-Initiated Applications Switching No Yes Yes Yes Dynamic Une Reconfiguration No Yes Yes Yes Interface to Ethernet LAN No Yes Yes Yes Protocol Conversion No Async to 3270 BSC Async to 3270 BSC Async to 3270 BSC Code Conversion None ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC Error Control ARQ-CRC Vendor did not specify Vendor did not spacify Vendor did not specify Sy8l8m Characteristics Processor Type Proprietary Motorola 68030 Motorola 88030 Motorola 68030 Main Memory Word Size (bits) 72 Vendor did not specify Vendor did not spacify Vendor did not specify Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) Vendor did not spacify Up to 800M Up to 600M Up to 800M Data Transferred Across I/O Channel Block Byte Byte Byte Data Transfer Supported between: Memory and Comm. Unes DMA & interrupt Interrupt Interrupt Interrupt Memory and Mass Storage None Interrupt Interrupt Intsrrupt Memory and Other Peripherals None Interrupt Interrupt Intsrrupt I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals FEP console Diskette, disk, magnetic Diskette, disk, magnetic Diskette, disk, magnetic tepe tape tapa Support for Remote Console Yes Yes Yes Yes Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities No Yes Yes Yes Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented In Hardware, firmware Software Software Software IPL Method Internal self-load Host download, Host download, Host download, internal self-load Internal self-load internal self-load User Programmability No Via user-selected Via user-selected Via user-selected parameters, via parameters, via parameters, via user-created programs, via user-created programs, via user-created programs, via console console console Network Management/Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, problem determination, problem determination, problem determination, problem determination, port/line status port/line status port/line status pori/line stetus Data Collected Traffic loading, line Traffic loading, Traffic loading, TraffiC loading, outages, line hits, error node/link/software status, node/link/software status, node/link/software stetus, rates, link loading line outages, port line outages, port line outages, port statistics, line hits, statistics, line hits, stetlstics, line hits, error rates, events, link error rates, events, link error rates, events, link loading loading loading Pricing and Availability Purchase Price ($) 65,000.00 Contact vendor Contact vendor Contact vendor Monthly Maintenance ($) 485.00 Vendor did not specify Contect vendor Vendor did not specify Monthly Lease/Rental ($) Not available Vendor did not spacify Vendor did not spacify Vendor did not specify /' Date of First Commercial Delivery 1986 1987 1987 1987 Serviced by NTX Periphonlcs Perlphonlcs Peri phonics Commente ~"".-- MAY 1990 @ 1990 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. Delran NJ 08075 USA Datapro Reports on Communications C13-010-313 Data Communications Processors: Processors Comparison Columns (- Vendor Periphonlcs Corp. SBE, Inc. SBE, Inc. Thomas Engineering Company Product VPS 9500 CPS1100 CPS1200 UNI-TEC Computer Systems Interlaced Manufacturer/Models IBM 3274 SNA/SDLC/Blsync, Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Uni-Tec IBM 5251 SDLC, Async Direct Attachment to Host Ves No No No Functional Characteristics Front-end Processor Ves Ves Ves No Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 4 Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 4 Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 8 IBM Emulation 270X/370X. 370X/37X5, 3270 Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify 3270 BSC. SNA/SDLC BSC. SNA/SDLC PU Type within Network PU Type 2 Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify PU Type 2 Remote Line Concentrator Ves Ves Ves Ves Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator 2 Flexible Flexible 8 Host-Independent Network Processor Ves Ves Ves Ves Host Channel Extender Ves No No No Terminal Controller Ves Ves Ves Ves Store-and-Forward Switching No Ves Ves No Distributed Processing Node Ves No No No Network Architecture Compliance SNA. BSC, async X.25. Ethernet via TCP/IP X.25, Ethernet via TCP/IP SNA, BSC, X.25 Communications Line Capacity No. Half-Duplex Lines Attachable 1 - 64 analog 8 8 43 Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 9600 1.544M 1.544M 56K Communications Futures/Functions Multiplexing/Demultiplexing Ves Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Ves Terminal-Initiated Applications Switching Ves Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Ves Dynamic Line Reconfiguratlon Ves Ves Ves Vendor did not specify Interlace to Ethernet LAN Ves Ves Ves Ves Protocol Conversion Async to 3270 BSC Async to X.25, Ethernet to Async to X.25, Ethernet to Async to 3270 BSC, async to X.25 X.25 uniscope, SDLC and async to X.25, Bull VIP, ALC Code Conversion ASCII to EBCDIC Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify ASCII to EBCDIC Error Control Vendor did not specify Parity Parity Parity check w/retransmit on error, LRC & CRC (~ detection/correction System Characterislics Processor Type Motorola 68030 Motorola 6800, MC68010, Motorola 6800, MC68010, Z80B, MC68000 MC68020 MCS8020 Main Memory Word Size (bits) Vendor did not specify 8,16,32 8,16,32 16 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) Up to SOOM 512K, 1M, 2M, 4M, SM, 8M 512K, 1M, 2M, 4M, SM, 8M 512K Data Transferred Across I/O Channel Byte Byte Byte Byte Data Transfer Supported between: Memory and Comm. Lines Interrupt Interrupt, dual port buffer Interrupt, dual port buffer Interrupt Memory and Mass Storage Interrupt Interrupt, dual port buffer Interrupt, dual port buffer Interrupt Memory and Other Peripherals Interrupt Not applicable Not applicable Interrupt I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals Disketta, disk, magnetic FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, tape disk, magnetic tape disk, magnetic tape printer Support for Remote Console Ves Ves Ves Ves Support for X.25 Level 3 Capabilities Ves Ves Ves Ves Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented In Software Software, firmware Software, firmware Software IPL Method Host download, Host download Host download IPL diskette internal self-load User Programmability Via user-selected Via user-selected Via user-selected Via user-selected parameters, via parameters, via parameters, via parameters, via user-created programs, via user-created programs user-created programs user-created programs, via console console Network Managament/Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Locel/remote loopback, Internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, Internal diagnostics, port/line status problem determination, problem determination, problem determination, pori/line status pori/line status pori/line status Date Collected Traffic loading, Determined by programming Oatermined by programming Trace, events node/link/software status, line outages, port statistics, line hits, error rates, events, link loading Pricing and Availability Purchase Price ($) Contact vendor 3,910.00 6,035.00 3,495.00 Monthly Maintenance ($) Vendor did not specify Not available Not available 90.00 Monthly Lease/Rental ($) Vendor did not specify Not available Not available Vendor did not specify Date of First Commercial Delivery 1987 Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Octobar 1985 Serviced by Perl phonics SBE, Inc. SBE, Inc. Thomas Engineering (. Comments @ 1990 McGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. MAV 1990 Oalran NJ 08075 USA C13-010-314 Communications Datapro Reports on .Processors Processors: Data Communications Comparison Columns Vendor Unisy. Corp. Unisye Corp. Unisys Corp. Uni.y. Corp. ~ /' Product CP2000 DCP/15 DCP/30 DCP/5 Computer Systems Interf.ced Manufacturer/Models Unisys A & V series All models of Unlsys All models of Unlsys All models of Unlsys mainframes 1100/2200 and System 80 1100/2200 and System 80 1100/2200 and System 80 Direct Attachment to Host Ves Ves Yes No Functional Characteristics Front-end Processor Ves Ves Ves No Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 99 2 10 Vendor did not specify Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously 99 2 Unlimited Vendor did not specify IBM Emulation 3270 SSC. SNA/SDLC 270X/370X, 370X(37X5, 3270 270X/370X, 370X/37X5, 3270 270X/370X, 370X/37X5, 3270 BSC, SNA/SDLC BSC, SNA/SDLC BSC, SNA/SDLC PU Type within Network PU Type 2, PU Type 5 PU Type 2, PU Type 4, PU Type 2, PU Type 4, PU Type 2, PU Type 4, PU Type 5 PU Type 5 PU Type 5 Remote Line Concentrator Ves Ves Ves Ves Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator Unlimited Any host in network Any host in network Any host in network Host-Independent Network Processor No Ves Yes Ves Host Channel Extender No No No No Terminal Controller Ves No No No Store-and-Forward SwHching No Ves Ves Ves Distributed Processing Node No No No Vendor did not specify Network Architecture Compliance SNA, X.25, Unlsys SNA, SNA, SSC, OSI, X.25, DDN, SNA, SSC, OSI, X.25, DDN, SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25, DDN, TCP/IP X.21 X.21 X.21 Communications Line Capacity No. Half-Duplex Lines Attachable 56 Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Vendor did not specify Highest Une Speed Supported (bps) 64K 10M/LAN, 64KfV.35 64KfV .35, 250K/coax 64K (V.35) Communications Features/Functions Multiplexing/Demultiplexing Ves Ves Ves Ves Tenminal-Initiated Applications SwHching Ves Ves Ves Ves Dynamic Une Reconfiguration Ves Ves Ves Ves Interface to Ethernet LAN Ves Ves Ves Ves Protocol Conversion SDLC to X.25, BDLC to ET Async to uniscope, SDLC to Async to uniscope, SDLC to Async to unlscope, SDLC to X.25 X.25, async to X.25, X.25, async to X.25, X.25, async to X.25, 3270/Uni, Uni/3270 3270/Unl, Uni/3270 3270/Uni, Uni/3270 Code Conversion ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC ASCII to EBCDIC Error Control Parity check w/retransmlt Parity check w/retransmit Parity check w/retransmlt Parity check w/retransmlt on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC on error, LRC & CRC detactlon/correction detection/corractlon, detection/correction, detection/correction, ARQ-CRC ARQ-CRC ARQ-CRC System Characteristics Processor Type Intel 80386 Proprietary Proprietery, Unisys DCP/30 Proprietery Main Memory Word Size (bits) 16 16 32 16 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) 5M 4M 4M 2M Data Transferred Across I/O Channel Byte Byte, block, word Syte, block, word Byte, block Data Transfer Supported between: DMA Memory and Comm. Lines DMA & interrupt DMA DMA Memory and Mass Storage DMA & interrupt DMA DMA DMA Memory and Other Peripherals Not applicable DMA DMA DMA I/O, Backup, and Diagnostic Peripherals Disk FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, FEP console, diskette, patch panel, disk, printer petch panel, disk, printer patch panel, disk, printer Support for Remote Console Ves Ves Ves Ves Support for X.25 Level 3 CapabilHies Ves Ves Ves Ves Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented in Software, flnmware Software, finmware Software, firmware Software, finmware IPL Method Host downlOad IPL diskette Host download, IPL Host download, IPL diskette diskette User Programmability No Via user-created programs Via user-created programs Ves, via user-created programs Network Management/Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, Local/remote loopback, internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, internal diagnostics, problem determination, problem detenminatlon, problem determination, problem determination, port{llne status port/line status port(lIne status port(lIne status Data Collected Traffic loading, Traffic loading, Traffic loading, Traffic loading, node/link/software status, node/link/software status, node/link/software status, node/link/software status, line outeges, port line outages, port line outages, port line outages, port statistics, trace, line statistics, trace, line statistics, trace, line statisticS, trace, line hits, error rates, link hits, error rates, events, hits, error rates, events, hits, error rates, events, loading link loading link loading link loading Pricing and Availability Purchase Price ($) 18,888.00 21,850.00 55,000.00 9,800.00 Monthly Maintenance ($) 141.50 89.10 175.00 72.00 Monthly Lease/Rental ($) 705.00 600.00 2,095.00 Not available Date of First Commercial Delivery 1986 April 1987 October 1988 March 1989 Serviced by Unisys Unlsys Unisys Unisys Commente When used as a front-end processor, multiple CP2000s '" are connected to the A & V series mainframes via 802.3 LAN MAV 1990 @ 1990 McGraW-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. Delran NJ 08075 USA -----_.- -- -- Datapro Reports on Communications C13-010-315 Data Communications Processors: Processors Comparison Columns ( Vendor Unisys Corp. Product DCP/50 Computer Systems Interlaced Manufacturer/Models All models of Unisys 1100/2200 and System 80 Direct Attachment to Host Yes Functional Characteristics Front·end Processor Yes Max. Hosts Attachable to FEP 57 Max. Hosts Supported Simultaneously Unlimited IBM Emulation 270X/370X, 370X/37X5, 3270 BSC, SNA/SDLC PU Type within Network PU Type 2, PU Type 4, PU Type 5 Remote Line Concentrator Yes Max. Hosts Served by One Concentrator Any host in network Host-Independent Network Processor Yes Host Channel Extender No Terminal Controller No Store-and-Forward Switching Yes Distributed Processing Node No Network Architecture Compliance SNA, BSC, OSI, X.25, DON, X.21 Communications Line Capacity No. Half-Duplex Lines Attachable Vendor did not specify Highest Line Speed Supported (bps) 64KjV .35, 250K/coax Communications Features/Functions Multiplexing/Demultiplexing Yes Terminal-lnHiated Applications Switching Yes Dynamic Line Reconfiguration Yes Interlace to Ethernet LAN Yes Protocol Conversion Async to uniscope, SDLC to X.25, async to X.25, 3270/Uni, UniJ3270 Code Conversion ASCII to EBCDIC Error Control Parity check w/retransmit on error, LRC & CRC detection/correction, (~ ARC-CRC Syatem Characterlstica Processor Type Proprietary Main Memory Word Size (bits) 32 Main Memory Storage Capacity (bytes) 8M Data Transferred Across I/O Channel Byte, block, word Data Transfer Supported between: Memory and Comm. Lines DMA Memory and Mass Storage DMA Memory and Other Peripherals DMA I/O, Backup. and Diagnostic Peripherals FEP console, diskette, patch panel, disk, printer Support for Remote Console Yes Support for X.25 Level 3 CapabURies Yes Communications Operating Software Operating System Implemented in Software, firmware IPL Method Host download, IPL diskette User Programmability Via user-created programs Network Management/Control Diagnostic Tests Supported Local/remota loopback, internal diagnostics, problem determination, port/line status Data Collected TraffiC loading, node/link/software status, line outages, port statistics, trace, line hRs, error rates, events, link loading Pricing and Availability Purchase Price ($) 275,000.00 Monthly Maintenance ($) 595.00 Monthly Lease/Rental ($) 4,680.00 Date of First Commercial Delivery December 1987 (. Serviced by Unisys Commante • @ 1990 MCGraw-Hili, Incorporated. Reproduction Prohibited. Datapro Research. MAY 1990 Delran NJ 08075 USA C1 3-01 0-301 "rooe ••or. User Ratings of Communications Processors The communications processor market, while basically steady this past year, did offer a few surprises-compli In this report. Datapro presents the results of the ments ofIBM and NCR Comten. NCR Comten led off in 1986 Data Communications Users Survey that May with the introduction of the Comten 5660, a powerful specifically deals with communications/network new communications processor that offers three times the processors. Over 490 data communications users processing power of anything currently on the market. responded to the communications/network pro Before the dust had settled on that announcement, IBM cessors part of the survey. representing 6.796 came along and announced some new enhancements to the communications/network processors. The re 3725, a new low-end communications processor family, spondents are all subscribers to Data Communica and new host and front-end processor software releases. tions magazine. IBM hoped that these announcements would have the potential to diminish the importance of the Com ten an nouncement. Some experts feel that the one thing that might hurt NCR Comten and its new 5660 is the new IBM release of its VT AM host communications software. Re While the communications market was kept hopping for lease 3.1.1 will work only with the new front-end processor awhile this summer, NCR Com ten and IBM were not the software, also introduced by IBM. These releases are im only ones who had new offerings in the communications portant, because they will allow users to utilize IBM's processor market this year. Honeywell has come out with NetView network management program. the DPS 6 Plus, a mid-sized processor geared for data communications. The system can handle OSI (Open Sys However, NCR Com ten does not give up easily, and in tems Interconnection) link level!! and higher. Daughter June the company came back with announcements on new boards in the processor support a variety of LANs, proto models for their Com ten 3690 communications processor, cols, and multiples of either. The DPS 6 Plus is available in the Comten 3690 Model L8 and the Comten 3695. The two configurations, Model 410 that has a 16-s10t chassis, Comten 3690 Model L8 is designed for medium-sized and Model 420 that supports a 32-s10t chassis. networks, while the Comten 3695 can be used in medium to large-networks. IBM remains the leader in the communications processor market with NCR Comten holding on to the number two spot. Other vendors competing with NCR Comten for the number two position include Amdahl, Computer Commu nications, Inc. (CCI), Memorex, and NTX. The mainframe vendors, such as Burroughs, Honeywell, and Sperry do not really compete with each other in this marketplace. Their communications processors are designed· to work within their own network architecture. USER EXPERIENCE Datapro is proud to present the 1986 edition of our Data Communications Users Survey. The survey is based on results received from questionnaires mailed to a cross section of Data Communications magazine subscribers. Survey Methodology A questionnaire was designed and produced by Datapro and mailed in March 1986 to approximately 10,000 ad dresses selected at random from a cross section of Data Communications' U.S. end-user subscriber base. The questionnaire contained 33 questions, and was divided into six basic parts. In the first part, users were asked to provide information concerning the general characteristics of their transmission facilities. In the remaining five parts, the users were asked to specify within a given category the types of data communications equipment and services Paradyne's PIXNET-XL system extends the block or byte being used in their networks, and to provide usage informa- . multiplexer channel of IBM mainframes to connect remote tion and equipment ratings on each type. The remaining high speed devices. categories of equipment/services included communica- 1:> OCTOBER 1986 © 1986 OAT APRO RESEARCH CORPORATION. DELRAN. NJ 08075 USA REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13-010-302 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors 1986 DATA COMMUNICATIONS USERS SURVEY 1>- tions and network processors, modems, multiplexers, net COMMUNICATIONS PROCESSORS work management systems, and testing and monitoring MANUFACTURERS IN equipment. The questionnaire allowed the user to rate up .RESPONSE SHARE to two (or in some cases, three) vendor/model types within each category of equipment. (Reproduction of the form was permitted so that additional vendor/model types within a Digital Equipment Corp. 7% given product category could be rated.) The results of each ofthese five parts will be shown only in the Datapro report to which they are applicable. This report contains a sum mary of the user ratings provided by respondents to the Communications and Network Processors section. Burroughs When Datapro received the returns, they were audited by 3% our senior-level editors. All forms were carefully examined for validity before being sent for tabulation. The Data r1------~~~::::======3 Sper~3% Communications labels were used for initial validation and identification. Responses to specific questionnaire sections or individual questions were disqualified whenever a ven dor/model identity was omitted, user ratings were not assigned, a vested interest on the part of the respondent was judged to exist, or incomprehensible or unreasonable an swers were given. IBM 49% By the editorial cutoff of April 25, 1986, Datapro had processed 542 valid forms, which were then shipped to Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. for key entry and tabu Figure 1. This chart shows the top communications processors lation by computer. Summary information was prepared in manufacturers in terms of responses to the 1986 Communica tions Processors Users Survey. IBM has almost 50 percent ofthe the form of totals, percentages, or weighted averages, as total 493 responses to the survey. appropriate for each question. Weighted averages were computed in a manner similar to most college grading systems: "Excellent" is weighted as 4, "Good" as 3, "Fair" as 2, and "Poor" as 1. The tallied numbers for each value were then multiplied by the corresponding weight, and the average taken by dividing the sum of the producisby the 1986 DATA COMMUNICATIONS USERS SURVEY total number of responses for that category. COMMUNICATIONS PROCeSSORS MANUFACTURERS IN OVERALL PERFORMANCE Datapro strongly suggests that the reader uses thein/orma- tion presented with discretion. The individual equipment 1>- ~~ ~\... ~ ~. Burroughs CP 2000 is a high processor '\ may be used as afront end processor forBurroughs mainframes ~... or placed in a remote location. Through Burroughs Network Figure 2. This graph shows the six communications processors Architecture. the CP 2000 provides communications between manufacturers who received over 15 responses and how they Burroughs mainframes and terminals. as well as mainframes of were rated in Overall Performance by the users. other vendors. @ 1986 DATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075. USA OCTOBER 1986 REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13·010·303 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors The Comten 5660, from NCR Comten, is designed to support up to eight mainframes running con currently, can support up to 1,024 full-duplex communications lines, and offers up to 16MB of main memory. VLSI and ECL macrocell functions are used extensively in the system architecture. J> ratings are not intended as a statistically accurate indicator their networks. Some users responded more than once, so ofthe capabilities ofa device. Rather, the ratings and other the total percentage is over 100 percent. The three main information should be used as guides to potential strengths functions performed by the communications processors and weaknesses of that device. The responses may also be were as a front-end processor (72.5%), terminal controller examined to provide an indication of a manufacturer's functions (52.8%), and remote line concentration (35.8%). share of the market. Any equipment acquisition decision Protocol conversion was performed 31 percent of the time should be made only after further investigation on the part of by the communications processors, while distributed pro the buyer. cessing node functions were performed 28.3 percent of the The Results time. Other functions performed by the communications processors included X.25 PAD or gateway functions Table 1 shows the user ratings given to the various manu (20.8%), message/packet switching (19.4~), applications facturers and models of communications and network switching (15.1%), standalone network proq~ssing (14.3%), processors. A total of 17 vendors received a sufficient and other unlisted functions (1.3%). number of responses to be rated separately. A minimum of three respC)Dses was required to break out the ratings for a The use of a communications processor for front-end pro specific manufacturer. Some of these vendors include IBM, cessing increased by seven percent over last year's figures. Burroughs, NCR Comten, Honeywell Information Sys Terminal controller functions and remote line concentra tems, and Sperry. tion increased by twelve percent and eight percent respec tively. Distributed processing functions increased by ten The users were asked to rate each of their communications percent over last year while X.25 PAD or Gate~ay func processors in eight specific categories: Overall Perfor tions increased by seven percent. Message/packet switching mance, Ease of Installation, Ease of Operation, Ease of functions increased by eight percent, applications switching Expansion, Hardware Reliability, Quality of Manufactur decreased three percent, and standalone network process er's Software/Firmware, Ease of Programming, and Quali ing functions increased by three percent. Protocol conver ty of Manufacturer's Maintenance Service/Technical Sup sion was not listed as a function on last year's survey. port. The ratings were based on a weighted average ranging from 1.0 (Poor) to 4.0 (Excellent). Hardware Reliability SUMMARY received a high (3.4) rating, while Ease ofInstallation, Ease of Operation, and Overall Performance each received a 3.2 The 1986 Communications/Network Processors survey rating. Ease of Expansion (2.9) and Ease of Programming shows that IBM is still the leader receiving 49 percent of (2.8) received the lowest scores. The Quality of Manufac total responses for 1,671 installed units. As we mentioned turer's Software/Firmware and Quality of Manufacturer's earlier, since IBM has 90 percent of the communications Maintenance Service/Technical Support each received a processor market, these numbers come as no surprise. ( 3.1 rating. What is of interest is the inclusion of GTE Telenet and Tymnet in the survey and the number of installed units. The users were also asked to list the primary functions These numbers throw off the normal pattern of leaders in performed by the communications processors operating in the communications processor field, which is why IBM has OCTOBER 1986 © 1986 OATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13-010-304 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors t> a 90 percent market share, but only 49 percent of total In Overall Performance, the scores ranged from (low) 2.7 to survey responses. (See Figure 1.) The Tymnet "and GTE (high) 3.4 .. The ratings for Overall Performance among the offerings are not true standalone communications proces six communications processors manufacturers who re sors, but GTE's TP Series and Tymnet's Engine can per ceived 15 or more responses are shown in Figure 2. IBM form the functions associated with a true communications received a (high) 3.3 rating, while Sperry received aJow processor, and that is why they were included in the survey. (3.0). Other vendors in the survey may have received We also included several computer systems this year, as higher or lower ratings, but they did not receive a mini user responses seemed to indicate, that they were being mum of 15 user responses. used to perform communications processing functions. NCR Comten, who has the number two spot in the com The Datapro Research staff extends a sincere thanks to all munications processor market, shared that spot this year for responding to our 1986 Data Communications Users with Digital Equipment Corporation, whose VAX comput Survey. We hope that this compendium of user experience ers received 33 responses against NCR Comten's 30 will be of significant value to you. We look forward to responses. hearing from you again. 0 © 1986 DATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA OCTOBER 1986 REPRODUCTION PROHIBiTED C13-010-305 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors TABLE ,_ USER RATINGS OF COMMUNICATIONS PROCESSORS No. No. Manufacturer! of of Model User Units Re- In- Ease of Ease of Ease of sponses stalled Installation Operation Expansion WA E G F P WA E G F P WA E G F P Amdahl- 4705 6 19 3.3 3 2 1 0 3.3 2 4 0 0 2.7 1 3 1 1 Others & unspecified 5 19 3.0 1 3 1 0 3.0 0 5 0 0 2.3 0 2 1 1 Subtotal 11 38 3.2 4 5 2 0 3.2 2 9 0 0 2.5 1 5 2 2 BBN- C30 4 111 3.0 0 4 0 0 3.0 1 2 1 0 2.3 0 2 1 1 Others & unspecified 3 61 3.0 0 3 0 0 3.3 1 2 0 0 2.3 0 2 0 1 Subtotal 7 172 3.0 0 7 0 0 3.1 2 4 1 0 2.3 0 4 1 2 Burroughs- All models 17 49 3.1 4 11 2 0 3.0 5 7 5 0 2.9 5 7 3 2 Codex- All models 10 47 3.5 6 3 1 0 3.6 6 4 0 0 3.2 3 6 1 0 Control Data Corp. (CDC)- All models 5 20 3.2 1 4 0 0 2.8 0 4 1 0 2.4 1 1 2 1 Data General- All models 5 19 3.2 3 0 2 0 3.4 2 3 0 0 2.8 3 0 0 2 Digital Communications Associates (DCA)- 355 6 39 3.5 3 3 0 0 3.2 1 5 0 0 3.5 3 3 0 0 Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC)- VAX 4 106 3.5 2 2 0 0 3.5 2 2 0 0 3.3 1 3 0 0 VAX 750 4 6 3.0 1 1 1 0 3.0 1 2 1 0 3.0 0 4 0 0 VAX 780 5 9 3.6 3 2 0 0 3.8 4 1 0 0 3.6 3 2 0 0 Others & unspecified 20 162 3.2 7 9 2 1 3.2 7 11 1 1 3.1 6 11 2 1 Subtotal 33 283 3.3 13 14 3 1 3.3 14 16 2 1 3.2 10 20 2 1 GTE Telenet- TP4000 3 57 3.3 1 2 0 0 3.3 1 2 0 0 2.7 0 2 1 0 Hewlett~Packard- All models 5 8 3.2 2 2 1 0 3.0 2 1 2 0 3.4 2 3 0 0 Honeywell Information Systems- DATANET 8 5 22 2.8 0 4 1 0 2.4 1 1 2 1 2.4 0 3 1 1 Others & unspecified 8 306 2.9 2 2 3 0 3.0 2 4 2 0 2.9 1 6 0 1 Subtotal 13 328 2.8 2 6 4 0 2.8 3 5 4 1 2.7 1 9 1 2 IBM- 3705 79 160 3.1 18 50 11 0 3.0 19 44 14 2 2.5 18 38 21 12 3725 98 274 3.2 26 65 5 1 3.2 30 56 8 3 3.0 24 47 23 2 Series 1 8 367 3.1 1 7 0 0 3.1 2 5 1 0 3.1 1 7 0 0 Others & unspecified 56 870 3.4 25 27 4 0 3.3 21 28 7 0 2.9 13 25 17 0 Subtotal 241 1,671 3.2 70 149 20 1 3.1 72 133 30 5 2.8 46 117 61 14 Micom- Micro 600 11 42 3.1 2 8 1 0 3.1 2 8 1 0 3.5 7 3 1 0 Micro 800 3 8 3.3 1 2 0 0 3.3 1 2 0 0 2.7 0 2 1 0 Others & unspecified 5 19 2.8 0 4 1 0 3.0 1 3 1 0 3.0 1 3 1 0 Subtotal 19 69 3.1 3 14 2 0 3.1 4 13 2 0 3.3 8 8 3 0 NCR Comten- 3650 6 6 3.0 0 6 0 0 3.0 0 6 0 0 3.0 0 6 0 0 3670 3 4 3.0 1 1 1 0 3.0 1 1 1 0 2.7 1 0 2 0 ( 3690 14 113 3.2 5 6 2 0 3.2 4 9 1 0 2.9 4 5 5 0 Others & unspecified 7 54 3.3 2 5 0 0 3.4 3 4 0 0 3.3 3 3 1 0 Subtotal 30 177 3.2 8 18 3 0 3.2 8 20 2 0 3.0 8 14 8 0 OCTOBER 1986 @ 1986 DATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C, 3·0' 0·308 ProOlt ••or. User Ratings of Communications Processors TABLE 1. USER RATINGS OF COMMUNICATIONS PROCESSORS (Continued) Quality of Quality of Manufacturer/ Manufacturer's Manufacturer's Model Hardware Software/ Ease of Maintenance Overall Reliability firmware Programming svc/tech supp. Performance WA E G F FWA E G F PWA E G F PWA E G F FWA E G F P Amdahl- 4705 3.3 2 4 0 3.0 1 3 1 02.4 0 3 1 1 3.0 1 4 1 3.0 1 4 1 0 Others & unspecified 3.3 2 1 1 ~ 3.0 0 5 0 03.3 1 3 0 C .3.4 2 3 0 ~ 3.2 1 4 0 0 Subtotal 3.3 4 5 1 C 3.0 1 8 1 02.8 1 6 1 1 3.2 3 7 1 C 3.1 2 8 1 0 BBN- C30 3.3 1 3 0 2.5 0 2 2 0 · 0 1 0 C 3.3 1 3 0 C 3.0 0 4 0 0 Others & unspecified 3.7 2 1 0 ~ 2.3 0 1 2 0 · 0 0 0 C 1.7 0 1 0 2 2.3 0 1 2· 0 Subtotal 3.4 3 4 0 C 2.4 0 3 4 0 · 0 1 0 a 2.6 1 4 0 2 2.7 0 5 2 0 Burroughs- All models 3.5 9 7 1 03.2 7 5 4 03.2 7 5 4 C 2.6 2 7 7 1 3.1 5 9 3 0 Codex- All models 3.7 7 3 0 03.3 3 7 0 03.3 3 6 0 03.4 4 6 0 C 3.4 4 6 0 0 Control Data Corp. (CDC)- All models 2.8 0 4 1 02.4 1 0 4 02.3 0 1 2 02.4 1 1 2 1 3.0 0 4 0 0 Data General- All models 3.2 3 0 2 02.8 2 0 3 o 1.3 0 0 1 23.2 3 0 2 03.0 2 1 2 0 Digital Communication! Associates (DC A)- 355 3.5 3 3 0 03.2 2 3 1 03.0 1 4 1 03.3 2 4 0 03.3 2 4 0 0 Digital Equipment Corp. (DEC)- VAX 3.3 2 1 1 ·0 3.3 1 3 0 03.3 1 3 0 03.0 0 4 0 03.0 0 4 0 0 / VAX 750 2.8 0 3 1 03.0 1 2 1 02.5 0 1 1 02.8 0 3 1 02.8 1 1 2 0 VAX 780 3.6 3 2 0 03.8 4 1 0 03.4 2 3 0 03.4 2 3 0 03.8 4 1 0 0 Others & unspecified 3.3 8 11 1 02.9 3 12 5 02.8 4 8 5 1 3.0 5 11 3 1 3.1 5 12 3 0 Subtotal 3.3 13 17 3 03.1 9 18 6 03.0 7 15 6 1 3.0 7 21 4 1 3.2 10 18 5 0 GTE Telenet- TP4000 3.3 1 2 0 02.3 0 1 2 o 2.5 0 1 1 02.0 0 0 2 02.7 0 2 1 0 Hewlett-Packard- All models 3.4 3 1 1 03.8 4 1 0 03.0 1 2 1 03.4 3 1 1 03.4 3 1 1 0 Honeywell Information Systems- DATANET 8 3.0 2 1 2 o 2.6 1 2 1 1 2.5 1 0 3 02.6 0 4 0 1 2.8 2 1 1 1 Others & unspecified 3.3 3 4 1 03.3 2 5 0 02.7 0 6 0 1 3.5 4 1 1 03.0 1 5 1 0 Subtotal 3.2 5 5 3 03.0 3 7 1 1 2.6 1 6 3 1 3.1 4 5 1 1 2.9 3 6 2 1 IBM- 3705 3.5 46 30 2 1 3.1 23 44 10 22.6 6 32 25 63.2 29 41 8 1 3.1 18 53 8 0 3725 3.6 66 27 3 1 3.3 36 56 3 1 2.8 10 47 21 3 3.3 37 47 11 1 3.3 35 59 1 1 Series 1 3.4 4 3 1 02.6 0 5 3 03.0 1 4 1 02.9 1 5 2 03.3 2 6 0 0 Others & unspecified 3.4 27 27 2 03.3 22 26 6 1 3.1 13 26 10 03.3 23 27 5 1 3.3 20 34 2 0 Subtotal 3.5143 87 8 2 3.2 81 131 22 42.8 30109 57 9 3.2 90120 26 3 3.3 75152 11 1 Micom- Micro 600 3.5 5 6 0 03.1 2 8 1 o 2.8 1 5 3 02.8 1 7 3 03.3 4 6 1 0 Micro 800 3.7 2 1 0 03.3 1 2 0 03.3 1 2 0 03.3 1 2 0 03.3 1 2 0 0 Others & unspecified 3.0 1 3 1 02.8 0 4 1 02.3 0 1 3 02.4 1 2 0 22.8 0 4 1 0 Subtotal 3.4 8 10 1 o 3.1 3 14 2 02.8 2 8 6 02.8 3 11 3 2 3.2 5 12 2 0 NCR Comten- 3650 3.8 5 1 0 3.2 2 3 1 C 2.8 0 4 1 C 3.5 3 3 0 3.3 2 4 0 0 3670 3.3 1 2 0 ~ 3.0 1 1 1 C 2.3 0 2 0 1 2.7 0 2 1 ~ 3.0 1 1 1 0 3690 3.5 7 7 0 2.5 1 7 4 2 2.8 1 6 3 C 2.9 4 5 5 2.9 2 9 3 0 Others & unspecified 3.3 2 5 0 ~ 3.3 2 5 0 03.3 1 2 0 C 3.3 3 3 1 ~ 3.4 3 4 0 0 Subtotal 3.5 15 15 0 C 2.9 6 16 6 2 2.8 2 14 4 1 3.1 10 13 7 C 3.1 8 18 4 0 'Weighted averages were not calculated where there were less than three responses. © 1986 OAT APRORESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA OCTOBER 198~ REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13-010-307 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors TABLE 1. USER RATINGS OF COMMUNICATIONS PROCESSORS (Continued) No. No. Manufacturer/ of of Model User Units Re- In- Ease of Ease of Ease of sponses stall. Installation Operation Expansion WA E G F P WA E G F P WA E G F P Sperry- DCP/40 11 32 2.9 1 7 2 0 2.9 2 5 3 0 2.9 2 6 1 1 Others & unspecified 4 4 3.3 1 3 0 0 2.8 0 3 1 0 2.8 0 3 1 0 Subtotal 15 36 3.0 2 10 2 0 2.9 2 8 4 0 2.9 2 9 2 1 Tandem- TXP 5 113 3.4 2 3 0 0 3.0 1 3 1 0 3.4 3 1 1 0 Tymnet- Engine 4 2.706 3.8 3 1 0 0 3.8 3 1 0 0 4.0 4 0 0 0 Others & unspecified 5 65 3.8 4 1 0 0 3.6 3 2 0 0 2.8 2 1 1 1 Subtotal 9 2.771 3.8 7 2 0 0 3.7 6 3 0 0 3.3 6 1 1 1 All others 59 899 3.1 16 32 9 2 3.2 18 37 3 1 3.0 18 27 11 3 Grand Total 493 6,796 3.2 147 285 51 4 3.2 149 277 57 8 2.9 120 237 100 31 Quality of Quality of Manufacturer/ Manufacturer's Manufacturer's Model Hardware Software/ Ease of Maintenance Overall ( Reliability firmware Programming svc/tech supp. Performance WA E G F PiwA E G F PWA E G F PWA E G F PWA E G F P Sperry- DCP/40 3.3 5 4 2 02.5 2 3 4 22.2 0 4 4 23.0 3 4 3 03.0 3 5 3 0 Others & unspecified 3.3 1 3 0 02.8 0 3 1 03.5 1 1 0 03.3 1 3 0 03.0 0 4 0 0 Subtotal 3.3 6 7 2 02.5 2 6 5 2 2.4 1 5 4 2 3.1 4 7 3 0 3.0 3 9 3 0 Tandem- TXP 3.4 3 1 1 03.2 2 2 1 03.3 1 3 0 03.5 3 0 1 o 3.4 3 1 1 0 Tymnet- Engine 3.5 2 2 0 02.8 1 2 0 1 3.0 2 0 2 03.3 2 1 1 03.3 2 1 1 0 Others & unspecified 4.0 5 0 0 03.8 4 1 0 02.3 1 0 2 1 3.6 3 2 0 03.2 2 2 1 0 Subtotal 3.8 7 2 0 o 3.3 5 3 0 1 2.6 3 0 4 1 3.4 5 3 1 03.2 4 3 2 0 All others 3.2 24 27 6 2 2.8 12 31 9 62.8 8 20 14 22.7 11 26 14 63.0 13 34 10 2 Grand Total 3.4257200 30 43.1143256 71 16 2.8 68206109 20 3.1156236 75 17 3.2142293 50 4 'Weighted averages were not calculated where there were less than three responses. ( OCTOBER 1986 @ 1986 OAT APRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN,NJ 08015 USA REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13-010-301 Processors ~-- User Ratings of Communications Processors ~ .. The communications processor market has remained steady over the past year. IBM continues to sell ninety In this report, Datapro presents the results of the percent of the communications processors, while the other 1985 Network Users Survey that specifically deal vendors compete for the remaining ten percent. NCR with communications/network processors. Over Comten holds the lead in that area and was one of the few 660 data communications users responded to the vendors who introduced a new communications processor, communications/network processors part of the the NCR Comten 5620. survey, representing 10,421 communications/ network processors. The respondents are all sub scribers to Data Communications magazine. Other vendors competing with NCR Com ten for that ten percent market include Amdahl, Computer Communica tions, Inc. (CCI), Memorex, and NTX. The mainframe vendors, such as Burroughs, Honeywell, and Sperry do not really compete with each other in this marketplace. Their communications processors are designed to work within their own network architecture. USER EXPERIENCE Datapro is proud to present the 1985 edition of our Net work Users Survey. The survey is based on results received from questionnaires mailed to a cross-section of Data Communications magazine subscribers. Survey Methodology A questionnaire was designed and produced by Datapro and mailed in March 1985 to approximately 10,000 ad dreses selected at random from a cross section of Data Communications' U.S. end-user subscriber base. The questionnaire contained 37 questions, and was divided into six basic parts. In the first part, users were asked to provide information concerning the general characteristics of their data communications networks. In each of the remaining five parts, the users were asked to specify within a given category the types of data communications equip ment and services being used in their networks, and to provide usage information and equipment ratings on each type. The five categories of equipment/services included: transmission facilities, communications and network pro cessors, modems, line multiplexers, and testing and moni toring equipment. The questionnaire allowed the user to rate up to two (or in some cases, three) vendor/model types within each category of equipment. (Reproduction of the form was permitted so that additonal vendor/model types within a given product category could be rated.) The results ofeach of these five parts will be shown only in the Datapro report to which they are applicable. This report contains a summary of the user ratings provided by respondents to the Communications and Network Processors section. When Datapro received the returns, they were audited by The NCR Comten 5620 can handle application switching, our senior-level editors. All forms were carefully examined polling, routing, error recovery, automated dialing, and multi for validity before being sent for tabulation. The Data plexing for up to 32 lines. Communications labels were used for initial validation and J> DECEMBER 1985 © 1985 DATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED Ct3-010-302 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors 1985 NETWORK USERS SURVEY COMMUNICATIONS PROCESSORS MANUFACTURERS IN OVERALL PERFORMANCE 4.0 3.7 3.5 3.4 3.4 3.4 3.3 3.3 3.1 ... 3.0 CI Figure 1. This graph shows the C ...II: 2.5 eight communications processors >c manufacturers who received over 15 2.0 ...0 responses and how they were rated ...:z: CI in Overall Performance by the ill 1.5 ~ users. 1.0 0 ~ J:> identification. Responses to specific questionnaire sections First, the users were asked to indicate the number of sites or individual questions were disqualified whenever a ven that are linked by their networks, with the following results: dor/model identity was omitted, user ratings were not assigned, a vested interest on the part of the respondent was Number of Percent of judged to exist, or incomprehensible or unreasonable an Responses Responses swers were given. 1 to 3 sites 116 16 Forms were shipped to Mathematica Policy Research, Inc. 4 to 10 sites 172 23 for key entry and tabulation by computer. Summary infor 11 to 25 sites 138 18 26 to 50 sites 88 12 mation was prepared in the form of totals, percentages, or Over 50 sites 232 31 weighted averages, as appropriate for each question. Weighted averages were computed in a manner similar to Total 746 100 most college grading systems: "Excellent" is weighted as 4, "Good" as 3, "Fair" as 2, and "Poor" as 1. The tallied numbers for each value were then multiplied by the corre These results present a fairly even spread of network sizes, sponding weight, and the average taken by dividing the with half the users in the I-to-25 site range, and the other sum of the products by the total number of responses for half in the 25-and-over range. Note that no distinction is that category. made here as to the type or intelligence of the devices located at any site. Datapro strongly suggests that the reader use the informa· tion presented with discretion. The individual equipment The second question asked the number of computers par ratings are not intended as a statistically accurate indicator ticipating as hosts. As you can see, over 70 percent of these . ofthe capabilities ofa device. Rather, the ratings and other users are operating in multiple-host environments: information should be used as guides to potential strengths and weaknesses of that device. The responses may also be Number of Percent of examined to provide an indication of a manufacturer's Responses Responses share of the market. Any equipment acquisition decision should be made only after further investigation on the part of 1 host 180 24 2 to 4 hosts 313 42 the buyer. 5 to 10 hosts 134 18 Over 10 hosts 118 16 The Results Total 745 100 The first part of the Network Users Survey consisted of nine questions that solicited information on the general characteristics of the users' networks. Taken together, the This adds some degree of clarity to the responses to Ques results provide a brief summary of the extent and complex tion 1, as well as developing a better picture of the level of ity of these users' network configurations. sophistication of these users. ~ © 1985 DA T APRO RESEARCH CORPORA iION. DELRAN. NJ 08075 USA DECEMBER 1985 REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13-010-303 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors 1> The users were also asked to indicate the total number of end-user workstations (CRTs, teleprinters, etc.), that are in use on their networks: Number of Percent of Responses Responses 1 to 10 25 3 11 to 25 44 6 26 to 100 124 17 100 to 500 264 35 Over 500 290 39 Total 747 100 When examined in conjunction with Questions 1 and 2, these results characterize the typical respondent to the survey as having a network configuration consisting of approximately 25 sites, two to four hosts, and over 100 terminals (an average of 10 per site). This year's results indicate a continuation of the trend of growth in the size of user networks that we observed in our 1983 and 1984 results. Another question asked the users to identify the overall network architecture with which their networks comply, with the following results: Percent of Number of Total Responses Responses IBM BSC (non-SNA 313 42 environment) IBM SNA 352 47 Digital Equipment 118 16 Corporation DNA and DECnet Hewlett-Packard DSN 41 5 Sperry DCA 24 3 Burroughs BNA 27 4 Honeywell DSE or DSA 32 4 Prime Primenet 29 4 Data General Xodiac 11 1 Other vendor-supplied 133 17 architecture None, or user-supplied 124 17 architecture DCA's System 355 Master Network Processor can be used as a The number of responses total 1,204, indicating that a nodal processor in DCA's Integrated Network Architecture significant number of the respondents are using more than (INA). The System 355 will route and switch data from DCA one of the listed architectures in their networks. In our 1983 statistical multiplexers, as well as hosts and terminals. and 1984 surveys, the largest group of users operated in an IBM BSC environment. This year, IBM SNA users have ( overtaken BSC users by almost 9 percent. Interestingly, 17 scheme, presumably either because their environments do percent of the respondents (up from 13 percent in 1984) are not currently require it (but potentially may in the future) not complying with any vendor-supported architectural or because they have found other satisfactory alternatives. 1> DECEMBER 1985 © 1985 DATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13-010-304 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors TABLE 1. USER RATINGS OF COMMUNICATIONS PROCESSORS I> No. of No. of MANUFACTURER/ User Units Overall Ease of Ease of MODEL Responses Installed Performance Installation Operation WA E G F P WA E G F P WA E G F P Amdahl- i 4705 14 38 3.7 10 4 0 0 3.1 5 6 3 0 2.9 4 5 5 0 4705E 5 17 3.6 3 2 0 0 3.4 2 3 0 0 3.4 2 3 0 0 Others & unspecified 4 20 3.5 2 2 0 0 3.3 1 3 0 0 2.8 0 3 1 0 Subtotal 23 75 3.7 15 8 0 0 3.2 8 12 3 0 3.0 6 11 6 0 A T&T Information Systems- All models 9 39 3.6 6 2 1 0 3.3 4 3 1 0 3.9 7 1 0 0 Burroughs- 8-874 8 12 3.9 7 1 0 0 3.8 6 2 0 0 3.6 5 3 0 0 CP 9500 3 19 3.3 1 2 0 0 2.7 1 1 0 1 2.7 1 0 2 0 CP 10 43 3.4 4 6 0 0 2.6 1 3 5 0 2.9 1 8 0 1 NSP 8 49 3.1 2 5 1 0 3.0 1 6 1 0 3.3 2 6 0 0 Others & unspecified 9 200 2.9 1 6 2 0 2.9 2 5 1 1 2.8 2 4 0 2 Subtotal 38 323 3.3 15 20 3 0 3.0 11 17 7 2 3.1 11 21 2 3 Codex- 6000 SE 6 29 3.7 4 2 0 0 3.0 2 2 2 0 3.3 2 4 0 0 6050 7 17 3.3 3 3 1 0 2.4 1 2 3 1 3.1 3 2 2 0 Others & unspecified 4 4 3.0 1 2 1 0 2.3 0 2 1 1 3.0 1 2 1 0 Subtotal I 17 50 3.4 8 7 2 0 2.6 3 6 6 2 3.2 6 8 3 0 Computer Communications Inc., (CCI)- CC-8085 6 21 3.0 2 2 2 0 3.0 1 4 1 0 2.7 1 3 1 1 Control Data Corp. (CDC)- 2551 4 10 2.0 0 2 2 0 2.0 0 1 2 1 2.5 0 2 2 0 Digital Communications I Associates- ! 355 10 78 3.6 6 4 0 0 3.5 6 3 1 0 3.4 5 4 1 0 Others & unspecified 7 30 4.0 7 0 0 0 3.9 6 1 0 0 3.9 6 1 0 0 Subtotal 17 108 3.8 13 4 0 0 3.7 12 4 1 0 3.6 11 5 1 0 GTE Telenet- TP3000 5 304 3.2 1 4 0 0 2.8 1 3 0 1 3.0 1 3 1 0 TP4oo0 4 30 3.5 2 2 0 0 3.0 0 4 0 0 3.5 2 2 0 0 Subtotal 9 334 3.3 3 6 0 0 2.9 1 7 0 1 3.2 3 5 1 0 Honeywell Information Systems- DATA NET 8 12 42 I 3.3 3 9 0 0 2.9 2 8 1 1 3.0 2 8 2 0 DATANET 6661 7 14 3 3 2 5 0 0 3.1 1 6 0 0 3.3 2 5 0 0 I 1 . Subtotal 19 I 56 3.3 5 14 0 0 3.0 3 14 1 1 3.1 4 13 2 0 IBM- I 3705 204 I 615 3.5 103 92 9 0 2.9 48 110 42 4 3.1 57 104 41 3 3725 I 125 500 3.4 53 65 6 1 3.1 33 69 20 2 3.1 32 73 17 2 Others & unspecified 4 I 26 3.5 2 2 0 0 3.3 1 2 0 0 3.0 1 2 1 0 Subtotal I 333 I 1,141 3.4 158 159 15 1 3.0 82 181 62 6 3.1 90 179 59 5 Infotron- All models I 7 112 3.9 6 1 0 0 3.6 4 3 0 0 3.6 4 3 0 0 NCR Comten- 3650 18 69 3.4 9 8 1 0 3.0 5 9 3 1 3.2 4 13 1 0 3670 10 35 3.3 5 3 2 0 3.0 3· 5 1 1 3.3 4 5 1 0 3690 38 354 3.5 20 17 1 0 3.1 12 22 4 1 3.3 15 21 2 1 Others & unspecified 13 45 3.1 4 6 3 0 2.9 4 5 3 1 3.1 3 8 2 0 Subtotal 79 503 3.4 38 34 7 0 3.1 24 41 11 4 3.2 26 47 6 1 Paradyne- All models 5 7 2.8 0 4 1 0 2.4 0 2 3 0 2.0 0 2 1 2 I> © 1985 DAT APRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA DECEMBER 1985 REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13-010-305 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors TABLE 1. USER RATINGS OF COMMUNICATIONS PROCESSORS (Continued) J> Qlty. of Qlty. of Manufacturer's MANUFACTURER/ Ease of Hardware Manufacturer's Ease of Maintenance MODEL Expansion Reliability Software/firmware Programming svc./tech. supp. WA E G F P ~A E G F P WA· E G F P WA E G F P WA E G F P Amdahl- 4705 2.7 3 5 5 1 3.6 9 5 0 0 3.2 6 4 3 o 2.9 0 6 1 o 3.4 7 6 1 0 4705E 3.6 3 2 0 o 4.0 5 0 0 0 3.5 2 2 0 o 3.7 2 1 0 o 3.4 3 1 1 0 Others & unspecified 3.3 1 3 0 o 3.3 2 1 1 0 2.8 1 2 0 1 3.3 1 2 0 o 2.8 1 1 2 0 Subtotal 3.0 7 10 5 1 3.7 16 6 1 0 3.2 9 8 3 1 3.2 3 9 1 o 3.3 11 8 4 0 A T&T Information Systems- All models 3.6 5 3 0 o 3.6 6 1 1 0 3.5 5 2 1 o 3.6 5 1 1 o 3.5 4 4 0 0 Burroughs- B-874 3.0 1 6 1 o 3.9 7 1 0 0 3.4 4 3 1 o 3.0 1 6 1 o 3.4 4 3 1 0 CP 9500 2.7 1 0 2 o 3.3 2 0 1 0 2.7 1 1 0 1 2.3 1 0 1 1 2.7 1 1 0 1 CP 2.9 1 6 2 o 3.4 4 6 0 0 3.2 2 7 0 o 3.4 4 6 0 o 2.6 1 6 1 2 NSP 2.9 1 5 2 o 3.1 3 4 0 1 2.8 2 3 2 1 3.1 3 2 2 o 2.5 1 4 1 2 Others & unspecified 2.6 2 3 1 2 3.2 4 3 2 0 2.7 2 4 1 2 2.9 2 5 1 1 3.1 3 3 2 0 Subtotal 2.8 6 20 8 2 3.4 20 14 3 1 3.0 11 18 4 4 3.1 11 19 5 2 2.9 10 17 5 5 Codex- 6000 SE 3.0 2 3 0 1 3.7 4 2 0 0 3.0 1 4 1 o 3.2 1 4 0 o 2.7 0 4 2 0 6050 3.4 4 2 1 o 3.6 4 3 0 0 3.1 2 4 1 o 3.0 1 4 1 o 2.9 1 5 0 1 Others & unspecified 2.3 0 1 3 o 2.5 0 2 2 0 2.5 0 2 2 o 2.3 0 1 2 o 2.3 0 1 3 0 Subtotal 3.0 6 6 4 1 3.4 8 7 2 0 2.9 3 10 4 o 2.9 2 9 3 o 2.7 1 10 5 1 Computer Communications Inc., (CCI)- CC-8085 2.0 0 1 3 1 2.8 2 1 3 0 2.5 0 3 3 o 2.3 0 1 3 o 2.3 0 3 2 1 Control Data Corp. (CDC)- 2551 2.5 0 2 2 o 2.5 0 3 1 0 2.3 0 2 1 1 . 0 0 0 1 1.5 0 1 0 3 Digital Communications Associates- 355 3.6 7 2 1 o 3.3 5 3 2 0 3.0 3 5 1 1 3.2 4 4 0 1 3.0 3 4 3 0 Others & unspecified 4.0 7 0 0 o 3.9 6 1 0 0 3.9 6 1 0 0 3.9 6 1 0 o 3.9 6 1 0 0 Subtotal 3.8 14 2 1 o 3.5 11 4 2 0 3.4 9 6 1 1 3.5 10 5 0 1 3.4 9 5 3 0 GTE Telenet- TP 3000 3.0 1 3 1 0 2.6 0 3 2 0 2.8 1 3 0 1 2.7 1 1 0 1 2.6 0 3 2 0 TP 4000 3.5 2 2 0 0 3.5 2 2 0 0 3.0 1 2 1 o 3.0 1 1 1 o 2.5 0 2 2 0 Subtotal 3.2 3 5 1 0 3.0 2 5 2 0 2.9 2 5 1 1 2.8 2 2 1 1 2.6 0 5 4 0 Honeywell Information Systems- DATANET 8 3.1 3 7 2 o 3.3 5 6 1 0 2.9 1 9 2 o 2.6 2 2 3 1 3.1 3 7 2 0 DAT ANET 6661 3.0 1 5 1 o 3.1 2 4 1 0 3.1 2 4 1 o 3.0 2 2 2 o 3.1 2 4 1 0 Subtotal 3.1 4 12 3 o 3.3 7 10 2 0 3.0 3 13 3 o 2.8 4 4 5 1 3.1 5 11 3 0 IBM- 3705 2.7 34 88 63 19 3.6 126 73 6 0 3.2 60119 24 1 2.7 24 73 50 9 3.3 77103 19 1 3725 25 72 20 4 3.5 70 47 7 1 3.1 28 82 15 o 2.8 12 55 18 5 3.1 38 69 15 3 Others & unspecified 1 2 1 o 3.5 2 2 0 0 3.0 1 2 1 o 3.0 1 2 1 o 3.5 2 2 0 0 Subtotal I~:2.8 60162 84 23 3.6198122 13 1 3.1 8920340 1 2.8 37130 69 14 3.2 117174 34 4 Infotron- All models 3.4 4 2 1 o 3.3 2 5 0 0 3.3 2 5 0 o 3.0 1 5 1 o 3.3 2 5 0 0 NCR Comten- 3650 2.9 5 8 3 2 3.4 9 8 1 0 2.8 5 7 2 3 2.6 1 8 5 1 3.1 7 5 5 0 3670 3.2 5 2 3 o 3.1 5 2 2 1 2.8 3 4 1 2 3.2 2 2 1 o 3.0 3 5 1 1 3690 3.2 15 17 6 1 3.4 22 12 5 0 3.1 11 20 5 2 2.8 7 14 8 2 3.0 11 19 8 1 Others & unspecified 2.5 3 2 7 1 3.0 4 6 2 1 2.7 3 6 1 3 2.6 1 5 0 2 2.7 3 4 5 1 ( Subtotal 3.0 28 29 19 4 3.3 40 28 10 2 2.9 22 37 9 10 2.8 11 29 14 5 3.0 24 33 19 3 Paradyne- All models 1.8 0 1 2 2 2.3 0 1 3 0 2.0 0 1 3 1 1.8 0 1 1 2 2.4 0 2 3 0 J> DECEMBER 1985 © 1985 OAT APRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13-010-306 Processors - User Ratings.of Communications Processors TABLE 1. USER RATINGS OF COMMUNICATIONS PROCESSORS (Continued) No. of No. of MANUFACTURER! User Units Overall Ease of Ease of MODEL Responses Installed Performance Installation Operation WA E G F P WA E G F P WA E G F P Sperry- DCP/40 10 23 3.3 4 5 1 0 3.0 1 7 1 0 2.8 1 6 1 1 Others & unspecified 9 32 2.9 3 2 4 0 2.8 3 2 3 1 2.8 3 2 3 1 Subtotals 19 55 3.1 7 7 5 0 2.9 4 9 4 1 2.8 4 8 4 2 Tandem- All models 12 62 3.3 6 4 2 0 3.4 6 5 1 0 3.3 5 5 2 0 Tymnet- Engine 5 5,568 3.0 1 3 1 0 3.0 1 3 1 0 3.0 .1 3 1 0 Others & unspecified 4 802 3.3 1 3 0 0 3.3 1 3 0 0 3.0 1 2 1 0 Subtotal 9 6,370 3.1 2 6 1 0 3.1 2 6 1 0 3.0 2 5 2 0 16 24 13 18 28 2 All Others 57 1,155 3.2 21 27 9 0 3.0 31 3.1 8 Grand Total 663 10,421 3.4 305 307 50 1 3.0 181 339 117 21 j 3.1 198 346 100 16 The users were also asked to indicate the primary protocols The users were requested to identify which vendors' sys- supported by their networks: tems are functioning as hosts. The following list summa- rizes their responses: Percent of Percent of Number of Total Number of Total Responses Responses Responses Responses Asynchronous 495 66 IBM 497 66 IBM BSC 426 57 Digital Equipment 222 29 IBM SDLC 366 49 Corporation X.25 packet-level 155 21 Amdahl 63 8 Other bit-oriented 109 15 Burroughs 66 9 synchronous protocol Sperry 44 6 (e.g., ANSI ADCCP, Hewlett-Packard 83 11 ISO HDLC, Sperry Honeywell 65 9 VDLC, or Burroughs Data General 42 6 BDLC) Prime 56 7 Other byte-oriented 128 17 Control Data 33 4 synchronous protocol NCR 28 4 (e.g., DEC DDCMP) National Advanced 23 3 Other 63 8 Systems Oth.er 100 13 These results correlate to the results of the preceding ques As was the case last year, IBM came out well ahead of all tion, showing that a large number of users are using more other vendors, while Digital Equipment Corporation than one protocol in their network. ASCII and IBM BSC placed second with a strong showing. Many of the users are are the most widely used protocols, with IBM SDLC com~ using more than one vendors' systems as hosts, indicating ing in a close third place. The high response for multiple that the multiple-host environments represented in Ques protocol usage suggests that many of these users are still in tion 2 are frequently multiple-vendor environments as various stages of migration to SNA. well. t> © 1985 DATAPRQ RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA DECEMBER 1985 REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13-010-307 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors J> TABLE 1. USER RATINGS OF COMMUNICATIONS PROCESSORS (Continued) QIty. of Qlty. of Manufacturer's MANUFACTURER/ Ease of Hardware Manufacturer's Ease of Maintenance MODEL Expansion Reliability Software/firmware Programming svc./tech. supp. WA E G F P WA E G F P WA E G F P WA E G F P WA E G F P Sperry- DCP/40 3.0 2 6 0 1 3.1 3 5 2 0 2.6 2 3 2 2 2.3 0 3 4 1 2.9 2 5 1 1 Others & unspecified 2.6 3 1 3 2 2.8 3 2 3 1 2.3 1 2 3 2 2.4 1 2 3 1 2.8 2 3 4 0 Subtotals 2.8 5 7 3 3 3.0 6 7 5 1 2.4 3 5 5 4 2.3 1 5 7 2 2.8 4 8 5 1 Tandem- All models 3.3 6 3 3 0 3.5 7 4 1 0 2.9 4 5 1 2 3.0 3 2 3 0 3.5 6 4 1 0 Tymnet- Engine 3.0 1 3 1 0 2.6 0 3 2 0 2.6 1 2 1 1 2.4 1 1 2 1 2.4 0 3 1 1 Others & unspecified 3.3 1 3 0 0 2.8 1 1 2 0 3.3 3 0 0 1 2.7 0 2 1 0 2.3 0 2 1 1 Subtotal 3.1 2 6 1 0 2.7 1 4 4 0 2.9 4 2 1 2 2.5 1 3 3 1 2.3 0 5 2 2 All Others 2.8 14 21 15 6 3.2 22 21 13 0 2.8 15 19 16 6 2.8 12 11 16 3 2.8 13 21 16 3 Grand Total 2.9 16429215543 3.4 348 243 66 5 3.0 181344 96 34 2.8 103236133 33 3.120631610623 We also asked these users to indicate which, if any, telepro Another question requested that the users indicate any cessing monitor software packages they are using: commercial local area networks which they operate, have installed now, and any that they plan to implement in the coming year: Percent of Number of Total Responses Responses Number of Responses IBM CICS and CICS/VS 330 44 Installed Planned Cullinane IDMS-DC 37 5 Now for 1985 Sperry CMS and 20 3 CMS/II00 Xerox Ethernet 84 61 Cincom Environ/l 10 1 IBM 8100 Loop 44 3 Software AG Com-plete 12 2 IBM PC 30 91 SDA Intercomm or 8 I IBM Series/ I Ring 11 6 Minicomm Wang WangNet 34 20 ADR Datacom/DC 10 I Datapoint ARCnet 22 2 Westinghouse Westi 4 1 Network Systems Corp. 19 14 Other ll5 15 Hyperchannel None 195 26 Ungermann-Bass Net/One 17 20 Sytek LocalNet 15 4 Prime Ringnet 15 3 Nestar 9 2 Interactive Systems/ 6 5 3M Videodata These results indicate that, although IBM software is of Other 70 29 course predominant, various alternatives are sought out by many users. Total 376 260 t> ( DECEMBER 1985 © 1985 OATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13-010-308 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors I:> Putting aside the possibility that a few users may have 1985 NETWORK USERS SURVEY / indicated more than one type of local network, approxi COMMUNICATIONS PROCESSORS mately 59 percent of these users currently have a local area MANUFACTURERS IN network installed. This compares to last year's figure of 26 RESPONSE SHARE percent and 1983's figure of 17 percent. The IBM 8100 Loop, with 36 networks in use, was the predominant LAN installed in 1984. The 1984 survey also showed that Ether net was the predominant LAN planned to be installed. From the results of our 1985 survey, we can see that the survey respondent's plans were carried out, as Ethernet is now the predominant LAN with 84 installations. All others NCR Comten The final question in the first part of the questionnaire 17% 12% provided a list of 10 possible sources of networking prob lems, and asked the respondent to indicate whether they had had any problems related to each possible source, with these results: IBM 50% Percent of Total Responses. Less Severe or Figure 2. This chart shows the top communications processors Severe or Occa- manufacturers in terms of responses to the 1985 Communica Frequent sional No tions Processors Users Survey. IBM has 50 percent of the total Problems Problems Problems 663 responses to the survey. Local loops 16 43 29 Nonlocal communi- 14 55 19 cations lines three responses was required to break out the ratings for a Terminals 5 61 25 specific manufacturer. Some of these vendors include IBM, Terminal controllers 2 43 40 Burroughs, NCR Comten, Honeywell Information Sys Modems 3 53 36 tems, and Sperry. Multiplexers 2 31 46 Front-end software 3 39 45 The users were asked to rate each of their communications Front-end hardware 2 35 49 processors in eight specific categories: Overall Perfor Host software 4 54 33 Host hardware 1 44 43 mance, Ease of Installation, Ease of Operation, Ease of Expansion, Hardware Reliability, Quality of Manufactur er's Software/Firmware, Ease of Programming, and Quali Not unexpectedly, communications lines cause the most ty of Manufacturer's Maintenance Service/Technical Sup headaches in users' networks. Although few users experi port. The ratings were based on a weighted average ranging ence severe or frequent problems with their terminals, from 1.0 (Poor) to 4.0 (Excellent). Overall performance and these devices seem to be the greatest single source of minor Hardware Reliability each received a high (3.4) rating, or sporadic problems. The least frequently experienced while Ease of Expansion (2.9) and Ease of Programming source of problems is multiplexer equipment. (2.8) received the lowest scores. The remaining parts of the questionnaire focused on specif The users were also asked to list the primary functions ic categories of networking services and equipment. Users performed by the communications processors operating in were asked to list the specific vendors and types of equip their networks. Some users responded more than once, so ment they are using in their networks, and to provide user the total percentage is over 100 percent. The main func rating based on their experience with each. Each section of tions performed by the communications processors were as the questionnaire asked the user to provide the manufac a front-end processor (65%), terminal controller functions turer and model numbers of each type of equipment cur (40%), and remote line concentration (27%). Other func rently in use, the number of units installed, and ratings in tions given were distributed processing node functions and specific categories of user experience relevant to that specif applications switching (both 18%), standalone network ic equipment category. A summary of the results of these processing and message/packet switching (11 %), X.25 PAD question for all communications/network processors is or Gateway functions (13%), and other unlisted functions shown in Table l. (1%). Table 1 shows the user ratings given to the various manu SUMMARY facturers and models of communications and network processors. A total of 16 vendors received a sufficient The 1985 Communications/Network Processors survey number of responses to be rated separately. A minimum of showed that IBM was still the leader receiving over 50 1:> © 1985 DATAPRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA DECEMBER 1985 REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED C13-010-309 Processors User Ratings of Communications Processors t> percent of total responses for 1,141 installed units. Since, as were included in the survey. NCR Comten was the clear we mentioned earlier, IBM has 90 percent of the communi leader, after IBM, with 79 responses and 503 installed cations processor market, these numbers came as no sur units. One interesting note is that in Overall Performance, prise. What is of interest is the inclusion of GTE Telenet IBM came in fourth, tying with Codex and NCR Com ten and Tymnet in the survey and the number of installed (See Figure 1.). units. These numbers throw off the normal pattern of leaders in the communications processor field, which is The Datapro Research staff extends a sincere thanks to all why IBM has a 90 percent market share, but only 50 for responding so enthusiastically to our 1985 Network percent of total survey responses. Their offerings are not Users Survey. Without your participation, it could not be true standalone communications processors, but GTE's TP the success it is, and we hope that this compendium of user Series and Tymnet's Engine can do the functions associated experience will be of significant value to you. We look with a true communications processor, and that is why they forward to hearing from you again. 0 ( DECEMBER 1985 © 1985 OAT APRO RESEARCH CORPORATION, DELRAN, NJ 08075 USA REPRODUCTION PROHIBITED