When defining PSF/Direct on AIX how does the SNA serve
ITEM: RTA000095630
Q:
ABSTRACT: When defining PSF/Direct on AIX how does the SNA server
determine which TR adapter to utilize?
SEARCH ARG: sap aix
TOPIC THREAD: PRINT
PSF/AIX
..
In attempting to configure for a PSF Direct session from AIX to MVS via
a 3174 local TR the worksheet doesn't request the address of the TR
adapter on the RS/6000. He asks for the remote TR (gateway) which in
this case is the 3174 but not the local TR adapter. How does he find
which adapter to use say if you have 2 on the RS/6000?. I have config'd
a PSF/2 and that worksheet ask for both the local and remote adapter
address.
After much reading is the SAP entry (which is 04 for all addresses
today) utilized? If so shouldn't that be on the worksheet?
Q:
You will have a separate Token-Ring SNA DLC Profile for each adapter,
and each profile will have a unique name. In that DLC profile, you
choose the Data link device name (default is tok0) from a selectable
list in smit; this name must match the AIX device name for the adapter
to be used. If you have more than one token-ring adapter installed,
you can use the lscfg command on AIX to see which adapter is which.
Then, the Token-Ring SNA DLC Profile name for the adapter you want to
use is pointed to from the Token-Ring Link Station Profile (which is
what also points to the remote link address, in this case the 3174).
So the combination of the two profiles and the AIX device name for the
token ring adapter is how things match up.
As far as the SAP entry, the local SAP address that you specify on the
DLC profile is what allows multiple protocols (SNA, TCP/IP, NETBIOS) to
all communicate over the same LAN adapter without interfering with each
other. This parameter should almost always be left as the default
of 04, which is the convention for SNA traffic. This value must match
the remote SAP address specified on the remote system. If your
configuration requires that you use a SAP other than 4, you should
specify this number as a multiple of 4 (e.g., 04, 08, 0C).
Since 04 is the convention, I expect the manual writer assumed that
installations would use that. Have you encountered a customer situation
where that is not true and where changing or clarifying the "PSF Direct
Network Configuration Guide" (S544-5287) on this topic would help?
Q:
After spending 4-5 hours with a new RS6000 customer troubleshooting a
TR connection to a 3174 gateway I have major issue with the response to
my question. Being admittedly low skilled in SNA I asked the question
for clarity. I took the answer, hook line and SINKER, to the customers
VTAM staff based on the detail of the response. A more accurate answer
would be the following:
The RS6000 has NO way of knowing what address has been defined in the
3174 unless you tell him.. It's called a locally administered
address and must be mapped in the rs6000 TR device equal to the
definition in the 3174. Therefore, YES.. it should be an additional
question added on the PSF Direct work sheet, similar to the entry on
PSF/2 worksheet. If the TR address is not a locally administered
address then the person defining the RS6000 communication side must
give the MAC address of the TR card on rs6000 to the 3174 configuration
person to define.
Q:
When I reread my question the following day I realized what I thought I
asked I really didn't ask. I was trying to determine how the RS/6000
got an identity on the network. I used an example of two TR adapters in
the RS/6000 and how a given session would choose between them which was
answered in the original response; I should have used an example how
a 3174 identified an RS6000 on the network.
However, I feel that the PSF Direct worksheet needs to ask for the
local TR address, not Tok0, but 4000xxxxxxxx address either the network
person defines for the 3174 or the one we need to provide him for 3174
definition. This step of the process needs to be included with the rest
of the steps for installation with a 3174 local gateway.
Q:
Thank you for the clarification. The specialist who originally answered
your question is unavailable today, but this information will be
forwarded to the people responsible for correcting the PSF/AIX
documentation.
S e a r c h - k e y w o r d s:
AIX DIRECT PSF/AIX PSF/6000 SAP DLC 3174 ADAPTER WORKSHEET
infoprint psf address mac local s/370
WWQA: ITEM: RTA000095630 ITEM: RTA000095630
Dated: 04/1999 Category: XPSF6000
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