S/370 CHANNEL EMULATOR/A Contents Announcement Letter Number 193-131 dated May 18, 1993 US - Last Revised on May 18, 1993 Brief Description of Announcement, Charges, and Availability The RISC System/6000 (R) family of products announces the S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter, providing parallel channel attachment capability via the Block Multiplexer Channel for selected printers and tapes. The S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter supports new system solutions by allowing System/370 customers to attach printer and tape devices to selected RISC System/6000 systems. o Allows up to four adapters to be installed per system o Provides attachment for either channel-attached printer devices or magnetic tape drives from one adapter (separate adapters required for both printer and tape support) o Supports a Block Multiplexer Channel data-transfer rate of up to 4.5MB per second (MBps) o Uses one Micro Channel (R) slot o Supports up to four control units (either printer or tape) per Block Multiplexer Channel o Supports a Block Multiplexer Channel cable length up to 61 meters (200 feet) o Supports the following printer or tape devices with appropriate software: - IBM 3825 Page Printer - IBM 3827 Page Printer - IBM 3828 Advanced Function Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) Printer - IBM 3835-001 Page Printer - IBM 3835-002 Advanced Function Printer - IBM 3900 Advanced Function Printer - IBM 3480 Magnetic Tape Subsystem, all models - IBM 3490 Magnetic Tape Subsystem, all models - IBM 3490E Magnetic Tape Subsystem, all models - IBM 3495 Tape Library Dataserver. Planned Availability Date: June 25, 1993. (R) Registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. IN BRIEF . . . o Supports a data transfer rate of up to 4.5MB per second (MBps) o Provides attachment for either channel-attached printer devices or tape drives (separate adapters required for both printer and tape support) o Uses one Micro Channel slot o Supports up to four control units (either printer or tape) per Block Multiplexer Channel o Allows a maximum of four adapters to be installed per system, depending upon slot availability o Supports a Block Multiplexer Channel cable length up to 61 meters (200 feet) o Supports the following printer or tape devices with appropriate software: - IBM 3825 Page Printer - IBM 3827 Page Printer - IBM 3828 Advanced Function Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) Printer - IBM 3835-001 Page Printer - IBM 3835-002 Advanced Function Printer - IBM 3900 Advanced Function Printer - IBM 3480 Magnetic Tape Subsystem, all models - IBM 3490 Magnetic Tape Subsystem, all models - IBM 3490E Magnetic Tape Subsystem, all models - IBM 3495 Tape Library Dataserver Customer Letter Section DESCRIPTION IBM BLOCK MULTIPLEXER CHANNEL ATTACHMENT CAPABILITY The S/370 Channel Emulator/A provides parallel channel attachment capability via the IBM Block Multiplexer Channel for selected printers and tapes, allowing customers to offload parallel I/O workloads from their System/370 host systems to a RISC System/6000 system. Supporting a data transfer rate of up to 4.5MB per second (MBps), the S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter allows attachment of either channel-attached printer devices or tape drives. The adapter uses one Micro Channel slot, and each adapter can support up to four control units (either printer or tape) per Block Multiplexer Channel. A maximum of four adapters may be installed per system, depending upon slot availability. Designed to support industry specifications for channel devices, the S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter conforms to most of the standard Micro Channel specifications, as well as most of the 370 OEMI (Original Equipment Manufacturers' Information) specifications, with the following exceptions: o S/370 Channel Emulator/A supports four control units, instead of eight o S/370 Channel Emulator/A supports a Block Multiplexer Channel cable length of up to 61 meters (200 feet) o S/370 Channel Emulator/A does not support hardware data-chaining o S/370 Channel Emulator/A does not support Micro Channel address parity or data parity. One 2.4-meter (8-foot) adapter cable, cable terminators, wrap plugs, and one diagnostic diskette are included with the hardware adapter. Channel cables are also required and should be ordered separately. The S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter supports the following printer or tape devices with appropriate software installed: o IBM 3825 Page Printer o IBM 3827 Page Printer o IBM 3828 Advanced Function Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) Printer o IBM 3835-001 Page Printer o IBM 3835-002 Advanced Function Printer o IBM 3900 Advanced Function Printer o IBM 3480 Magnetic Tape Subsystem, all models o IBM 3490 Magnetic Tape Subsystem, all models o IBM 3490E Magnetic Tape Subsystem, all models o IBM 3495 Tape Library Dataserver. INVESTMENT PROTECTION -- ASSET PROTECTION The S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter allows System/370 customers to access 3480/3490 magnetic tape drives and channel-attached printer devices via a RISC System/6000 system, increasing options for system configurations without requiring expensive data migration or new printer devices. GROWTH ENABLEMENT -- ACCESS TO ENTERPRISE DATA Installed on a RISC System/6000 server, the S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter provides customers with new capabilities for accessing centralized data across an enterprise. BUSINESS SOLUTIONS -- INTEGRATION OF BUSINESS SOLUTIONS Underscoring IBM's commitment to helping customers find the unique 'rightsize' solution that works for them, the S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter makes it easier than ever to integrate System/370 and RISC System/6000 printing and data access tasks within a single enterprise. OPEN ENTERPRISE: The S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter conforms to most of the defined Micro Channel standard, as well as the 370 OEMI (Original Equipment Manufacturers' Information) standard, subject to the following exceptions: o The adapter supports up to four control units, rather than eight o The adapter supports a Block Multiplexer Channel cable length up to 61 meters (200 feet), rather than 122 meters (400 feet) o The adapter does not support hardware data chaining o The adapter does not support Micro Channel address parity or data parity. PRODUCT POSITIONING The S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter provides an additional I/O option for customers with a large investment in IBM printer and tape subsystems, and in particular those who wish to be able to access their host-connected printers and tape drives via a RISC System/6000 workstation. It is ideally suited to those customers interested in moving toward client-server solutions without large-scale disruption of their production environment. PUBLICATIONS The publication, POWERSTATION (TM) AND POWERSERVER (TM) S/370 CHANNEL EMULATOR/A USER'S GUIDE AND SERVICE INFORMATION (SA23-2696), is shipped with the product. Additional copies will be available by June 1993. (TM) Trademark of International Business Machines Corporation. EDUCATION SUPPORT Call Skill Dynamics (TM) at the toll free number, 800-IBM-TEACh (426-8322), for education information. TECHNICAL INFORMATION SPECIFIED OPERATING ENVIRONMENT The S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter requires at least one supported RISC System/6000 machine, as well as ONE of the following: o One or more supported tape drives: - IBM 3480 Magnetic Tape Subsystem, any model - IBM 3490 Magnetic Tape Subsystem, any model - IBM 3490E Magnetic Tape Subsystem, any model - IBM 3495 Tape Library Dataserver o One or more supported printers: - IBM 3825 Page Printer - IBM 3827 Page Printer - IBM 3828 Advanced Function Magnetic Ink Character Recognition (MICR) Printer - IBM 3835-001 Page Printer - IBM 3835-002 Advanced Function Printer - IBM 3900 Advanced Function Printer. The S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter supports both printers and tape devices; however, only one type of device (either printer or tape device) can be used with each S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter. Customers who wish to have support for both kinds of devices will require at least two S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapters. PROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS: The S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter requires the installation of IBM AIX (R) for RISC System/6000 Version 3.2 (5736-030) or later, with the following programming temporary fixes (PTFs) applied: o PTF U405589 o PTF U403146 Specific software device driver support for printers is required and can be obtained via the following separately-orderable software product from the Pennant Systems (TM) Company: o IBM AIX Print Service Facility/6000 (5765-140) For ordering information, see IBM Programming Announcement 293-238, dated May 18, 1993. Specific software device driver support for tape drives is also required and can be obtained separately via the following Programming Request for Price Quotation (PRPQ) offering supplied by ADSTAR (TM): o PRPQ P83033 (ADSTAR) For ordering information, see the IBM PRPQ announcement on HONE, dated May 27, 1993. NOTE: Software support for the 3495 Tape Library Dataserver will be available in third quarter of 1993. For details, see the PRPQ announcement on HONE. LIMITATIONS: 1. The S/370 Channel Emulator/A adapter conforms to most of the defined Micro Channel standard, as well as the 370 OEMI (Original Equipment Manufacturers' Information) standard, subject to the following exceptions: o The adapter supports up to four control units, rather than eight o The adapter supports a Block Multiplexer Channel cable length up to 61 meters (200 feet), rather than 122 meters (400 feet) o The adapter does not support hardware data chaining o The adapter does not support Micro Channel address parity or data parity. Note that the S/370 Channel Emulator/A does check parity in data received from the 370 parallel channel and does generate parity when driving the 370 parallel channel. 2. Only one application (either printer or tape application) is allowed per adapter. PLANNING INFORMATION CABLE ORDERS: One 2.4-meter (8-foot) adapter cable is included with the hardware feature. Channel cables are also required and should be ordered separately. For more information about planning for and installing required cables, see IBM SYSTEM/360, SYSTEM/370, 4300, AND 9370 PROCESSORS INPUT/OUTPUT EQUIPMENT INSTALLATION MANUAL -- PHYSICAL PLANNING (GC22-7064). PROBLEM DETERMINATION: One diagnostic diskette is included with the hardware feature. SECURITY, AUDITABILITY AND CONTROL This product uses the security and auditability features of RISC System/6000 hardware and required software. User management is responsible for evaluation, selection and implementation of security features, administrative procedures and appropriate controls in application systems and communications facilities. TERMS AND CONDITIONS FEATURE SECTION MES DISCOUNT APPLICABLE: The feature discount will be equal to the discount percent associated with the current volume commitment of the category of the machine type on which it is installed. FIELD INSTALLABLE FEATURE: Yes. WARRANTY PERIOD: One Year. CUSTOMER SET UP: No. All terms and conditions are the same as those applicable to the IBM RISC System/6000 system in which the feature is installed. CHARGES -- FEATURES Description Minimum Maintenance Feature Purchase Charge Removal Number Price Monthly Charge S/370 Channel Emulator/A M/T 7012 Models 320, 32E, 32H, 340, 350, 355, 360, 36T, 365, 370, 37T, 375 2759 $3,500 $35 $116 S/370 Channel Emulator/A M/T 7013 Models 520, 52H, 530, 53E, 53H, 540, 550, 55E, 55L, 55S, 560, 56F, 570, 57F, 580, 58F 2759 3,500 35 116 S/370 Channel Emulator/A M/T 7015 Models 930, 950, 95E, 970, 97B, 97E, 97F, 980, 98B, 98E, 98F 2759 3,500 35 116 (CORRECTED ON OCTOBER 13, 1993) Under the Programming section of the customer letter, in the seventh paragraph, the PRPQ number has been changed from P83030 to P83033. In the eight paragraph of the same section, the date has been changed from May 18, 1993, to May 27, 1993.