Meeting the Challenge of a Peer-to-Peer Network: An SNA Management [Vol. 1, No. 2, 1993]

Meeting the Challenge of a Peer-to-Peer Network: An SNA Management

Michael O. Allen
Network Systems Architecture
IBM Corporation
C40/673, P.O. Box 12195
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709
Email: moallen_AT_vnet.ibm.com

Sandra L. Benedict
NetView Systems Test
IBM Corporation
C40/673, P.O. Box 12195
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709

Marcia L. Peters
Network Systems Architecture
IBM Corporation
C40/673, P.O. Box 12195
Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709

Abstract
Systems Network Architecture (SNA) is no longer a strictly hierarchical networking environment. The introduction of advanced peer-to-peer networking (APPN) provides for more flexibility: end user systems attaching to an SNA network are no longer controlled by a mainframe host. This new flexibility creates challenges for SNA/Management Services (SNA/MS), however, since the previous hierarchical relationship provided a vehicle for network management as well as network control. The SNA/MS architecture has been extended to meet the needs of this peer-to-peer environment, providing a management infrastructure which replaces the previous SSCP to PU relationship, and at the same time provides for much greater flexibility. This new infrastructure provides a mechanism for negotiating manager and agent (referred to as focal point and entry point in SNA/MS) roles between systems, and a transport technique for management services data which exploits advanced program-to-program communication (APPC)

Keywords: Systems Network Architecture (SNA); advanced peer-to-peer networking (APPN); advanced program-to-program communication (APPC); SNA/Management Services (SNA/MS).

JNSM: Vol. 1, No. 2, 1993 Meeting the Challenge of a Peer-to-Peer Network: An SNA Management [Vol. 1, No. 2, 1993]

NOTE: only abstract of paper available on-line

Back to JNSM main page