SNA is the underpinning of IBM’s mainframe networking master plan. It has been around for a long time. This second edition textbook is a welcome addition to the substantial library of material available on System Network Architecture (SNA).
While management may want to purchase this book for its IS staff, the book is definitely not for the casual IS amateur. The material is sophisticated, and the serious programmer-analyst will enjoy this product.
The book consists of five parts. Part 1, “Introduction and Concepts,” is just what it claims. Only chapter 1 is introductory. It presents the fundamentals of telecommunications. Chapters 2 and 3 discuss SNA hardware. Both chapters include the newer additions to the IBM platform and as such cannot be considered a rehash of the first edition [1]. Chapter 4, “Workstations and SNA Connectivity,” also covers new material, namely OS/2 workstations and UNIX workstations. Chapter 5, “SNA and Telecommunications Access Methods,” ushers in material on Virtual Telecommunications Access Methods (VTAM), and Telecommunications Access Methods (TCAM). VTAM V4.x is also discussed.
Chapter 6 presents the fundamentals of Advanced Peer-to-peer Networking. The treatment is thorough and sets the stage for the rest of the material presented in the text. Chapters 7 and 8, “Communications Protocols” and “Communications Software,” end Part 1. The reader is now ready to get the complete scoop on the principles and applications of SNA.
Part 2, “SNA Networks,” consists of two chapters. Chapter 9 covers the SNA domain and networks, and chapter 10 details the definitions of network topography. Chapter 10 is exhausting in its attention to detail. The section on link protocols is particularly well-documented.
Part 3 consists of six chapters on VTAM and the instructions necessary to use all its features. The specifications necessary to make everything work have not diminished in complexity since the days of the IBM 370. Fortunately, the authors list several detailed examples.
Part 4 deals with the Network Control Program (NCP), and use of the remote network. Chapter 17 concentrates on remote SNA resources, the Programmed Communications Control Unit (PCCU), the BUILD statement, and the SYSCNTRL macro. Subsequent chapters continue to cover NCP macros. Each of these macros is discussed using detailed examples.
The book concludes with Part 5, “Operations and Network Management.” Chapter 21, “Network Operations,” discusses various VTAM commands to display, modify, and change resources and VTAM parameters. Chapter 22, “Network Management,” is a brief review of IBM’s NetView and SystemView, covering their capabilities and their roles in IBM network management strategy.
This book is focused in its purpose. It is written by professionals for professionals. It assumes the reader is interested in substance and not fluff. The format and appearance of the book are, to say the least, stark. However, if you are a network administrator trying to solve a problem at 3 a.m., the solution to your dilemma could be written on a shopping bag and it would be welcome. If you are a network programmer or administrator who lives and works in the trenches of telecommunications and is responsible for day-to-day networking operations, this book will be a valuable reference.
There are several brief but helpful appendices:
Default logon mode table
IBM default USS table
Product support of SNA network addressable unit types
IBM 3270 and 3745 line and channel-adapter considerations
VTAM and NCP performance tuning tables
Subsystem and device performance considerations
RU size table values for MAXRUSIZE parameter
Bibliography of IBM manuals
List of abbreviations
