X.25

Product Brief
Product Number J2793B

X.25/9000 Software for HP 9000 Enterprise Business Servers, HP 9000 Workstations, and HP Visualize Workstations provides a network connection to private and public X.25 networks in conformance with the 1980/1984/1988 CCITT recommendations. This product allows communication between HP 9000s, as well as between the HP 9000 and other systems or telecommunications equipment (HP or non-HP) over X.25 networks. Communication is achieved through the use of Internet Services and Transport (TCP/IP), OSI Services and Transport, SNA over QLLC, or UNIX®-to-UNIX® copy protocol (UUCP).

X.25/9000 Software provides a programmatic interface for direct access to X.25 packet layer 3 (using Berkeley Sockets). This allows customers to develop their own protocols and services for communication with remote devices (computers or telecommunications equipment) over an X.25 network. Remote display terminals and remote PAD printers are supported through implementation of host PAD capability conforming to the CCITT recommendations X.3 and X.29. Host PAD emulation and remote printing capabilities are also supported.

X.25/9000 Software is designed to deliver high performance figures, especially when used with high-speed communication interface cards (with line speeds up to 2 Mb/s).

Thanks to its flexible product structure and ability to operate with different hardware serial interface cards, X.25/9000 Software allows the building of X.25 connectivity solutions tailored to a broad range of customers' requirements, such as:

• A low-cost solution for connecting a large number of remote sites (small branch offices, points of sale) to a corporate server.
• A high-performance WAN connectivity for HP 9000 servers and workstations running very demanding networked applications, typically in the telecommunications environment (OSS, BSS, or AIN applications), or for large online information servers.

Features and benefits

Compliance with international and industry standards

• Supports Internet Services for HP 9000-to-HP 9000 or HP 9000-to-non-HP computer communication.
• Complies with the U.S. Defense Data Network (DDN) TCP/IP-X.25 standard protocol (RFC 877).
• Complies with the 1980/1984/1988 CCITT and ISO 8208 recommendations for X.25 protocol.
• Certified on major public and private X.25 networks.
• Supports OSI Services (FTAM, MMS, X400, CMIP, and XTI programmatic interface) for HP 9000 servers and workstations over the OSI Transport/9000 software.
• Supports X.25 layer 3 interoperability for communication between HP 9000 systems and other systems (HP or non-HP).
• Supports HP NFT (Network File Transfer) protocol for HP 9000-to-HP 3000/V or HP 9000-to-HP 3000/XL communication.
• Supports HP-UX SNAPlus Services over the SNAPlus Link transport (QLLC protocol).

TCP/IP, SNA, OSI, and proprietary protocols designed on top of the X.25 packet layer (level 3) programmatic interface can run concurrently over the same X.25 link.

High-performance capabilities for intensive communication needs

X.25/9000 Software can be ordered with two performance-level options:

• Standard--supports line speeds up to 64 Kbps, 256 virtual circuits per interface port, 1024 virtual circuits per system.
• High performance--supports line speeds up to 2 Mbps or 1.5 Mbps or 256 Kbps (depends on hardware used), 1024 virtual circuits per interface port, 4096 virtual circuits per system.

• Provides a programmatic user interface for direct access to X.25 level 3 (packet layer) for multivendor and customer-designed communications via Berkeley Sockets.

• Dynamic packet routing and gateway capabilities through the use of Internet Services over Internet Protocol (IP).
• Dynamic packet routing and gateway capabilities through the use of OSI communication protocol (OTS/9000 transport).
• Provides an interface with UUCP.

• Implementation of host PAD capability (compliant with 1984 CCITT recommendations X.3 and X.29) for support of remote display terminals and printers.
• Provides PAD emulation for incoming and outgoing access.

• Provides programmatic access to X.25 link status information (compliant with the RFC 1381 and 1382 standards for X.25 MIB2 specification).

• Menu-driven configuration.
• Extensive diagnostics tools.

Functional description

System-to-System communication
An HP 9000 server or workstation with the X.25 link is capable of simultaneously sending calls to and receiving calls from other computers (HP or non-HP) over an X.25 network.

When operating over public or private X.25 networks, it can be configured as a DTE, with line speeds up to 2 Mb/s, depending on the specification of the hardware serial interface card. When operating over point-to-point lines, the product can also be configured as a DCE. Point-to-point communication requires the use of modems or modem eliminators.

Applications can be designed in several ways:

• Using TCP/IP communication architecture. All Internet Services supported by HP on HP 9000 servers and workstations can be used on top of the X.25 link.
• Using OSI communication architecture. In this case, the OTS/9000 HP product must be installed on top of X.25. All OSI services provided by HP on HP 9000 servers and workstations are supported.
• Using SNA communication architecture. Here the SNAPlus link product (P/N J6380AA) must be installed on top of X.25. All SNA services provided by HP on HP 9000 servers and workstations are supported.
• Using custom-designed proprietary protocol. In this case, the X.25 software product provides a message-based programmatic interface to the X.25 packet layer (level 3) to establish connections with remote HP or non-HP computers or telecommunications equipment. This programmatic access (through Berkeley Sockets) consists of routines that are accessible via C programs.

Remote terminal connection
Remote asynchronous character mode HP terminals connected to public or private PADs, such as the HP2335A, can transparently access any HP 9000 server or workstation over the same X.25 line. This feature is provided through the implementation of 1984 CCITT recommendations X.3 and X.29.

The product provides a high level of security and flexibility for remote PAD terminal access. Using a configuration of calling or called X.25 addresses and subaddresses, the product can launch specific applications based on X.25 addresses or Call User Data contents.

Remote printer connection
X.25/9000 Software allows the HP 9000 server or workstation to print data at a remote printer connected to a PAD. The software handles all of the CCITT (1984 version) protocol considerations to allow the LP spooling system to treat the remote PAD printers as though they were connected locally. Any printer supported by the LP spooling system and the remote PAD may be used.

Terminal emulation
X.25/9000 Software allows the computer user to work in terminal emulation mode and access any remote host computer (HP or non-HP) supporting PAD protocol communication (CCITT recommendations X.3, X.28, and X.29).

Supported X.25 network parameters

Layer 1
The characteristics of the physical layer depend on the hardware serial interface card used with the X.25/9000 software product. For detailed information, please refer to the technical data sheets for the various hardware products. Layer 1 operates as a DTE.

Layer 2

• LAP-B protocol
• Frame sizes: as required for layer 3 packet sizes
• Window sizes: 1-7
• Modulo 8 frame sequence numbering
• Configurable maximum number of retransmissions (0-255)
• Configurable retransmission timer (0.1 to 12 sec)
• Operates as a DTE or DCE

Layer 3

• One-way/two-way (incoming and out-going) switched virtual circuits (SVC)
• Permanent virtual circuits (PVC)
• Delivery confirmation bit (D-bit) for X.25 packet layer applications
• Qualifier bit (Q-bit) for X.25 packet layer applications
• More-data bit (M-bit)
• Packet sizes: 16 to 4096 bytes
• Window sizes: 1-7
• Maximum virtual circuits: 1024 (standard performance option), 4096 (high-performance option)
• Modulo 8 packet sequence numbering
• Throughput class: 3 to 14
• Operates as a DTE or DCE

Supported configurations

The maximum number of virtual circuits supported per system is 1024 (standard performance option) or 4096 (high-performance option), regardless of the number of hardware serial interface cards installed on the HP 9000 server or workstation. The maximum number of virtual circuits supported per serial interface port is 256 (standard performance option) or 1024 (high-performance option).

Certification requirements

Operation of the X.25 software connected to a public X.25 network may require certification. To obtain the most up-to-date list of X.25 public networks on which the X.25/9000 Software is certified, please contact your HP sales representative.

Configuration requirements

• HP-UX operating system version 11.0 or later (X.25 software and HP-UX versions must be the same).
• Minimum free disk space for software installation: 4 Mbytes.
• Supported servers: all HP 9000 servers.
• Supported workstations: All supported workstations.
• When operating X.25/9000 Software with HP OSI Services, OTS/9000 (P/N 32070B) version C.04.03 or later is required for servers and workstations.

Installation policy

The customer is responsible for installation of the X.25 software product. Before installing the product, the customer should obtain, install, and verify the correct operation of any communication line, X.25 network access, or any other required equipment and facilities.

The customer should also verify correct installation of the hardware serial interface card on the HP 9000 server or workstation before installing the X.25 software product.

Ordering information

J2793B: X.25/9000 Software includes software, media, and documentation (user's guide and programmer's guide).

The customer must also order:

• One software license option:
  • #AHN: RTU License on Workstations
  • #AH0: RTU License on Tier 1 SPUs (D/E/F/G, K100, K200 servers)
  • #AE5: RTU License on Tier 2 SPUs (H/I, K400 servers)
  • #AEP: RTU License on Tier 3 SPUs (S/890 and T500 servers)
• A Release Notes option:
  • #AVN: Release Note

Additional options include the following:

• The X.25 software can be ordered pre-loaded on the system disk (optional):
  • #0D1: software factory-installed
• For operation of X.25/9000 Software with dual-port hardware serial interface cards (P/N J2815A), order this option:
• The following upgrade options (optional) require previous purchase of the X.25 software for HP 9000 servers product:
  • #301: RTU License Upgrade from Tier 1 to Tier 2 SPUs
  • #302: RTU License Upgrade from Tier 2 to Tier 3 SPUs

Note: Upgrade from Tier 1 to Tier 3 requires ordering both #301 and #302 options.

• #111: Performance-Level Upgrade (standard to high)

Support products
X.25/9000 Software can be ordered with the following first-year support services options:

• #0S0, #0S1, #0S5: Software licenses and updates
• #0S2, #0S3, #0S6: Software licenses, updates, and Response Center assistance

Documentation Hardcopy of the following X.25/9000 Software manuals can be ordered using B1053AA Product Number:

• X.25/9000 User's Guide (P/N J2793-90059)
• X.25/9000 Programmer's Guide (P/N J2793-90048)

Related documentation
The following HP manual may be ordered separately:

• Berkeley IPC Programmer's Guide (P/N 98194-60525)