IBM 37xx

IBM 37xx (or 37x5) is a family of IBM Systems Network Architecture (SNA) programmable communications controllers used mainly in mainframe environments.

IBM 37xx series
IBM 3725 controller
ManufacturerIBM
Release date1972 (1972)
Discontinued2002
PredecessorIBM 270x series
SuccessorCommunications Controller for Linux software

All members of the family ran one of three IBM-supplied programs.

  • Emulation Program (EP) mimicked the operation of the older IBM 270x non-programmable controllers.
  • Network Control Program (NCP) supported Systems Network Architecture devices.
  • Partitioned Emulation Program (PEP) combined the functions of the two.

Models
3705 Front Panel

370x series
  • 3705 — the oldest of the family, introduced in 1972 to replace the non-programmable IBM 270x family. The 3705 could control up to 352 communications lines.
  • 3704 was a smaller version, introduced in 1973.[1] It supported up to 32 lines.[2]

371x

The 3710 communications controller was introduced in 1984.[3]

372x series
The 3725 controller (right small-height rack), connected to an IBM 4381 system

The 3725 and the 3720 systems were announced in 1983. The 3725 replaced the hardware line scanners used on previous 370x machines with multiple microcoded processors.[3]

  • The 3725 was a large-scale node and front end processor.
  • The 3720 was a smaller version of the 3725,[4] which was sometimes used as a remote concentrator.
  • The 3726 was an expansion unit for the 3725.

With the expansion unit, the 3725 could support up to 256 lines at data rates up to 256 kbit/s, and connect to up to eight mainframe channels.[3]

Marketing of the 372x machines was discontinued in 1989.[5]

IBM discontinued support for the 3705, 3720, 3725 in 1999.

374x series
  • The 3745, announced in 1988,[6] provides up to eight T1 circuits. At the time of the announcement, IBM was estimated to have nearly 85% of the over US$825 million market for communications controllers over rivals such as NCR Comten and Amdahl Corporation.[6] The 3745 is no longer marketed, but still supported and used.
  • The 3746 "Nways Controller" model 900, unveiled in 1992, was an expansion unit for the 3745 supporting additional Token Ring and ESCON connections.[7] A stand-alone model 950 appeared in 1995.[8]

Successors

IBM no longer manufactures 37xx processors. The last models, the 3745/46, were withdrawn from marketing in 2002.[9] Replacement software products are Communications Controller for Linux on System z and Enterprise Extender.

Clones

Several companies produced clones of 37xx controllers, including NCR COMTEN and Amdahl Corporation.[10]

References
  1. Pugh, Emerson (1991). IBM's 360 and Early 370 Systems. MIT press. ISBN 0-262-16123-0.
  2. IBM Corporation (1979). IBM 3704 and 3705 Communications Controllers Hardware: Student Text (PDF).
  3. Edwards, M. (April 1, 1985). "Communications Processors Rise to Challenge of Larger, Faster Networks". Communications News. Retrieved September 8, 2012.
  4. Horwitt, Elizabeth (May 26, 1986). "IBM Unveils low-end SNA connectivity". Computerworld. Retrieved September 1, 2012.
  5. Guptill, Bruce (May 29, 1989). "FEPs provide variations on networking theme". Network World. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  6. Brown, Bob (April 25, 1988). "Low-end FEP market to expand through early 90s". Network World. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  7. Cooney, Michael (Sep 21, 1992). "IBM adds rich array of network products". Network World. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  8. Guruge, Anura (July 24, 1995). "IBM's Nways: much ado about nothing". Network World. Retrieved September 2, 2012.
  9. White, Bill; et al. (2006). IBM Communication Controller for Linux on System z V1.2.1 Implementation Guide (PDF). IBM Corporation. p. 2. ISBN 0-738-49665-0.
  10. Korzeniowski, Paul (December 15, 1986). "Data dialog ditties". Network World. Retrieved September 7, 2012.


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