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Table Of Contents
Dynamic Control Point Name Generation
Dynamic SNA Basic Transmission Unit Size Generation
Dependent Logical Unit Requestor (DLUR) Connect-Out
Maps and SNA View Enhancements
Migration to a Consolidated IP Infrastructure
Reduced Configuration Requirements
Increased Management Capabilities
Support for an IP Infrastructure
SNASw Features, Functions, and Benefits Summary
Overview
SNA Switching Services
Cisco Systems announces enhancements to the CiscoBlue road map, including Systems Network Architecture (SNA) Switching Services (SNASw)—new Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN) features for the data center. Cisco has been developing features for IBM processors and protocols as part of the CiscoBlue road map since 1991. The most recent enhancements to the road map include the solutions shown in Table 1.
The SNASw solution is a feature of the "e-nable the data center" road map, which provides a new way to deliver APPN services while supporting development of the IP infrastructure. This new solution provides a way for enterprises to reduce the amount of SNA traffic in the network while maintaining the needed native SNA functionality. The SNASw solution eliminates APPN network node (NN) routers from the network and provides options that support today's trend to minimize SNA traffic while building a robust IP infrastructure.
Cisco has supported APPN NN routing in the Cisco IOS" software since 1995. This original APPN architecture required significant resources in the router to maintain the topology maps and to support the broadcast traffic to locate resources. Also, this architecture did not provide a scalable solution for larger enterprises and was inconsistent with today's current trend toward an IP infrastructure. The SNASw solution replaces that functionality with the Branch Extender (BX) architecture, which eliminates the need for the full NN functionality in the network, provides a more scalable solution, and effectively eliminates SNA topology and most broadcast search traffic from the network.
The SNASw solution also provides the Enterprise Extender (EX) feature, which transports SNA data over an IP network. Although Data-Link Switching Plus (DLSw+) also provides this capability, the EX functionality is unique because EX is also supported on the enterprise server. EX, therefore, provides the only solution that allows a pure TCP/IP data center and campus to support legacy SNA applications and desktops. As enterprises migrate to the latest releases of enterprise server software, EX functionality will provide a means to simplify data center design while enhancing availability.
Finally, the SNASw solution provides a number of new usability and management features. With four years of APPN experience, Cisco has worked with enterprises to reduce configuration requirements, to provide options for distributing traffic across the network, and to provide the necessary management information.
Features at a Glance
BX Feature
BX provides a "dual personality" in the network, as shown in Figure 1. To the enterprise server upstream, it appears as an end node (EN), using the enterprise server as its NN server. This means that SNASw nodes do not send or receive topology updates from NNs, nor do they broadcast directory requests to all NNs in the network. To downstream devices, SNASw nodes provide NN server functionality. For pre-High Performance Routing (HPR) SNA devices, SNASw nodes work with the enterprise server to locate resources and setup sessions. For HPR-capable devices downstream, SNASw nodes participate in session setup, assisting in path selection with other HPR-capable devices. SNASw nodes also register resources with a central directory server (CDS) to minimize discovery broadcasts.Figure 1 BX Functionality
BX has the added value of reducing and simplifying configuration. Because the BX does not participate in NN-to-NN exchanges, minimal configuration is required. Combined with the usability enhancements listed later in this document, SNASw configurations can be reduced by more than 50 percent when compared with APPN NN configurations.
Although the BX feature addresses a key scalability issue of APPN, enabling SNASw functionality to be dispersed to branch offices, most enterprises are choosing to transport SNA over IP. Hence, the most likely place to implement SNASw with the BX feature is in the data center, as shown in Figure 2. Keeping APPN functionality in the data center minimizes the complexity in the branch routers as well as minimizing their memory requirements. Also note that although SNASw can be implemented in the channel routers, most enterprises choose to implement the functionality in separate routers for change and fault management reasons. In a separate router, SNASw changes do not impact all the other traffic going to the enterprise server, and the fault domain of any single SNASw node can be minimized by using the appropriate number of high-speed, low-cost routers, such as one of the Cisco 7200 series routers. This design also results in a more scalable network, because additional branches can be brought on line nondisruptively by the addition of SNASw routers.
Figure 2 BX Network Design
EX Feature
The EX feature of SNASw provides reliable transport of SNA data over an IP infrastructure, using UDP packets. SNA resources are identified using IP addresses and an IP routing algorithm, such as Open Shortest Path First (OSPF), is used to route the IP packet through the network. Reliability is provided by the Rapid Transport Protocol (RTP) layer of HPR. Using RTP provides end-to-end error detection and control, flow control using the Adaptive Rate-Based (ARB) algorithm of HPR, and segmentation. Additionally, traffic prioritization is provided by mapping the transmission priority bits in the SNA header to the IP precedence bits in the IP header.Although DLSw+ also provides a reliable transport and mapping of priority bits, DLSw+ is not supported in the enterprise server. EX, on the other hand, has been implemented in OS/390 in V2 R6 with authorized program analysis report (APAR) OW36113, as well as in later versions of OS/390. Hence, the key advantage of the EX feature of SNASw is its ability to communicate directly to OS/390 over an IP network, migrating the network one step closer to pure IP.
This capability greatly simplifies campus network design and enhances availability. As more and more enterprises implement Fast Ethernet or Gigabit Ethernet backbones on the campus, redundancy issues of transparent bridging have created complexity when bridging SNA over those LANs. By transporting SNA over IP on the campus, media issues disappear and the campus benefits from the rerouting capabilities of IP.
By combining the BX and EX features, SNASw can feasibly be run at the branch. BX addresses the scalability issues and EX enables IP transport. However, the key benefit of EX is that it runs in the enterprise server; therefore, the software in the enterprise server must be at the appropriate level. EX can be used in one of two network designs, as shown in Figure 3. In Option 1, EX is used in the data center between the enterprise server and the SNASw node, while DLSw+ is used in the WAN. In Option 2, EX is used from the enterprise server to the branch office, eliminating DLSw+ in the WAN.
Figure 3 EX Design Alternatives
Selection of the appropriate design will be based on the technology comparison in Table 2.
Usability Enhancements
As part of the continued efforts of Cisco to improve the usability of its products, based on customer experience with the earlier APPN product, the SNASw solution provides the following enhancements.Dynamic Control Point Name Generation
The control point (CP) name must be unique within a network. As an alternative to configuring a unique name in each SNASw node, the Cisco IOS software can generate a unique name based on the host name or IP address. This capability guarantees uniqueness and reduces configuration requirements.Dynamic SNA Basic Transmission Unit Size Generation
Traditionally, APPN has required that a maximum basic transmission unit (BTU) size be generated. With this release, the SNASw solution analyzes the interface maximum transmission unit (MTU) and dynamically assigns the SNA BTU based on the best value for a specific port or from the MAXDATA value received from the enterprise server for a downstream device.Dependent Logical Unit Requestor (DLUR) Connect-Out
If a subarea SNA device is configured in the enterprise server to receive a dial-out, the SNASw node receives the connect-out instruction from the enterprise server and makes the dial connection.Improved ARB Flow Control
In its original release, the ARB algorithm was inefficient in increasing and decreasing the amount of data sent between HPR nodes. The APPN Implementers Workshop (AIW) has developed and approved a new algorithm, which improves the data flow. This enhancement is included in SNASw.User-Settable Port Limits
The SNASw solution offers full control of the number of devices supported by a specific node. A configuration operand can be used to limit the number of devices that are served by a particular SNASw node. When the limit is reached, an SNASw node discontinues responses to test or explorer frames supporting new session setup. This feature enables load sharing among different SNASw nodes that offer service to the same SNA Media Access Control (MAC) address.Management Enhancements
In the four years of supporting the full APPN NN, Cisco has received many recommendations from enterprises regarding how to better manage APPN. The SNASw solution includes a number of unique enhancements based on this input.APPN Trap MIB Support
This Management Information Base (MIB) proactively sends traps with information about changes in status of SNA resources. This enhancement provides more information, more efficiently, on the status of the network and reduces the amount of Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) polling necessary to manage the SNA devices.Data Link Tracing Options
SNA frames entering or leaving the SNASw component of the router can be traced to a console or to a cyclic buffer. The frames are then analyzed local to the router or transferred to a file server for analysis. When sent to a file server, the trace is in an SNA-formatted text file or a binary-formatted file, readable by popular network management applications. With this support, network analyzers on the lines are no longer necessary to diagnose SNA problems, because the SNASw can provide the information natively.Console Message Archiving
Messages issued by SNASw are now archived in a buffer log, which can be queried and searched on a console or transferred to a file server for analysis. Using the buffer log, additional information is collected and maintained and can be queried as needed to gather more information about SNASw.Interprocess Signal Tracing
As control is transferred from one process to another within SNASw, a trace entry is generated in binary format. The trace can then be examined to identify the activities occurring within SNASw.Maps and SNA View Enhancements
These two CiscoWorks Blue network management applications will be enhanced to support additional standard MIBs for APPN. Additional enhancements will support the new features of SNASw.Benefits
Migration to a Consolidated IP Infrastructure
Limiting SNASw routers to the data center and using the BX feature can significantly reduce SNA broadcasts from the IP network. With EX, SNA traffic is routed using the IP routing infrastructure while maintaining end-to-end SNA services.Scalable APPN Support
With the addition of the BX feature, the number of NNs and, therefore, the amount of broadcast traffic is reduced. This means that large topology tables are no longer required in SNASw routers.Reduced Configuration Requirements
By eliminating NNs and using the BX feature, configuration is minimized. Additionally, Cisco has enhanced its autoconfiguration capability to eliminate previously required commands.Network Design Simplicity
By eliminating NNs, much simpler networks can be designed. By placing the SNASw routers in the data center, very few SNA routers are required; they can be configured easily using virtually identical configurations, and the network impact of SNA traffic is minimized.Improved Availability
By adding unique Cisco capabilities to distribute traffic across multiple ports, traffic can be load balanced. Additionally, by supporting the newest HPR ARB flow control algorithm, bandwidth management for SNA traffic is improved. By using the EX feature in the data center, the lack of parallel paths in Fast Ethernet and Gigabit Ethernet environments can be overcome by using the IP routing infrastructure.Increased Management Capabilities
Two new traces, interprocess and data link, provide an easier way to see APPN activity. The APPN Trap MIB provides the ability to notify the operator of events in the network. Console message archiving provides better tracking of network activity. Finally, by providing the option to create traces in a format readable by other management products, management is simplified and results are more readily available.Architectural Compliance
Even though the SNASw solution is easier to use and SNASw networks are easier to design, SNASw can interface to all APPN implementations on the market today: ENs, NNs, and low-entry network (LEN) nodes. It also provides full DLUR support to allow older resources to take advantage of the APPN network.Applications
SNA Routing
Where multiple data centers or multiple enterprise servers exist, SNA routing decisions must be made and traffic directed to the correct location. SNASw nodes interface with VTAM to send all messages directly to the correct server for all SNA traffic.SNA Traffic Prioritization
As a BX node, an SNASw node works with other HPR nodes to provide the correct SNA class of service (COS)—selecting the correct path through the network and establishing transmission priority. Additionally, using EX, that support can be extended to transport across an IP network.Support for an IP Infrastructure
The SNASw solution allows migration from a front-end processor (FEP)-based data center with subarea SNA traffic to a consolidated data center that supports SNA and TCP/IP applications concurrently. Using the EX feature, either in the data center in conjunction with DLSw+ in the network or end-to-end, SNA is efficiently transported over the converged IP infrastructure.SNASw Features, Functions, and Benefits Summary
Table 3 provides a summary of SNASw features and their benefits.
Availability and Orderability
The SNASw solution is orderable and shipping on September, 7, 1999, as part of Cisco IOS Release 12.0(5)XN. SNASw will also be orderable during the fourth quarter of 1999 as part of Cisco IOS Release 12.1.When purchasing new Cisco routers, the SNASw solution is available in the Cisco IOS subsets shown in Table 4.
For existing Cisco routers without a Cisco IOS subset that contains APPN, the existing subset must be upgraded to the Enterprise subset on that platform. Then one of the SNASw feature licenses shown in Table 5 must be purchased.
For existing Cisco routers with a Cisco IOS subset that contains APPN, the existing subset must be upgraded with one of the SNASw feature licenses shown in Table 6.
Reduced broadcast traffic