TOPIC ---------------------------------------------
Do you have any information on Amdahl mainframes running the operating system
TCAM? I need to connect a 10-node Macintosh network to an Amdahl mainframe,
model 5890. I want the mainframe to be able to access the network. Should I
connect each Macintosh via an IRMA board to the mainframe?
Also, will the MacDFT product and the Coax/Twinax Card allow a network or only
a single workstation to access to the mainframe?
DISCUSSION ---------------------------------------------
TCAM is not an operating system. It is an access method like BTAM and VTAM.
Amdahl mainframes either run an IBM operating system, such as VM, MVS, or DOS,
or their UNIX operating system UTS.
Since you are doing terminal emulation, the operating system and access method
are not as important to know as the environment they are in; that is, SNA or
bisynchronous. Because SNA only runs VTAM and you have mentioned TCAM, we
assume that the environment is bisynchronous.
The IRMA board allows single workstation connection (CUT mode). There are
versions for the Macintosh SE, Macintosh SE/30, and Macintosh II. They work in
both SNA and bisynchronous environments. Use this approach if you are running
bisynchronous, or if you are running SNA but do not have any Macintosh IIs.
Avatar's MacMainFrame products are equivalent to IRMA boards and can be used as
well.
The first version of MacDFT, which will ship with the Apple Coax/Twinax Card,
can operate as a CUT mode terminal with one session per Macintosh. A later
version will implement a DFT mode terminal with up to five sessions per
Macintosh. There are versions for Macintosh II, and stated support is for SNA
and non-SNA (channel attached) only. However, if the users are running in
single-session (CUT) mode, they can use MacDFT version 1.0 or 1.1, whether it
is SNA, non-SNA, or bisynchronous.
MacDFT only allows single workstation access to the mainframe. For network
access, you will be able to use a Macintosh II running MacAPPC with a Serial NB
Card, when that product is shipped. If your need is immediate, you'll need an
IRMA board or MacDFT with Coax/Twinax Card from each Macintosh to a cluster
controller, or to check into the gateway product by Tri-Data Systems.
For more information, search on "Avatar Technology" and "Tri-Data Systems" in
the Tech Info library.