AT&T AT&T manual System 25 Starlan Network Access Access, 215

STARLAN NETWORK ACCESS (V2)

Description

The AT&T STARLAN NETWORK (STARLAN NETWORK) Access feature provides connectivity between System 25 and a colocated STARLAN NETWORK. This connectivity is provided by a combination of hardware and software elements.

The STARLAN INTERFACE circuit pack (ZTN84) is the principal hardware element connecting System 25 and the STARLAN NETWORK. One or more of these circuit packs m a y b e m o u n t e d i n t h e S y s t e m 2 5 c a b i n e t ( s ) . The STARLAN circuit pack (CP) communicates with System 25 call processing over System 25’s Time Division Multiplex (TDM) bus. To System 25, this circuit pack functions like a 4-port Data Line circuit pack (DLC) . To the STARLAN NETWORK, the STARLAN CP appears as a STARLAN NETWORK workstation.

Communication between STARLAN NETWORK equipment (workstations, servers, hosts) and data terminals, PC6300s, and host computers connected to System 25 is provided by firmware on the STARLAN CP and communications program(s) on the PCs and hosts. Two communications programs are available to users:

●System 25 STARLAN NETWORK ACCESS (ACCESS)

ACCESS allows MS-DOS personal computers (PCs) connected (via the PC’s serial port) to System 25 to communicate with DOS Servers on the STARLAN NETWORK and to function as client workstations. The interface from the System 25 to the STARLAN NETWORK is the STARLAN CP operating in bridge mode. Bridge mode provides a transparent connection between the PC and the STARLAN NETWORK. Personal computer users may access the STARLAN NETWORK just as though they were connected to the STARLAN NETWORK with a Network Access Unit (NAU), although at lower speed. (The NAU is a CP mounted in STARLAN NETWORK w o r k s t a t i o n s t h a t p e r m i t s a c c e s s t o o t h e r w o r k s t a t i o n s a n d / o r s e r v e r s i n t h e network. ) Data transmission through the STARLAN CP is limited to a maximum of 9,600 bps. This is much less than the 1 million bps transmission rate between workstations/servers on a STARLAN NETWORK.

Applications that require frequent and lengthy transfers of data over the Local Area Network (LAN) will appear slow. Applications should be designed/configured to run the executable program locally (on the PC) and to access data from the file server on the LAN. ACCESS is recommended primarily for shared file and printer access. Applications should be copied to the user’s (local) disk before they are run.

This program also permits STARLAN NETWORK access for remote PCs if the System 25 is equipped with a Pooled Modem CP (TN758) or external modem pool. Remote PCs can dial the STARLAN CP through a modem using either the Direct Group Calling (DGC) feature or Direct Inward Dialing (DID) trunks to obtain a connection through System 25 to the STARLAN NETWORK.

ACCESS must be used in conjunction with the AT&T STARLAN NETWORK Server software (Version 2.0 or later). Installation software furnished with ACCESS requires the STARLAN NETWORK client installation diskette in order to install

ACCESS.

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