IBM BC-203 manual Alps, BC-232

Overview of IBM Networking

ALPS

Figure 103 NCIA Server Provides Independence from the Upstream Network Implementation

		Client
		Workstation
	Token
	Ring	DLSw+
		NCIA Server
	RSRB/DLSw+
Token	IP
	Backbone
Ring
Mainframe	Cisco
with FEP
Computing Center		RSRB
		NCIA Server
		S4706
	Router Peers

ALPS

The Airline Product Set (ALPS) is a tunneling mechanism that transports airline protocol data across a TCP/IP network to a mainframe. ALPS provides connectivity between agent set control units (ASCUs) and a mainframe host that runs the airline reservation system.

Figure 104 shows the basic ALPS topology and the protocols implemented in the feature. Three major components provide the end-to-end transportation of airline protocol traffic across the network: the P1024B Airline Control (ALC) or P1024C (UTS) protocol, the TCP/IP-based MATIP protocol conversion, and the TCP/IP access to the mainframe.

Cisco IOS Bridging and IBM Networking Configuration Guide

BC-232