IBM BC-203 Management Enhancements, Responsive Mode Adaptive Rate-Based Flow Control, BC-240

Overview of IBM Networking

Management Enhancements

Responsive Mode Adaptive Rate-Based Flow Control

Early HPR implementations failed to perform well in environments subject to packet loss (for example, Frame Relay, IP transport) and performed poorly when combined with other protocols in multiprotocol networks. SNASw implements the second-generation HPR flow control architecture, called Responsive Mode Adaptive Rate-Based (ARB) architecture. Responsive Mode ARB addresses all the drawbacks of the earlier ARB implementation, providing faster ramp-up, better tolerance of lost frames, and better tolerance of multiprotocol traffic.

User-Settable Port Limits

SNASw offers full control over the number of devices supported by a specific port. The max-links configuration on the SNASw port controls the number of devices that are served by this port. When the max-links limit is reached, SNASw no longer responds to test frames attempting to establish new connections. SNASw allows load sharing among different SNASw nodes that offer service to the same SNA MAC addresses.

Management Enhancements

SNASw contains the following enhanced tools for managing SNA networks:

•Console Message Archiving

•Data-Link Tracing

•Interprocess Signal Tracing

•Trap MIB Support for Advanced Network Management Awareness

Console Message Archiving

Messages issued by SNASw are archived in a buffer log that is queried and searched on the console or transferred to a file server for analysis. Each message has a single line that identifies the nature of the event that occurred. The buffer log also maintains more detailed information about the message issued.

Data-Link Tracing

SNA frames entering or leaving SNASw are traced to the console or to a cyclic buffer. These frames are analyzed at the router or transferred to a file server for analysis. The trace is sent to a file server in a SNA-formatted text file or in binary format readable by existing traffic analysis applications.

Interprocess Signal Tracing

The SNASw internal information is traced in binary form, offering valuable detailed internal information to Cisco support personnel. This information helps diagnose suspected defects in SNASw.

Cisco IOS Bridging and IBM Networking Configuration Guide

BC-240