IBM RT to AS 400 Connection - The Results

[Dick Gill]

Early this month I posted the following request:

|
|A client of ours has a brand new IBM AS-400 that they want to
|interface with an existing uucp network.  The objective is to be
|able to transfer files between the remote unix machines and the
|400 in a smooth, simple and reliable way. For a number of
|reasons, some sound and some not-so, an IBM-RT is the machine of
|choice for the unix/400 connection.
|
|They have experimented with an IBM 5250 (5251?) emulation
|card in a regular PC connected to the 400 over "twinax" cable,
|and can transfer files just fine. Now the task is to replace the
|PC with an RT.
|
|Can someone on the net help us out with REAL experience as
|opposed to conjecture (we get enough of that from IBM)?  
|Specifically, can the RT emulate a 5250 for the purposes of
|AS-400 communication?  If not, is there some other way to get
|these two boxes talking?
|
|Please e-mail; I will summarize to the net if there is interest.
|
|Thanks
|
This posting is a summary of the responses:

The net responses showed great ingenuity in communicating with
the AS400.  The most reliable methodologies involved running
5250 emulation software on  either a PC between the RT and the
AS400 or an RT with a (discontinued) PC emulation card.  The
most extensive response, from Rob MacKinnon (uunet!blyndru!@rob)
- thanks Rob, gave me little hope that this connection would be
either simple or particularly reliable. Others responding were
also looking for a solution to this problem, leading me to think
that there may not be a straight forward answer.

Then lightning struck; I stumbled upon a product  called
Handshake III from a vendor we have been doing business with for
years! This hardware/software product is designed specifically
to connect unix boxes (they support 6 or 7 popular ones) to IBM
System/3x and AS 400 computers.  Capabilities include unattended
file transfer as well as login sessions on the AS 400.

The vendor is SST Data (800-825-5778); the lady to talk to is
Gail.  Our firm has been a reseller of other SST products over
the years, and have high regard for the quality of the products
and the SST people.  Hope this helps.

Thanks to all.

Dick
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Dick Gill     Professional Solutions Group   (703)761-1163   ..uunet!psgdc!rg

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Dick Gill     Professional Solutions Group   (703)761-1163   ..uunet!psgdc!rg