Chapter 15. Additional Planning Considerations; Create Or Modify Communications Networks - IBM RS/60000 Series Site And Hardware Planning Information

Chapter 15. Additional Planning Considerations

This chapter provides guidance for additional planning steps that may be necessary.

Create or Modify Communications Networks

If you intend to use the system in a network environment, appoint a central site or system administrator to
help design and maintain a system that provides maximum availability of all devices in the network. The
system administrator may need to consider the following:
v Types of networks with which your network users must communicate (for example, local and wide area
networks, asynchronous, coaxial).
v Types of communications functions that your network users need (for example, file transfer, mail,
3278/79 emulation, X-Window server support, data conversion, printing).
v Communications software that is required to communicate between systems within your own network
and with systems on external networks.
v International language considerations, if any, between communicating systems.
v Network management functions that you want to use within your network, including error-isolation
procedures and performance and monitoring tools.
v Information needed to properly configure your system. The following list provides some of the types of
information needed:
– Transmission speed (in bits per second)
– Parity checking (whether none, odd, or even)
– Pacing protocols required or allowed by remote system
– Dialing or calling protocols, such as autoanswer and autocall, and information such as phone
numbers (including back-up phone numbers in case no connection is possible)
– Times you can call and communicate with the remote systems
– Naming and addressing requirements within your network and between your systems and remote
systems
– Security relationships within your network and between your systems and remote systems
– Gateway or bridge requirements
– Information needed to configure the system software for correct operation in the network.
v Any necessary cables, control units, or other specialized communications hardware.
v Preparation of communications lines:
– Number of concurrent communications users
– Amount of data to be transmitted
– Communications software licensing restrictions.
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