PCINFO, PS2ADAPT.1

Adapter Definition File: @EF7F.adf
Diagnostic File : @eF7F.dgs
~~~~~~
TITLE: 3270 CONNECTION ADAPTER/A TYPE A 1005
Description: When used in conjuction with the proper terminal emulation software, the IBM 3270 Connection adapter enables the PS/2 to function
as an IBM 3278 or IBM 3279 Colour Display Station. The IBM 3270
Connection adapter permits the PS/2 to physically connect via coaxial cable
to a 3276, 3174 or 3274 terminal substation control units, It can also
connect to a 3299 terminal multiplexer, or to the display/print adapter
on a 4321, 4331 or 4361 processor. It can also be connected to the
workstation adapter of a 4361 or to the 4702 Processor as well as
to a workstation controller on a 9370 Information Subsystem. Only 1
3270 Type A adapter can be installed in a PS/2.

Adapter Definition File: @E7FF.adf
Diagnostic File : IBMCONN.dgs
~~~~~~
TITLE: 3270 CONNECTION ADAPTER TYPE B 1006
**** UP TO 4 3270 Type B adapters can be installed in a PS/2.******** Description: When used in conjuction with the proper terminal emulation software, the IBM 3270 Connection adapter enables the PS/2 to function
as an IBM 3278 or IBM 3279 Colour Display Station. The IBM 3270
Connection adapter permits the PS/2 to physically connect via coaxial cable
to a 3276, 3174 or 3274 terminal substation control units, It can also
connect to a 3299 terminal multiplexer, or to the display/print adapter
on a 4321, 4331 or 4361 processor. It can also be connected to the
workstation adapter of a 4361 or to the 4702 Processor as well as
to a workstation controller on a 9370 Information Subsystem.

Adapter Definition File: @E1FF.adf
Diagnostic File : IBMCONN.dgs
~~~~~~
TITLE: SYSTEM 36/38 ADAPTER/A 1007
Description: The System 36/38 Workstation Emulation Adapter and Emulation Program allow the PS/2 to function as a workstation on a System/36 or
System/38 minicomputers. The 3196 Display and 5292 Display emulation capabilities provided by the adapter and software give the PS/2 access to
most of the host functions available to a 3196 or 5292-2 workstation
terminal.
These workstations are twinax attached to the minicomputer or remotely
attached via the 5294 Remote Control Unit. In addition the software
permits the printer attached to the PS/2 to be treated as a 5219, 5224/5225
or a 5226 printer.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Tue, 7 Dec 2021 21:46:40 -0600, Louis Ohland <ohland@charter.net>
wrote:

PCINFO, PS2ADAPT.1

Adapter Definition File: @EF7F.adf
Diagnostic File : @eF7F.dgs
~~~~~~
TITLE: 3270 CONNECTION ADAPTER/A TYPE A 1005
Description: When used in conjuction with the proper terminal emulation >software, the IBM 3270 Connection adapter enables the PS/2 to function
as an IBM 3278 or IBM 3279 Colour Display Station. The IBM 3270
Connection adapter permits the PS/2 to physically connect via coaxial cable >to a 3276, 3174 or 3274 terminal substation control units, It can also >connect to a 3299 terminal multiplexer, or to the display/print adapter
on a 4321, 4331 or 4361 processor. It can also be connected to the >workstation adapter of a 4361 or to the 4702 Processor as well as
to a workstation controller on a 9370 Information Subsystem. Only 1
3270 Type A adapter can be installed in a PS/2.

Adapter Definition File: @E7FF.adf
Diagnostic File : IBMCONN.dgs
~~~~~~
TITLE: 3270 CONNECTION ADAPTER TYPE B 1006
**** UP TO 4 3270 Type B adapters can be installed in a PS/2.******** >Description: When used in conjuction with the proper terminal emulation >software, the IBM 3270 Connection adapter enables the PS/2 to function
as an IBM 3278 or IBM 3279 Colour Display Station. The IBM 3270
Connection adapter permits the PS/2 to physically connect via coaxial cable >to a 3276, 3174 or 3274 terminal substation control units, It can also >connect to a 3299 terminal multiplexer, or to the display/print adapter
on a 4321, 4331 or 4361 processor. It can also be connected to the >workstation adapter of a 4361 or to the 4702 Processor as well as
to a workstation controller on a 9370 Information Subsystem.

Adapter Definition File: @E1FF.adf
Diagnostic File : IBMCONN.dgs
~~~~~~
TITLE: SYSTEM 36/38 ADAPTER/A 1007
Description: The System 36/38 Workstation Emulation Adapter and Emulation >Program allow the PS/2 to function as a workstation on a System/36 or >System/38 minicomputers. The 3196 Display and 5292 Display emulation >capabilities provided by the adapter and software give the PS/2 access to >most of the host functions available to a 3196 or 5292-2 workstation >terminal.
These workstations are twinax attached to the minicomputer or remotely >attached via the 5294 Remote Control Unit. In addition the software
permits the printer attached to the PS/2 to be treated as a 5219, 5224/5225 >or a 5226 printer.

There are at least 2 versions of the 3270 adapter, a long one and a
short one. The short ones were in demand for 8573 users so they could
free up the long slot for a RAM card. OS/2 was a memory hog. The long
ones were there for the taking. I was running DOS so it wasn't an
issue for me, nor was it in the desk tops.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

I still am unsure of WHAT the 3270 A and B version differences amount
to. Since I've never hooked up with Twinax to ANYTHING, how do the 5250,
3270, and the 36/38 adapters differ?

On 12/8/2021 12:23, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:

On Tue, 7 Dec 2021 21:46:40 -0600, Louis Ohland <ohland@charter.net>
wrote:

PCINFO, PS2ADAPT.1

Adapter Definition File: @EF7F.adf
Diagnostic File : @eF7F.dgs
~~~~~~
TITLE: 3270 CONNECTION ADAPTER/A TYPE A 1005
Description: When used in conjuction with the proper terminal emulation
software, the IBM 3270 Connection adapter enables the PS/2 to function
as an IBM 3278 or IBM 3279 Colour Display Station. The IBM 3270
Connection adapter permits the PS/2 to physically connect via coaxial cable >> to a 3276, 3174 or 3274 terminal substation control units, It can also
connect to a 3299 terminal multiplexer, or to the display/print adapter
on a 4321, 4331 or 4361 processor. It can also be connected to the
workstation adapter of a 4361 or to the 4702 Processor as well as
to a workstation controller on a 9370 Information Subsystem. Only 1
3270 Type A adapter can be installed in a PS/2.

Adapter Definition File: @E7FF.adf
Diagnostic File : IBMCONN.dgs
~~~~~~
TITLE: 3270 CONNECTION ADAPTER TYPE B 1006
**** UP TO 4 3270 Type B adapters can be installed in a PS/2.********
Description: When used in conjuction with the proper terminal emulation
software, the IBM 3270 Connection adapter enables the PS/2 to function
as an IBM 3278 or IBM 3279 Colour Display Station. The IBM 3270
Connection adapter permits the PS/2 to physically connect via coaxial cable >> to a 3276, 3174 or 3274 terminal substation control units, It can also
connect to a 3299 terminal multiplexer, or to the display/print adapter
on a 4321, 4331 or 4361 processor. It can also be connected to the
workstation adapter of a 4361 or to the 4702 Processor as well as
to a workstation controller on a 9370 Information Subsystem.

Adapter Definition File: @E1FF.adf
Diagnostic File : IBMCONN.dgs
~~~~~~
TITLE: SYSTEM 36/38 ADAPTER/A 1007
Description: The System 36/38 Workstation Emulation Adapter and Emulation
Program allow the PS/2 to function as a workstation on a System/36 or
System/38 minicomputers. The 3196 Display and 5292 Display emulation
capabilities provided by the adapter and software give the PS/2 access to
most of the host functions available to a 3196 or 5292-2 workstation
terminal.
These workstations are twinax attached to the minicomputer or remotely
attached via the 5294 Remote Control Unit. In addition the software
permits the printer attached to the PS/2 to be treated as a 5219, 5224/5225 >> or a 5226 printer.

There are at least 2 versions of the 3270 adapter, a long one and a
short one. The short ones were in demand for 8573 users so they could
free up the long slot for a RAM card. OS/2 was a memory hog. The long
ones were there for the taking. I was running DOS so it wasn't an
issue for me, nor was it in the desk tops.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 8 Dec 2021 12:33:36 -0600, Louis Ohland <ohland@charter.net>
wrote:

I still am unsure of WHAT the 3270 A and B version differences amount
to. Since I've never hooked up with Twinax to ANYTHING, how do the 5250, >3270, and the 36/38 adapters differ?

The 36/38/AS/400s use Twinax.
3270 is coax in a BNC connector.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

What kind of equipment do they attach to? Don't hit me with a list of
models, how about function?

I only know I don't know. Matter of fact, I am totally oblivious to the differences. Illuminate my mind. Won't take much, the small mind is
easier to fill with faith...

On 12/8/2021 14:05, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:

On Wed, 8 Dec 2021 12:33:36 -0600, Louis Ohland <ohland@charter.net>
wrote:

I still am unsure of WHAT the 3270 A and B version differences amount
to. Since I've never hooked up with Twinax to ANYTHING, how do the 5250,
3270, and the 36/38 adapters differ?

The 36/38/AS/400s use Twinax.
3270 is coax in a BNC connector.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 8 Dec 2021 16:44:37 -0600, Louis Ohland <ohland@charter.net>
wrote:

What kind of equipment do they attach to? Don't hit me with a list of
models, how about function?

I only know I don't know. Matter of fact, I am totally oblivious to the >differences. Illuminate my mind. Won't take much, the small mind is
easier to fill with faith...

The 3270 interface only serves 327x monitors or the price reduced 31xx
monitor. (A Korean made FRU, no field replaceable parts but the line
cord)
Twinax ran just about any kind of I/O you could connect to a GSD box. (Monitors, printers etc)
The AS/400 used differential SCSI for the faster stuff like disk and
tape. Not sure about 36/38 stuff, never worked on them.
There was a "baby 36" that was basically a PC/AT with a 5250 card in
it running 36 emulation. I did fool with them a couple times but it
was usually a bad hard drive and you needed an SE to rebuild it.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 12/8/2021 18:28, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:

On Wed, 8 Dec 2021 16:44:37 -0600, Louis Ohland <ohland@charter.net>
wrote:

What kind of equipment do they attach to? Don't hit me with a list of
models, how about function?

I only know I don't know. Matter of fact, I am totally oblivious to the
differences. Illuminate my mind. Won't take much, the small mind is
easier to fill with faith...

The 3270 interface only serves 327x monitors or the price reduced 31xx monitor. (A Korean made FRU, no field replaceable parts but the line
cord)

So the 3270 outputs to the 327x / 31xx monitors. As part of what system?

Twinax ran just about any kind of I/O you could connect to a GSD box. (Monitors, printers etc)

GSD? Gigantic Slivovitz Delirium?

The AS/400 used differential SCSI for the faster stuff like disk and
tape. Not sure about 36/38 stuff, never worked on them.

OK, I can relate to differential SCSI.

There was a "baby 36" that was basically a PC/AT with a 5250 card in
it running 36 emulation. I did fool with them a couple times but it
was usually a bad hard drive and you needed an SE to rebuild it.

36/38 hooked up to a System/36 or System/38.Those systems were
precursors to Skynet?

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On Wed, 8 Dec 2021 20:51:07 -0600, Louis Ohland <ohland@charter.net>
wrote:

On 12/8/2021 18:28, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:

On Wed, 8 Dec 2021 16:44:37 -0600, Louis Ohland <ohland@charter.net>
wrote:

What kind of equipment do they attach to? Don't hit me with a list of
models, how about function?

I only know I don't know. Matter of fact, I am totally oblivious to the
differences. Illuminate my mind. Won't take much, the small mind is
easier to fill with faith...

The 3270 interface only serves 327x monitors or the price reduced 31xx
monitor. (A Korean made FRU, no field replaceable parts but the line
cord)

So the 3270 outputs to the 327x / 31xx monitors. As part of what system?

360/370 architecture machines. There were also 3271/3274 remote
controllers. Telco connected to the host. One would run fine on 2400
baud. (Text only).

Twinax ran just about any kind of I/O you could connect to a GSD box.
(Monitors, printers etc)

GSD? Gigantic Slivovitz Delirium?

General systems division, Bigger than a PC but not a 370 compatible.
As/400s, 34/36/36. 1130 type systems.

The AS/400 used differential SCSI for the faster stuff like disk and
tape. Not sure about 36/38 stuff, never worked on them.

OK, I can relate to differential SCSI.

There was a "baby 36" that was basically a PC/AT with a 5250 card in
it running 36 emulation. I did fool with them a couple times but it
was usually a bad hard drive and you needed an SE to rebuild it.

36/38 hooked up to a System/36 or System/38.Those systems were
precursors to Skynet?

more like precursor to AS/400. They made that transition as seamless
as possible and a big AS/400s could run with low end 370 architecture
machines (4331, 4361)

Usually when GS customers got bigger, they bought more machines.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 08/12/2021 22:44, Louis Ohland wrote:

What kind of equipment do they attach to? Don't hit me with a list of
models, how about function?

Thats like asking me to describe the PS/2 range without mentioning MicroChannel, ISA BUS, VGA but lets give it a whirl...

The 3270 screens attach to "controllers" which are intelligent devices, configurable but not programmable. Usually they sit in a separate box
ranging in size from a PS/2 model 30 size, up to one larger than a PC
Server 720.

They map between the simple protocol the early screens understand and
whatever protocol the host they connect to wants.

A real 3270 terminal is a pretty stupid device it sends keystrokes down
its co-ax cable and receives display data. However it does this at 1.5Mbits/second so a tad faster than most RS232 links other companies used.

The controller receives the key strokes from the terminal and data from
the host and maintains a buffer of this data. This includes a "map" of
where data can be entered on the screen, updating its buffer as data is received from the terminal and host.

Depending on model the controller can connect to the Host via the IBM
Channel (8-bit 1 to 4Mhz), Bi-Sync Serial, SDLC Serial, Token Ring, or Ethernet. Whilst the lower layers may be different, for IBM hosts the
data stream the program sees is always the same, as per the "3270 data
streams" manual. A hefty tome, my copy is 380 pages long.

The result is that scrolling through a file a screen at a time requires
only one host IO per screen, and if connected to a channel, the screen
would refresh without perceptible delay.

Later model controllers would also allow 3270s to connect via Telnet and TN3270.

So "Function" well of course you get multiple session terminal
emulation, fast file transfer, and at one point there was also an
interface that let you use host storage as a disk drive for the PC.

Because the buffers are in the controller you could also get multiple
logical terminals so on a real 3270 or when using a DOS emulation you
had a hot key to switch between sessions. Under OS/2 or Windows you had multiple windows.

I only know I don't know. Matter of fact, I am totally oblivious to the differences. Illuminate my mind. Won't take much, the small mind is
easier to fill with faith...

The two devices deliver similar function, but to different types of host.

3270's connect to Mainframes, so 360/370/XA family machines. 5250's
connect to mid-range machines so S/36, S/38, AS/400. Different divisions
of IBM for each.

The obvious difference is the plug and socket. A 3270 has a co-ax socket
a 5250 has a twin-ax socket and the 5250 terminals can be daisy chained.

There are also differences in the protocols and of course you need
different software, but to the end user it looks pretty much the same. A
"green screen" on your PC.

I was once told things were done this way as IBM thought it would be
split into two companies and so it developed separate peripheral
standards, so that in that event the two halves could function
independently.

Dave

On 12/8/2021 14:05, gfretwell@aol.com wrote:

On Wed, 8 Dec 2021 12:33:36 -0600, Louis Ohland <ohland@charter.net>
wrote:

I still am unsure of WHAT the 3270 A and B version differences amount
to. Since I've never hooked up with Twinax to ANYTHING, how do the 5250, >>> 3270, and the 36/38 adapters differ?

The 36/38/AS/400s use Twinax.
3270 is coax in a BNC connector.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

So... then "it depends"?

3270 is somewhat stupid, where the keystrokes are buffered in a "remote controller", that "remote controller" sends all buffered traffic to a 360/370/XA system for real processing.

The 5250 sends directly to a System 36/38 and AS/400?

On 12/9/2021 04:14, David Wade wrote:

3270's connect to Mainframes, so 360/370/XA family machines. 5250's
connect to mid-range machines so S/36, S/38, AS/400. Different divisions
of IBM for each.

The obvious difference is the plug and socket. A 3270 has a co-ax socket
a 5250 has a twin-ax socket and the 5250 terminals can be daisy chained.

There are also differences in the protocols and of course you need
different software, but to the end user it looks pretty much the same. A "green screen" on your PC.

I was once told things were done this way as IBM thought it would be
split into two companies and so it developed separate peripheral
standards, so that in that event the two halves could function
independently.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

On 09/12/2021 16:22, Louis Ohland wrote:

So... then "it depends"?

3270 is somewhat stupid, where the keystrokes are buffered in a "remote controller", that "remote controller" sends all buffered traffic to a 360/370/XA system for real processing.

That implies to me that all keystrokes are sent and the host does all
the character editing. In fact editing keys work within the buffer and
only the resultant edited data is sent to the screen.

Before any data can be input the host sends a "form" to the screen
containing fixed strings and entry field definitions defining where data
may be input on the screen. This defines the input field location on
screen, size and type, numeric or alpha numeric for each piece of input
data. It also includes default values. So rather than being a simple
buffer, it actually contains fixed length areas where data is to be stored.

As the user types data in these fields it is modified in the controller. Editing keys are handled by the controller. Only the final edited data
in the fields is sent to the host.

Even in a simple command line environment such as TSO or CMS there is a
form on the screen. The command line will be the only input field. If
the user makes a mistake, backspaces and re-types part of the command,
that overwrites the data in the buffer and what is sent to the host is
the edited command line as displayed to the user on the screen.

There are also keys to delete a word and clear a field which again
affect the buffer, and are not sent to the host.

So the host program receives form data that has been validated for numeric/alpha and length. It does not have to be concerned with
character editing and can simply do the "real processing"...

The 5250 sends directly to a System 36/38 and AS/400?

I am not sure about the internal architecture of these boxes. I would
assume similar buffering occurs, but then it could be different across
the model range.

Dave

On 12/9/2021 04:14, David Wade wrote:

3270's connect to Mainframes, so 360/370/XA family machines. 5250's
connect to mid-range machines so S/36, S/38, AS/400. Different
divisions of IBM for each.

The obvious difference is the plug and socket. A 3270 has a co-ax
socket a 5250 has a twin-ax socket and the 5250 terminals can be daisy
chained.

There are also differences in the protocols and of course you need
different software, but to the end user it looks pretty much the same.
A "green screen" on your PC.

I was once told things were done this way as IBM thought it would be
split into two companies and so it developed separate peripheral
standards, so that in that event the two halves could function
independently.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)

There are at least 2 versions of the 3270
adapter, a long one and a short one.

I still am unsure of WHAT the 3270 A
and B version differences amount to.

And now we know it isn't just a matter of "long" and "short" - It's the original "long" E7FF ('Type A') and everything "long" and "short' E1FF ('Type B') that were later: https://www.ardent-tool.com/comms/3270.html

Both adapters emulate the same terminal types (3278 and 3279), but the E1FF versions have more RAM and are more configurable for having multiple adapters on the same host.

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
* Origin: fsxNet Usenet Gateway (21:1/5)