Infrasoft adding new capabilities to uLinga

In last month’s update the focus was very much on uLinga and on the expansion into support of more modern protocols. This was a reference to uLinga support of the IBM protocols and services in support of IPIC – or, as IBM notes, “You can define TCP/IP connections so that you can communicate with a remote CICS® region by using IP interconnectivity (IPIC).” This has allowed online applications running on NonStop systems to appear to CICS online applications, running on IBM mainframes, as though they were running in another, separate, CICS region without any SNA involved whatsoever.

With this capability now a part of uLinga, we have been pleased to see more and more interest in our products, and can count a growing list of NonStop users as customers. With the arrival of NonStop X systems and following the decision taken by HPE NonStop Product Management not to move forward in supporting their own SNAX products on NonStop X, the interest in uLinga and all of its features has increased significantly.

While it is well known that in moving SNA to better integration with TCP/IP uLinga supports both DLSw and EE (HPR/IP) on NonStop, what may have been missed was the introduction of support for DLUR/DLUS. DLSw eliminated any need for DLSw-equipped routers in front of NonStop systems, terminating the IP network within NonStop. HPR/IP enhanced IP network availability further with its ability to support multiple paths between systems (including failover at the network level). Finally, DLUR/DLUS addresses the special needs of legacy SNA devices needing to interoperate in more modern Advanced Peer to Peer Networks (APPN).

Since uLinga added this support we have been able to address those customers that still have a need to communicate with applications on older AS/400 systems. The global population of AS/400 (or what became IBM System i before being integrated as part of IBM Power Systems), far exceeds that of NonStop whereby their presence within an enterprise is more often than not highly likely. With uLinga on NonStop X, there are now no restrictions and already, uLinga has captured a new customer for uLinga with this support for DLUR/DLUS.

What’s next on the uLinga roadmap? At the NonStop Technical Boot Camp we were able to talk with more users from around the world and what struck us is the continuing presence of X.25 networks. For Infrasoft, this is the main reason for attending events like Boot Camp and it became clear following talks with HPE and with users that there was a marketplace for products addressing the needs of X.25 users and also the replacement of SWAN devices. Having already gained experience with supporting X.25, it is now making its way back onto the uLinga product roadmap and development work has commenced. Look for further updates as to timeframes (for delivery) early next year!

Peter Shell | Managing Director | Infrasoft Pty Limited
peter.shell@infrasoft.com.au | tel +61 411 105 330
www.infrasoft.com.au