BARR/PRINT CHANNEL is a software and hardware combination that allows you to physically connect your Windows-based computer to your mainframe channel. It emulates multiple mainframe-attached 3211 printers and is a relatively simple method of printing from the mainframe to your local network printers.
BARR/PRINT CHANNEL offers two options:
BARR/PRINT CHANNEL with ESCON – The computer connects to the mainframe through the Barr channel adapter. A thin, flexible, fiber-optic cable connects the adapter to the mainframe. You can also connect the cable to an ESCON director, which is connected to the mainframe. With an ESCON® director, you can attach multiple adapters to the mainframe.
BARR/PRINT CHANNEL with Bus & Tag – The computer connects to the mainframe through the Barr channel adapter. Bus & Tag cables connect the adapter to the mainframe and to any other downstream channel-attached devices.
Using BARR/PRINT CHANNEL you can direct mainframe print jobs to the spool, and then from the spool you can direct the jobs to existing network print queues on a LAN. If you add the BARR/PRINT390 module, you can also share mainframe channel printers with the rest of your network.
Depending on the other Barr product options you install, BARR/PRINT CHANNEL also allows VAX®, UNIX®, and AS/400® hosts to share the mainframe channel printers (with the BARR/PRINT390 module) and network printers.
Because BARR/PRINT CHANNEL emulates a 3211-type channel printer, you must ask your host programmer to configure the mainframe to recognize and communicate with the BARR/PRINT CHANNEL device.
Features & Benefits
Receives multiple jobs simultaneously on different channel addresses with independent banner page recognition for each channel address
Supports FCBs and UCSBs
Supports end-of-file detection options by using banner pages, FCBs, or timeouts
Extracts banner page text to define BARR/SPOOL properties such as FORMNAME and JOBNAME
Offers ESCON or Bus & Tag connectivity
Supports up to four physical Barr channel adapters
Supports multiple 3211 printer connections per adapter (the total number of 3211 printer connections depends on system resources)
Allows remote printing without using SNA
Sends mainframe output to any printer defined on your Windows network without changes to your JCL code
Enables flexible and more efficient use of your printing resources
Works as an intelligent channel switch for channel-attached printers with BARR/PRINT390
There is also an IPDS version of this product:
BARR/PRINT CHANNEL for IPDS provides an easy way to switch from channel-attached IPDS (Intelligent Printer Data Stream) printers to network-attached IPDS printers without changing your host configuration.
This program enables your mainframe to communicate with your IP-attached printers. By simulating a channel-attached printer, BARR/PRINT CHANNEL for IPDS acts as an intermediary step. Your mainframe connects to BARR/PRINT CHANNEL for IPDS with a Bus & Tag or ESCON® cable. BARR/PRINT CHANNEL for IPDS then communicates with your IP-attached printers using TCP/IP.
