Barr Systems Begins Shipment of New BARR/CHANNEL Adapter with ESCON® Interface

Gainesville,Fla.-Barr Systems, Inc. today announced shipment of its new ESCON-based channel adapter. The BARR/CHANNEL product, available for Microsoft® SNA Server and for IBM® Communications Server for Windows NT®, emulates a locally-attached 3174 cluster controller and can be used in a variety of applications.

The ESCON fiber-optic link, available on most mainframes, is a standard interconnection method for IBM's Enterprise Systems. With a data rate of 17 Megabytes per second, BARR/CHANNEL with the ESCON interface provides higher speed and reliability than the S/390 parallel Bus and Tag channel. In keeping with IBM Future Technology, Barr's ESCON interface is disaster-proof and simple to install and configure. As with the BARR/CHANNEL Bus and Tag interface, the server connected via ESCON can be added and moved without affecting the mainframe.

There are advantages for gateways to be located near file servers, where they are more accessible to the printer operators, instead of on the mainframe floor. Barr’s S/390 channel interface allows connection of up to 43 kilometers away from the mainframe with directors (up to three kilometers without directors) eliminating the need for channel extenders.

North East Florida Educational Consortium was one test site for BARR/CHANNEL for SNA Server with ESCON. The Consortium's Regional Information Center (NRIC) provides administrative computing and networking to its members. In 1996 they installed Barr's Bus and Tag product to streamline their networking capabilities. To take advantage of new fiber optic technology, two years later, they decided to install Barr's new ESCON interface for the BARR/CHANNEL for SNA Server product.

BARR/CHANNEL with ESCON is now available for purchase in the U.S. for $9,290. It also will be offered through Barr’s authorized dealers worldwide. Packaging includes PCI fiber-optic adapter, software drivers, 7-meter (23-foot) fiber-optic cable, online help, and installation manual.

Barr Systems, Inc. leads the industry in design, manufacture, and support of high-performance data communications products. Its PC-based software and hardware products provide solutions to Fortune 1,000 organizations for enterprise-wide connectivity and printing. Incorporated in 1978, Barr Systems celebrated its 20th anniversary this year. The company serves an international customer base that has installed more than 32,000 products. For more information about Barr Systems and its full range of connectivity and high-speed printing solutions, call 800-BARR-SYS, or 352-491-3100, or visit the Barr web site at http://www.barrsys.com.