SNA to IP Migration

SNA to IP Migration:  Overview

Before TCP/IP became the primary networking protocol, IBM's Systems Network Architecture, or SNA, was the main protocol through which remote devices communicated with the mainframe.  Even though all modern devices support IP, many companies still have remote devices connected via RJE / 3770 or NJE.   

SNA to IP Migration:  Challenges  

Many data centers and IT departments have received mandates from the corporate leadership to completely eliminate the SNA infrastructure.  The main challenge is to fulfill this mandate with the least number of changes at the host and as inexpensively as possible.

SNA to IP Migration:  Barr Systems' Solution

To help you eliminate SNA from your networks and keep the functionality of RJE and NJE, you can use BARR/RJE and/or BARR/NJE. Both modules connect to your mainframe via IBM’s Enterprise Extender (HPR/IP) using Barr’s EE Link. Enterprise Extender provides a mechanism for transporting SNA protocols over the IP network without changes to your IP networking infrastructure, eliminating the need to maintain SNA.

While TCP/IP print solutions have been around for awhile, most vendors charge for each printer or connection defined in their software. Instead of paying for each connection to the mainframe, you can use the Barr Enterprise Print Server with RJE or NJE and print to an unlimited number of printers.

It is easy to make the switch from your SNA connectivity to IP; the implementation is simply a change in the communications link. To connect your mainframe to BARR/RJE or BARR/NJE via IP, you do not need to change your existing RJE or NJE definitions. All you need to do is define your RJE and NJE connections to Enterprise Extender.