Interconnecting SNA networks

Systems Network Architecture (SNA) allows terminals and application programs to communicate with one another using SNA entities called logical units. Until now, these logical units have had to be in the same network to communicate. This paper describes recently introduced SNA network interconnection functions that allow logical units in independent SNA networks to communicate with one another. Each network is configured, defined and managed separately. By using one or more facilities called gateways, networks can remain independent while their logical units initiate, use, and terminate internetwork sessions, without any changes to themselves. A communications user need not be aware that a session partner is in a separate network.