The FarSync TCP-X25 Gateway provides a flexible and reliable means of
efficiently transferring data between TCP connections and X.25 virtual circuits. The Gateway runs as a software application on Servers supporting Windows XP,
2000 and Server 2003. The X.25 connections are handled by using
FarSync X25 T-Series PCI / PCI-X cards or the
FarSync M-Series PCMCIA cards.
The FarSync TCP-X25 Gateway is designed for non-stop operation, and
can support a large number of IP-connected clients wishing to communicate with
an X.25 server. It can also support X.25 clients connecting to a TCP/IP-based
Server. Both many-to-one connectivity (many clients connecting to a single host)
and peer-to-peer connectivity are supported.
The Gateway can support up to 4000 simultaneous connections over from 1 to
16 separate X.25 lines. The total number of connections is limited only by
buffer memory requirements.
The Gateway is supplied with unique Personality Modules that define the
rules for connection mapping, session control and data packetisation between TCP
and X.25 connections. The suite of Personality Modules supplied with the
product suit most common applications without change. More unusual or complex
requirements are catered for by using the Developers Toolkit supplied with the
product to allow a new Personality Module to be quickly constructed and
integrated into the Gateway.
As an option the Gateway can be supplied pre installed and configured on high
quality Rack Mountable or Tower Servers. Windows Server 2003 is installed as the
O/S with NLB and Terminal Services enabled.
The FarSync General Purpose TCP-X25 Gateway is intended to be used when none
of the specific Gateway solutions (POS Gateway, SMS Router) are suitable.
The FarSync TCP-X25 Gateway can be used in a whole host of different
applications, the common factor being the requirement to transfer data between
TCP and X.25. Such uses include:
-
TCP to X.25 network bridge
-
X.25 to TCP/IP Network migration
-
Satellite connections
-
TCP/IP sockets access to X.25
-
SMS message handling. -
POS transactions (credit card, charge card, debit card), a dedicated
version of the gateway is available for APACS, HGEPOS and ISO 8583.
The Gateway comprises 2 major components, the basic Gateway itself and the
Personality Modules:
The Gateway manages the X.25 and TCP interfaces and general connection and
data transfer functions. A minimal thread count design is utilised to permit
a very large number of sessions to be supported with a very low overhead to the
operating system.
The Personality Module gives the Gateway its particular characteristics.
It's responsible for session mapping between TCP and X.25, session control, data
conversion, packetisation and event logging. There are 3 Personality Modules
supplied with the Gateway, described below are their main features:
DRPD (Dynamic call Routing, Packetised Data transfer)
Most
flexible of the Personality Modules. It supports dynamic routing,
and uses a message header over the TCP connection containing the length of the
message body, plus an explicit message type indicator (so that non-data
messages can be differentiated). Supports dynamic configuration of the
full set of X.25 call facilities. A sample TCP application is provided so
developers can quickly use the Gateway and its dynamic facilities.
SRSD (Static call Routing, character Stream Data transfer)
Static
IP address to X.25 NUA connection configured on the Gateway PC. This
simplified multi-session module, simply treats the X.25 connections as a
character stream and therefore performs no data conversion.
SRPD (Static call Routing, Packetised Data transfer)
Static IP
address to X.25 NUA connection configured on the Gateway PC. This
multi-session module supports message headers over the TCP connection, and
thus perform data packetisation.
The FarSync TCP-X25 Gateway normally runs as a Windows service. A
console application version is also supplied to allow the more flexible
environment for developers testing and debugging if customisation of a
Personality Module is required.
The FarSync TCP-X25 Gateway easily handles very high message loads, in
conjunction with the support for large numbers of X.25 lines enormous scalable
expansion capability is available. The main performance and expansion
capabilities of the Gateway are:
-
X.25 line speeds from 2,400 baud to 8.448 Mbits/s
-
From 1 to 16 x.25 per Gateway
-
X.25 Networks, Leased Lines and X.25 Dialup connections supported
-
Up to 4,000 simultaneous connections (recommended maximum)
-
Over 2,000 messages (blocks of data) per second handled
-
Both SVC and PVC connections
Configuration details are held in the registry and applied without reloading
the gateway as dictated by the needs of the application. Customised Personality
Modules can add their own unique configuration items to the registry or use
other methods if required.
The FarSync TCP-X25 Gateway uses the FarSync X25 T-Series or M-Series
cards to provide the X.25 connection. One or more of these high performance
PCI-X / PCI / PCMCIA cards are required to connect to the physical X.25 line/s
that allow access to the X.25 attached Hosts.
A Gateway Supervisor application is supplied with the FarSync TCP-X25
Gateway, it monitors the state of the X.25 network lines and logs changes in the
availability of any of the X.25 lines to the Windows event log.
The suite of Personality Modules provided with the product suit most common
requirements without change. For more unusual requirements, any of the Modules
can be customised, or even a completely new module developed, by using the
Toolkit provided with the product.
The Personality Modules are written in well documented C source code. All the
standard Personality Modules are provided as DLLs in source form so any one of
them can be adapted. All the function calls interfacing with the Gateway are
documented in the Toolkit manual.
The Personality Module can perform the following types of functions:
Data Conversion and Packetisation
Whereas X.25 data transfer is packet-based and provides message
delimitation, TCP/IP data transfer is character stream based and has no
implicit message delimitation. Although the X.25 data transfer could simply be
treated as a character stream, allowing end-to-end data transfer without any
need for conversion, most X.25 applications make use of the message
delimitation provided by the X.25 protocol. In such cases, any additional
protocol on top of TCP/IP providing message delimitation must be added by the
Gateway on messages received from the X.25 network, and removed from messages
before they are transmitted over the X.25 network.
Connection Routing
The Personality Module provides the flexibility to determine the connection
mapping between TCP and X.25 connections that meet the applications
requirements. Examples of this include:
1. Mapping TCP sessions on different port numbers to different remote
X.25 hosts
2. Optionally allowing the TCP client to provide the X.25 address
information dynamically by means of a half-duplex dialogue between the
client and the Personality Module
3. Using information extracted from the Call User Data field of the X.25
Incoming Call packet to determine the IP and port address to connect
to
Event Logging
The Personality Module contains the support to allow events to be logged to
the system event log or other type of logs as required by the particular
application.
Remote Management
The dynamic routing dialogue can potentially be extended to allow a TCP
client to manage the Gateway remotely. For example, one of the Gateway's TCP
port numbers can be dedicated as a management port. Remote management via X.25
is also possible, given suitable routing.
| Product Name |
FarSync TCP-X25 Gateway |
| Product Code |
FS9001 |
| Product Features |
| Maximum Simultaneous Connections |
4,000 (recommended maximum per Gateway) |
| X.25 cards supported |
PCI/PCI-X: FarSync X25 T1U, FarSync X25 T2U, FarSync
X25 T4U
PCMCIA:
FarSync X25 M1P |
| Maximum X.25 lines |
16 lines (4 x 4 port FarSync X.25 cards) |
| Messages per second |
> 2,000 |
| Multiple X.25 Hosts |
Yes, no restriction on number |
| TCP to X.25 session mapping |
Yes, statically configurable and dynamic |
| TCP multiple ports |
Yes, configurable |
| TCP/IP connections to the Gateway |
Standard PC LAN cards
FarSync WAN cards for leased line
/ internet / intranet connections using X.21 and V.35 network connectors
|
| Event Logging |
Yes, to text file, scope controlled in the Personality
Modules |
| Logging key events |
The Gateway Supervisor logs key operational events, eg
X.25 line down, X.25 line up to the Windows event log |
| Types of connection |
one-to-one, many-to-one and many-to-many |
| Non-stop operation |
Yes, most configuration changes applied dynamically |
| Operation in Windows |
Service or a console application |
| Developers Toolkit |
Yes, includes toolkit manual, C source for Personality
Modules and Sample applications |
| Supplied installed and configured on a Server |
Yes, as an option the Gateway can be supplied pre installed
and configured on high quality Rack Mountable or Tower Servers. Windows
Server 2003 is installed as the O/S with NLB and Terminal Services
enabled |
| Operating Systems support |
Windows XP Professional, Windows Server 2003,
Windows
2000 Professional, Windows 2000 Server,
Windows 2000 Advanced Server,
Windows 2000 Datacenter Server |
|
