Communications with Peer-to-Peer SNA Networks

Devices in peer-oriented SNA networks participate in Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN). Each APPN device, known as a type 2.1 physical unit (PU 2.1) can communicate directly with other PU 2.1 devices using Advanced Program-to-Program Communications (APPC) sessions.

Each PU 2.1 device relies on its own intelligence and does not require constant access to a centrally located host system.

Note

Although networks that use APPC are usually associated with AS/400 host systems, mainframe systems can also use APPC-based networking.

In an AS/400 environment, APPC is used for a variety of applications including 5250 access and file transfers. Programs that use APPC to communicate are called transaction programs (TPs). APPC TPs use LU 6.2 names to gain access to other systems and other transaction programs.

For background information about APPN networking, see "IBM SNA Interoperability Concepts" in this book.