IBM Communications Server for Windows, V6.1.2 can improve operating system support
IBM United States
Software Announcement 203-346
December 16, 2003
 ENUS203-346.PDF (26KB)
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(Corrected on March 18, 2004)
Corrected information in the hardware, software, and compiler requirements sections.
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Operating system support:
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Windows NT to be discontinued
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Windows 2000 to remain in effect
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Extended to include:
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Same function as previous version of Communications Server for Windows NT and Windows 2000
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New SNA enhancements
For ordering, contact:
Your IBM representative or IBM Americas Call Centers at
800-IBM-CALL
(Reference: SE001).
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Communications Server for Windows™ offers reliable and security-enhanced support for e-business
networks. It connects users to enterprise host applications and data over diverse networks —
whether SNA, TCP/IP, intranet, extranet, or Internet. You choose applications based on your
business needs, not on your network protocols.
Communications Server for Windows, V6.1.2 is a cumulative service release that also includes support
for new Microsoft™ Windows operating systems, Windows 2003 and Windows XP. Support for Microsoft
Windows NT™ will no longer be available.
Communications Server for Windows maintains all the robust functional capabilities included in the
previous version of Communications Server for Windows NT and Windows 2000, including support for the
Windows 2000 operating system.
The SNA stack is enhanced to improve Enterprise Extender functionality and handling of LAN adapter
configuration for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional. Other SNA enhancements are also
included.
For additional information, visit:
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One of the following operating systems:
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Windows 2000:
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Professional (Desktop)
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Server
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Advanced Server
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Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition and Enterprise Edition
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Windows XP Professional
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December 19, 2003, electronic software delivery
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January 30, 2004, media
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Communications Server for Windows provides all-in-one communications
services between workstations and a host system, as well as other
workstations. Capabilities include:
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Full function SNA gateway
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Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking® system
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Support for many types of connectivities
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Rich set of APIs
Support of SNA is based on long experience of IBM as the architect and
developer of this important protocol. In addition, Communications Server
can open the door to protocol-independent networking, with seamless
support for workstations communicating across SNA and TCP/IP networks.
Companies can gain the freedom to be responsive to the changing demands
of business applications, while minimizing network impact.
What's new in Communications Server for Windows, V6.1.2
Support for Windows NT is no longer provided by Microsoft. Support for Windows NT will not be
available from IBM, effective December 19, 2003.
New operating system support is extended to include:
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Windows 2003
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Windows XP Professional
Windows 2000 support remains available.
SNA enhancements
The SNA stack improves Enterprise Extender functionality and handling of LAN adapter configuration
for Windows Server 2003 and Windows XP Professional. Other enhancements include:
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LAN adapter detection
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Exception Handler routine for CSIT.EXE to capture traps
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Support for software-level session-level encryption (SLE)
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LU6.2 session-level timeout
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TERMSELF support
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IPv4 Hostname support for Enterprise Extender
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Connection Networks for Enterprise Extender
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Fine-tuning of HPR timers
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Improved trace facility
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Improved SNA TRACE FORMAT facility
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Global Virtual Routing Node (GRVN) option for connection networks
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LU6.2 Limited Resource Session Timeout
Trademarks
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Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking is a registered trademark of International Business Machines
Corporation in the United States or other countries or both.
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Windows, Windows NT, and Microsoft are trademarks of Microsoft Corporation.
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Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service marks of others.
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Specified operating environment
Hardware requirements
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Communications Server for Windows™, V6.1.2 runs on any Intel™-based system supported by
Microsoft™ Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, or Windows XP Professional. A PC with an Intel
Pentium™ processor at 100 MHz and a 64 MB of RAM is the minimum recommended server
hardware. Depending on the network environment and Windows platform used (workstation vs. server),
a faster processor and larger memory may be necessary.
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Disk space of 25 MB is required on a startup drive for temporary use and 125 MB on any HDD for
permanent use.
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SNA API clients run on any hardware required by Windows 2000 or Windows XP (Intel only).
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Remote Administration clients run on any hardware required by Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows
Server 2003 (Intel only).
Communications adapters:
One or more network communication adapters (and appropriate cable) may be required.
Communications Server for Windows, V6.1.2 is compatible with the following adapters.
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IBM WAN adapters:
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Multiprotocol communications adapters (PCI) for SDLC over leased and switched connections
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COM port asynchronous modems for SDLC
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COM port AutoSync modems for SDLC and X.25
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Non-IBM WAN adapters:
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Eicon Technology for SDLC, X.25, and frame relay
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Microgate adapters for SDLC and X.25
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COM port asynchronous modems for SDLC
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COM port AutoSync modems for SDLC and X.25
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IBM and non-IBM adapters (token ring, Ethernet, ATM, and FDDI): LAN adapters using NDIS supported by
Microsoft Windows for SNA LLC2, AnyNet®, and Enterprise Extender
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SNA over IP Adapters (LAN, WAN, and channel): Adapters for IP traffic supported by Microsoft Windows
for AnyNet and Enterprise Extender
Notes
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Communications Server for Windows is also compatible with a wide variety of LAN adapters including
many adapters with NDIS drivers supported by Windows.
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Not all of the adapters are supported on Windows 2000, Windows XP, or Windows 2003 platforms.
Contact the adapter vendor for specific information.
Communications Server for Windows, V6.1.2 includes several adapter device drivers from hardware
vendors for support of their cards. These drivers have been validated by IBM, or respective OEM,
with the Communications Server and are supplied as a convenience. The drivers are supported solely
by the adapter card vendors. Before installing any driver, refer to the README file in each
driver's installation directory for configuration guidance, adapter restrictions, licensing
information, and support contracts.
Software requirements:
Communications Server for Windows requires one of the following operating systems:
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Windows 2000 Professional, Server, or Advanced Server
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Windows XP Professional
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Windows 2003 Standard Edition or Enterprise Edition
Additionally:
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TCP/IP is required for TN3270E and TN5250 servers.
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TCP/IP is required for communications with the SNA API clients.
SNA API clients require either:
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Windows 2000 Professional, Server, or Advanced Server
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Windows XP Professional
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Windows 2003 Standard Edition or Enterprise Edition
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TCP/IP for communications with Communications Server for Windows
Web administration requires a Web server running on a Communications Server for Windows system and a
Web browser running on any system on the intranet. Communications between the systems must use
sockets over SNA or TCP/IP.
Supported Web servers include current versions of:
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IBM HTTP Web Server V1.3.3, or later
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Lotus® Domino™ R5 (V5.0.1, or later) Web Server on Windows
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Lotus Go Web Server V4.6.2.5, or later
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Microsoft IIS V5.0 on Windows 2000, or later
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Netscape Enterprise Server V4.0, or later
Supported Web browsers include:
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Netscape Navigator V4.7, or later
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Microsoft Internet Explorer V6.0, or later
Many other functions and features of Communications Server for Windows require a Web browser. Any
Web browser used must support HTML 3.0 documents.
Compiler requirements:
Compilers for applications under Communications Server for Windows and SNA API clients for:
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VisualAge® for C+ + for Windows, V3.5
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Microsoft Visual C+ + V4.1 or 5.0
Limitations
Communications Server for Windows, V6.1.2:
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Runs only on the Windows 2000, Windows Server 2003, and Windows XP Professional operating system in
the Intel environments.
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Cannot be installed successfully on a machine that has Microsoft SNA Server installed.
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Does not provide the link control protocol (LCP) required to support a point-to-point protocol (PPP)
connection between the server and a modem for ISDN connections. If the modem provides the LCP
independently from the application support, the connection will work properly.
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The name of the product has been changed from Communications Server for Windows NT™ and Windows
2000 to Communications Server for Windows. All other ordering information remains the same.
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The following part numbers have been previously announced and are included here for reference.
New customers
Part
Program name/Description number
Communications Server 13P0726
for Windows, V6.1.2
Program Package --
English CD-ROM
Passport Advantage®
Part
Program name/Description number
Communications Server for Windows D5BD2LL
User License and SW Maintenance
12 months
Communications Server for Windows D5BDTLL
Server License and SW Maintenance
12 months
Communications Server for Windows D5BD6LL
User SW Maintenance Reinstate
12 months
Communications Server for Windows D5BDXLL
Server SW Maintenance Reinstate
12 months
Communications Server for Windows E1BD5LL
User Annual SW Maint Renewal
Communications Server for Windows E1BDWLL
Server Annual SW Maint Renewal
Communications Server for Windows D5BD4LL
from Communications Server for OS/2(R)
User Tradeup License and SW Maint
12 months
Communications Server for Windows D5BDVLL
from Communications Server for OS/2
Server Tradeup License and SW Maint
12 months
Communications Server for Windows D5D20LL
from a competitive offering
User Tradeup License and SW Maint
12 months
Communications Server for Windows D5D1ZLL
from competitive offering
Server Tradeup License and SW Maint
12 months
Passport Advantage media packs
For current media pack part numbers, visit the Passport Advantage Web site:
Existing customers
The Communications Server for Windows, V6.1.2 can be downloaded from the IBM Software Internet
Service Delivery site if you have a license for the Communications Server for Windows NT and Windows
2000. To download the latest service updates for Communications Server, register with the IBM
Software Internet Service Delivery site at:
The Communications Server for Windows NT and Windows 2000 had a Service
Key card, included within the product contents, containing a 10-digit
key. This 10-digit key is used when registering to download the latest
level of the Communications Server for Windows.
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The terms and conditions for Communications Server for Windows are unaffected by this announcement.
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Effective July 31, 2002, Technical Support for Communications Server for Windows NT and
Windows 2000 was extended from September 29, 2002, to December 31, 2003. Refer
to Software Announcement
201-204
, dated July 31, 2002.
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Effective April 22, 2003, Technical Support for Communications Server for Windows 2000 was
extended from December 31, 2003, to December 31, 2004. Support for Windows NT
was not included in this extension. Refer to Software Announcement
203-105
, dated April 22, 2003.
The IBM policy for International Program License Agreement (IPLA) software is:
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Publish a notice of withdrawal of support for a product at least 12 months prior to the effective
withdrawal date.
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Align product withdrawals from support to occur on common dates in the months of April or
September.
For planning purposes, IBM intends to announce an effective withdrawal date of April, 2005, for
Communications Server for Windows NT and Windows 2000, V6.1.1.
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The charges for Communications Server for Windows are unaffected by this announcement.
For local charges, contact your IBM representative.
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IBM Global Financing offers competitive financing to credit-qualified customers to assist them in
acquiring IT solutions. Offerings include financing for IT acquisition, including hardware,
software, and services, both from IBM and other manufacturers or vendors. Offerings (for all
customer segments: small, medium, and large enterprise), rates, terms, and availability can vary by
country. Contact your local IBM Global Financing organization or visit:
IBM Global Financing offerings are provided through IBM Credit LLC in the
United States and other IBM subsidiaries and divisions worldwide to
qualified commercial and government customers. Rates are based on a
customer's credit rating, financing terms, offering type, equipment type
and options, and may vary by country. Other restrictions may apply.
Rates and offerings are subject to change, extension, or withdrawal
without notice.
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To order, contact the Americas Call Centers or your local IBM
representative.
To identify your local IBM representative, call 800-IBM-4YOU (426-4968).
Phone: 800-IBM-CALL (426-2255)
Fax: 800-2IBM-FAX (242-6329)
Internet: ibm_direct@vnet.ibm.com
Mail: The Americas Call Centers
Dept. SE001
P.O. Box 2690
Atlanta, GA 30301-2690
Reference: SE001
The Americas Call Centers, our national direct marketing organization,
can add your name to the mailing list for catalogs of IBM products.
Note:
Shipments will begin after the planned availability date.
Trademarks
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Domino is a trademark of International Business Machines Corporation in
the United States or other countries or both.
-
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S/390, ESCON, AnyNet, Lotus, VisualAge, Passport Advantage, and OS/2 are
registered trademarks of International Business Machines Corporation in
the United States or other countries or both.
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Intel and Pentium are trademarks of Intel Corporation.
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Windows, Microsoft, and Windows NT are trademarks of Microsoft
Corporation.
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Other company, product, and service names may be trademarks or service
marks of others.
At a glance
