Polaris Model 6100

The Polaris Model 6100 PCI Bus/Tag Channel Interface attaches the PCI bus to IBM and compatible mainframe Bus/Tag channels.  The Model 6100 allows the PCI based servers to directly attach to a mainframe channel at 4.5 mega bytes per second.

When used with a Windows NT Server running Microsoft SNA Server, the Model 6800 emulates up to 256 standard IBM locally attached SNA 3174 control unit.

Additional help is available for the following topics:

Configuring the Polaris Channel Link Service

IOCP Macros and Functions

Model 6100 Diagnostics

More About Polaris


Configuring the Polaris Channel Link Service

There are four parameters to set when configuring the Polaris Channel Link Service.

Board Number

This parameter indicates which Model 6100 to use in the system.   The Polaris 3174 channel device driver, POL3174P,locates every Model 6100 in the system and assigns each of them a sequential number based on PCI Bus number and PCI Device number.  The Model 6100 with the lowest device number on the lowest bus number is assigned board number 0.  The Model 6100 with the next device number is assgined board number 1 and so on.

Base Subchannel Address

Each logical control unit provides up to 256 devices starting at the subchannel address specified by this parameter.  This base address corresponds to the address  field of the UNITADD parameter in the IOCP for the logical control units.

Number of Devices

The Model 6100 can emulate up to 256 units as specified by this parameter.  This number corresponds to the number  field of the UNITADD parameter in the IOCP for the logical control units.

Transfer Type

The Model 6100 supports the following transfer modes on the channel:

DC Interlock

High Speed

1.2 MB/Sec Data Streaming

2.0 MB/Sec Data Streaming

3.0 MB/Sec Data Streaming

3.125 MB/Sec Data Streaming

4.5 MB/Sec Data Streaming

6.0 MB/Sec Data Streaming

Please note that the data streaming rates above 3 MB/Sec are not supported by all mainframes.


IOCP Macros and Functions

IOCP has three required macros:  CHPID, CNTLUNIT, and IODEVICE.  This section provides a limited explanation of how the parameters must be set in each of these macros for use with the Model 6800.  The use of these parameters varies depending on which operating system is running on the mainframe.

CHPID

The CHPID macro describes the characteristics of the channel path.

CHPID	PATH=chpid number

TYPE=BL

The chpid number is a two-digit hex number that is used as the channel path identifier.

BL specifies that the channel is a Block-Mux channel.

CNTLUNIT

The CNTLUNIT macro describes the characteristics of the control unit and its unit addresses.

CNTLUNIT	CUNUMBR=cunumber

PATH=chpid

UNIT=3174L

UNITADD=((address,number))

The cunumber specifies the unique hex number that is assigned to the control unit.

The chpid specifies the channel path that the control unit is attached to.

The address and number specify the base unit address and number of units for the logical control unit.  Each 3174 unit corresponds to a PU.

IODEVICE

The IODEVICE macro describes the address and characteristics of a device as well as the control units to which the device is attached.

IODEVICE	ADDRESS=(address,number),

CUNUMBR=(cunumber),

UNIT=3174L

The address field specifies the device number.  This field corresponds to the base unit address.  The number field specifies the number of devices (PUs) associated with the control unit.  This field corresponds to the number of units.

The UNIT fields decsribes the devices as locally attached 3174s.


More About Polaris

More About Polaris

Polaris Communications, Inc., founded in 1988, designs, develops and markets computer communication interfaces and systems. The company's primary focus is on high speed connectivity to IBM and plug compatible mainframe channels.

Products

Polaris' product line includes board level controllers that can be integrated into systems or peripherals allowing them to attach directly to the mainframe channel and emulate IBM control units. The board level interfaces are based on industry standard buses and provide an easy to integrate and cost effective method of high speed mainframe attachment.

 	The company also offers a series of programmable channel attached control units that can be used to front end a wide variety of devices and networks.  Through use of a popular bus structure, the Polaris systems offer access to the mainframe channel via a wide variety of interfaces traditionally unavailable on IBM control units.

Custom Products & Integration Services

In addition to the standard products, Polaris provides custom interfaces,  emulations and device drivers for addressing unique customer requirements. Polaris offers technical expertise in assisting in all aspects of an integration project.

Markets

Polaris currently markets all its products directly in both the US and abroad. It's board level interfaces are used primarily by OEM and systems integrators. The system level controllers are sold in the end user and integrator environment. Users range from Fortune 500 companies to governmental agencies and the military.

Technical Strengths

Polaris' founding members have extensive knowledge in the field of IBM connectivity. Through prior involvement in this field, they have brought to market several generations of mainframe attached controllers. They have assisted both the commercial and government sector in numerous integration projects over the last twenty years.

For ore information about Polaris or any of our products please contact us at:

Polaris Communications, Inc.

8219 SW Cirrus Drive

Beaverton, OR  97008

Toll Free: (800) 353-1533

Phone: (503) 643-1533

Fax: (503) 643-6988

Email: info@polariscomm.com


Model 6100 Diagnostics

When installing the Polaris Channel link service,  the Polaris diagnostics icon is added to the SNA Server Group.  This program is used to get revision information about the Polaris software and hardware as well as to retrieve diagnostic "traces" from the device driver and Model 6100 Channel interface.

The Diagnostics can only be run when the Polaris 3174 device driver (POL3174P) is started.  To start the device driver either start SNA Server or start POL3174P from the Control Panel.

The Diagnostics provide five push buttons.

Get Revisions

This button retrieves the versions of the Polaris channel device driver and the FPGA and microcode on the Model 6800 channel interface board.

Enable/Disable Tracing

This button is used to enable or disable tracing in the device driver.  Enabling tracing can degrade system performance.  Initially this button reads "Enable Tracing."  When tracing is enabled, it reads "Disable Tracing".

Enable/Disable Run Time Traces

This button is used to enable or disable the real time displaying of device driver traces to COM2.  Enabling the real time traces will dramatically degrade system performance.  Intially this button reads "Enable Real Time Traces."  When tracing is enabled, it reads "Disabled Real Time Tracing."

Get Microcode Traces

This button retrieves the traces kept by the microcode on the Model 6100 channel interface.  The traces are written to polpmc.trc.

Get Device Driver Traces

This button retrieves the traces kept by the Polaris channel device driver.  The traces are written to polpdd.trc.