Subject: Minutes from the APPN Implementer's Tips Session at the June AIW

From: "David B. Bryant 444-4399" <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 7 Jul 93 13:06:54 EDT

Two APPN Implementation Tips sessions were held at the second APPN
Implementer's Workshop in June of 1993.  These sessions focused on the
APPN Session Services, Directory Services, Topology and Routing Services,
Intermediate Session Routing, and Configuration Services components.
Questions were entertained from the audience and for the most part direct
answers were provided.

The focus of these sessions was to provide interactive tutorial on the
information already provided in the APPN Architecture Reference Manual.
Given the level of detail in these sessions, most vendor interest was
somewhat limited due to the early stage of APPN implementation at these
companies.

Some information regarding changes to the existing specification (APPN
Architecture Reference Manual SC30-3422-03) was provided.  Attendees were
provided with an 'architecture working paper' and changes to specific
pages in the SS chapter of the manual regarding the establishment and
maintenance of CP-CP sessions.  Implementers can safely implement what is
described in the existing manual, but the modifications provided describe
a more robust and efficient mechanism to do so.  Accordingly, vendors are
strongly encouraged to implement the changes and not what is currently
documented in the book.  In the meantime, IBM APPN architecture is
working on developing a mechanism to distribute this kind of information
more efficiently and completely.  For now, copies of these changes can be
obtained by contacting:  [email-masked]

In addition, several questions of interest arose.  There was a question
regarding the availability of formats for the APPN network node to
network node flows.  At present, these formats are not available in any
existing IBM publication.  The IBM APPN architecture group is working on
completing an update to the IBM SNA Formats manual (GA27-3136) to include
these formats.  In the meantime, Dave Bryant agreed to provide the
appropriate GDS variables, Common Fields, and XID formats in hardcopy to
all interested parties.  Mailing addresses are required.  Attendees
provided this information in the form of business cards, non attendees
can provide mailing addresses by sending a request for the NN formats to
Dave Bryant at the internet address listed above.  It is anticipated that
these formats will be mailed out in late July.

Another question of interest was a request to define a 'vendor field' in
the topology related formats.  This field could then be used by non-IBM
APPN vendors to describe and react to vendor specific capabilities within
the APPN network.  This particular question seemed to have two slants.
The first slant was an inquiry as to whether IBM would allow vendors to
participate in the definition of the APPN protocol.  IBM answered that
this was clearly their intent and appropriate procedures to do so are
under construction.  The second slant to this question was more specific
to the request.  Dave Bryant of IBM responded that it was not clear that
such an approach would interoperate well amongst all the vendors and not
corrupt the existing TRS related functions.  If, however, this proved not
to be true, IBM would have no objections to such a thing.  IBM promised
to investigate the issue further and provide more information at the next
AIW.

Regarding follow-on AIW meetings, this particular forum was established.
It's primary purpose will be to provide APPN implementers with
information regarding changes and clarifications to the APPN
specification in a timely manner.  It is not possible for IBM to
continually republish the existing manual, so updates to the manual will
be conveyed via this forum.

The intent of this forum, however, is not solely limited to IBM providing
information.  It is also intended as a mechanism for vendors to interact
with the architects on specific technical APPN architecture issues.  It
should be used as a two-way interactive media between the IBM APPN
architects and non-IBM implementers.

At the next AIW, it is our intent to forgo tutorial discussions of the
APPN architecture and to simply provide additional information on changes
and clarifications to the architecture as well as foster interactive
discussions on vendor proposed changes.  This forum should be used as a
catalyst for this activity.