Windows 2000 and Mainframe Integration

Although this book does not provide any details about writing code or using products to integrate the processes of a Windows 2000 system with a mainframe, it does furnish decent high-level descriptions. In the chapter on input/output devices, the book explains how OS/390 channels and Windows 2000 device adapters operate, supplying some history along the way that explains why the systems handle input and output differently.

In general, this volume provides clear text and diagrams, but an all-too-apparent rush during editing makes itself more than evident. Instances of these oversights, mostly careless misspellings, include "..vial leased lines" for "via leased lines" and ASII for ASCII.

While not a code-level how-to, this book provides a broad overview of both OS/390 and Windows 2000 that is useful for understanding both operating systems. --John Keogh

Topics covered: The following topics are covered for both Windows 2000 and OS/390 (except the topics that are inherently Windows 2000 specific): History of the operating systems; overview of the operating systems; system architecture; memory management; multitasking (multiprogramming); i/o device management; file system; how programs are loaded and managed by the OS; job and task management; Windows Scripting Host; catalogs and directories (including, briefly, Windows 2000 Active Directory Service); DNS; printer management; operator control of OS features; security; networking; transaction, database, and message processing; communicating with OS/390 using terminal emulation or an SNA server; SNA subdomains; overview of integrating Windows 2000 and mainframe applications; using Mainframe Express to create a mainframe development environment on a workstation; scalability; and availability. In general, these topics are covered briefly and at a high level.

Product Description
Ninety percent of today's enterprise networks are heterogeneous: many of these consist of Windows NT subsystems that have been built into legacy IBM mainframe environments. Setting up Windows NT not only to coexist, but to function optimally, in these environments presents unique challenges. Network architects and administrators require an explanation of the subject matter using terms and analogies that are familiar and based upon an understanding of their current working background. Additionally, with the approach of Windows 2000, the newest version of NT, manufacturers such as Hitachi, Amdahl, Compaq, and Digital have announced their intention to build mainframe class machines that will run Windows NT. Microsoft has responded by encouraging the development of tools to insure that Windows NT runs effectively on large-scale hardware; Windows 2000 will include such features. Thus the demand for system integration know-how is growing.