Buried in IBM’s ImagePlus announcement last week were a couple of significant new offerings for the 9370. Enhancements are made to the telecommunications subsystem, which now supports up to four Asynchronous Eight-Line Communications Adaptors and up to eight Multi-Protocol Two-Line Adaptors. The new subsystem includes an enhanced ASCII Subsystem II, which also supports 3278 Model 3, 4, 5 emulation, user-programmed auto-dial, and printer port sharing. Terminal characteristics will be able to be set or sensed under program control, and display of a 3270 status line is supported. The new ASCII Subsystem supports up to 32 lines per subsystem. A new Asynchronous Eight-Line Communications Adaptor is also offered for the telecommunications subsystem, and a new X25 subsystem will support attachment of IBM TCP/IP for VM to X25 networks. A new 6130 version of the 9370 Communications Processor supports more lines in less space when combined with the Async Eight-Line Communications Adaptor, and will henceforth be used for all 9370 communications subsystems where the original 6030 version was announced only to support Token Ring and Ethernet local area networks. That more limited version will be withdrawn from marketing in September. The new one, in particular now also supports an enhanced telecommunications subsystem – at up to 64Kbps in bisync, the enhanced ASCII Subsystem II, and the new X25 subsystem. The Asynchronous Eight Line Communications Adaptor is $1,500 and will be available next week, with all features bar the X25 subsystem; that will be available on September 30. And there is also new system microcode now enables system programmers to make physical changes to the 9370 system and modify the system topology data from the Process or Console or from the Remote Operator Facility, and additional capabilities in the Workstation Controller allow for customisation of the Controller from the Processor Console; the Controller will also support multiple host sessions from Control Unit Terminal displays. And 9370 Remote Facilities will now support auto-dial to the IBM Support System – available as standard on 9370s that go out after July 15, but a charged RPQ for people who already have their machines; no price given. The Workstation Controller enhancements are set for US ships next February.
