SNA PROTOCOL SUITE

SNA Protocol Suite

IBM invented Systems Network Architecture (SNA) in the 1970s. The SNA protocol suite consists of the following:


Document Interchange Architecture (DIA): This specification controls file services, such as the storage and retrieval of files and file transfers among heterogeneous systems.

SNA Distribution Services (SNADS): This service controls the distribution of documents and messages.

Distributed Data Management (DDM): This service coordinates the execution of file requests locally or on a server. When DDM receives file requests, it executes them locally, if required resources are available. However, if required resources are not available on the node on which the request originated, the execution takes place at the server end, which can support the requirements.

Advanced Program-to-Program Communication (APPC): This service allows peer-to-peer communication among clients.

Information Management Systems (IMS): This service provides information management capabilities by scheduling priority transactions.

Customer Information Control Systems (CICS): This service provides multitasking capabilities, security, storage management, transaction management, and restart capabilities.


Advanced Peer-to-Peer Networking (APPN): This specification facilitates peer-to-peer communication among SNA-based networks.

Network Control Program (NCP): This specification provides routing and gateway functionality on SNA-based networks.

Virtual Telecommunication Access Methods (VTAM): This specification works with the NCP protocol to control network resources. In addition, it provides domain support on SNA-based networks.

Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC): This specification supports remote connections through leased or dial-up connections. It provides point-to-point, multipoint, half duplex, and full duplex transactions.
Token Ring: This is the LAN specification for IBM Token Ring networks.