User`s guide

DC 900-1339H 17
Chapter
1
Introduction
1.1 Product Overview
Simpact provides a variety of wide-area network (WAN) connectivity solutions for
real-time financial, defense, telecommunications, and process-control applications.
Simpact’s Freeway server offers flexibility and ease of programming using a variety of
LAN-based server hardware platforms. Now a consistent and compatible embedded
intelligent communications processor (ICP) product offers the same functionality as
the Freeway server, allowing individual client computers to connect directly to the
WAN.
Both Freeway and the embedded ICP use the same data link interface (DLI). Therefore,
migration between the two environments simply requires linking your client applica-
tion with the proper library. Various client operating systems are supported (for exam-
ple, UNIX, VMS, and Windows NT).
Simpact protocols that run on the ICPs are independent of the client operating system
and the hardware platform (Freeway or embedded ICP).
1.1.1 Freeway Server
Simpact’s Freeway communications servers enable client applications on a local-area
network (LAN) to access specialized WANs through the DLI. The Freeway server can be
any of several models (for example, Freeway 1100, Freeway 2000/4000, or Freeway
8000/8800). The Freeway server is user programmable and communicates in real time.
It provides multiple data links and a variety of network services to LAN-based clients.
Figure 1–1 shows the Freeway configuration.
Most recent
modification
date:
03/25/98
Leslie: Remove
“Freeway
Embedded”
and just say
“embedded
ICP” (as an
interim fix
prior to BIG
makeover).