IBM PC NETWORK ADAPTER II/A-FREQUENCY 2 AND IBM PC NETWORK ADAPTER II/A-FREQUENCY 3 Contents Announcement Letter Number 187-219 dated November 3, 1987 US - Last Revised on November 3, 1987 Brief Description of Announcement, Charges, and Availability The IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 2 (#5647) and the IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 3 (#5648) are two new IBM PC Network adapters that provide additional RF channels for connecting the IBM Personal System/2 (TM) Models 50, 60, and 80 to the broadband IBM PC Network. The broadband channels used by the Frequency 2 adapter are 2' and O. The Frequency 3 adapter uses channels 3' and P. The use of these channels provides industry standard offsets, coexistance with MAP, mid-split and high-split format compatibility, as well as increased network capacity, security, flexibility, and performance. These adapters are designed for the large broadband IBM PC Networks of the industrial, educational, research, financial, and governmental environments. Purchase Prices: #5647 -- $570; #5648 -- $570 Planned General Availability: February 26, 1988 (TM) Trademark of the International Business Machines Corporation. Customer Letter Section HIGHLIGHTS o Feature cards for connection of the IBM Personal System/2 Model 50, 60, and 80 to the broadband IBM PC Network. o New broadband frequencies that support Industry Standard 192.25 MHz Offset, Mid-split and High-split Network Formats, and Co-existance with MAP. o Support 802.2/LLC protocols. o Support Remote Initial Program Load (RIPL) on new systems shipped without hardfiles. o Increase possible number of network workstations on single cable. o Increase security, network design flexibility, channel assignments, and choice of products. o Improve performance by spreading high usage over multiple channels. DESCRIPTION The IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 2 and the IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 3 are two new IBM PC Network adapters that provide additional RF channels for connecting the IBM Personal System/2 Models 50, 60, and 80 to the broadband IBM PC Network. They are compatible with the form factor and Micro Channel bus design of the new Personal System/2s and are designed to take advantage of greater Intel 80286 and 80386 processing speeds. These new adapters are designed to add to and complement the family of broadband IBM PC Network Adapters (II and II/A) announced on April 2, 1987. The new adapters use the same base card that is used by the IBM PC Network Adapter II/A. The new broadband modems that are used on this base card are designed to transmit and receive on different RF channels than those used by the original IBM PC Network Adapter and PC Network Adapter II and II/A. The IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 2 and IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 3 provide two additional channel pairs that greatly increase the capacity and flexibility of the PC Network. With these additional channels, the maximum number of workstations supported by PC Network increases from 1000+ to 3000+. These new adapters also feature the industry-standard 192.25 MHz channel offset for compatibility with both mid-split and high-split formats and coexistance with networks that use MAP. The present PC Network channel offset is 168.25 MHz. Channel usage, frequencies, offsets, and splits are indicated below: Transmit Receive Channel Channel (Freq-MHz) (Freq-MHz) Offset Split - PC Ntwk Adptr, T14 J 168.25 Mid PC Ntwk Adptr II, (47.75-53.75) (216-222) Only PC Ntwk Adptr II/A - IBM PC Ntwk 2' O 192.25 Mid/ Adptr II/A-Freq 2 (53.75-59.75) (246-252) High - IBM PC Ntwk 3' P 192.25 Mid/ Adptr II/A-Freq 3 (59.75-65.75) (252-258) High All functional and performance characteristics of the new adapters are the same as those of the IBM PC Network Adapter II/A. All aspects of reliability, availability, and serviceability are also the same. Each adapter features a 2 megabit-per-second transmission speed with a CSMA/CD access protocol and supports the 802.2/LLC protocols via the IBM LAN Support Program (83X7873). To take advantage of the 802.2 protocol, the IBM LAN Support Program must be installed on all workstations on the network. The selected protocol and NETBIOS interface support are loaded into PS/2 RAM to execute on the system processor. The ROM of both adapters includes Power On Self Test (POST) diagnostics, which help the customer to identify adapter failure without diagnostic diskettes or printed problem determination procedures. The adapters also support the Remote Initial Program Load (RIPL) feature. A 3 meter, 75 ohm, coaxial cable is supplied. The IBM LAN Support Program allows these adapters to run with applications written for either the NETBIOS, IEEE 802.2, or APPC/PC interfaces. Additional frequency specifications are available in the IBM PC Network Broadband Planning Guide (S68X-2268-01) PUBLICATIONS Installation instructions are shipped with the product. The following publications are available. To order, contact your IBM marketing representative. o IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 2 Technical Reference (SC30-3492) o IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 3 Technical Reference (SC30-3493) o IBM PC Network Broadband Planning Guide (S68X-2268) o IBM PC Network Hardware Maintenance and Service (S68X-2240) Note: The information provided in the PC Network Adapter II/A and PC Network Baseband Adapter/A Supplement (S68X-2271) has been incorporated into the IBM PC Network Hardware Maintenance and Service (S68X-2240-01). S68X-2271 will no longer be available. EDUCATION SUPPORT The Local Area Network Curriculum will be updated to include information on this announcement. Course descriptions are contained in the Catalog of IBM Education (G320-1244). SCHEDULE General availability of the IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 2 and IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 3 is planned for first quarter 1988. TECHNICAL INFORMATION SPECIFIED OPERATING ENVIRONMENT MACHINE REQUIREMENTS: A full size adapter slot in one of the following system units: o IBM Personal System/2 Model 50 (8550) o IBM Personal System/2 Model 60 (8560) o IBM Personal System/2 Model 80 (8580) PROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS: o IBM LAN Support Program (83X7873) o IBM Personal Computer DOS 3.3 (6280060) or higher COMPATIBILITY: Broadband PC Network adapters can communicate with each other according to the table below: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 1 -- IBM PC Network Adapter # # # * * * * 2 -- IBM PC Network Adapter II # # # * * * * 3 -- IBM PC Network Adapter II/A # # # * * * * 4 -- IBM PC Network Adapter II * * * # # * * - Frequency 2 5 -- IBM PC Network * * * # # * * Adapter II/A-Frequency 2 6 -- IBM PC Network Adapter II - Frequency 3 * * * * * # # 7 -- IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 3 * * * * * # # # Direct communication supported when both adapters are using PC LAN Support Program (802.2 protocols). * Bridge required for communication. Note: All adapters can co-exist with each other on the same coaxial cable when using unlike protocols but will not be able to communicate with each other. Direct communication between PC Network adapters is possible only when each adapter uses the same RF channels and the same protocols. The PC Network Adapters (original, II, and II/A), the IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 2 and the IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 3 cannot communicate directly with each other. For communication between different RF channel pairs, bridging is required. The IBM 5178 PC Network Translator Unit is not compatible with the frequencies used by the IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 2 and the IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 3. A vendor translator is required. FCC certification of the IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 2 and the IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 3 is Class B. PLANNING INFORMATION CUSTOMER RESPONSIBILITIES: The customer is responsible for setup. The customer is also responsible for translator selection network design, and installation. Additional frequency specifications are available in the IBM PC Network Broadband Planning Guide (S68X-2268-01). PROBLEM DETERMINATION: Adapter ROM includes Power On Self Test (POST) diagnostics. PACKAGING: The adapters are shipped with a 3 meter coaxial cable and installation instructions. The installation instructions cannot be ordered separately. SECURITY, AUDITABILITY, AND CONTROL The adapters utilize the security and auditability features of the PC system hardware and software. User management is responsible for evaluation, selection, and implementation of security features, administrative procedures, and appropriate controls in application systems and communications facilities. TERMS AND CONDITIONS WARRANTY PERIOD: 1 year If the warranty period of the feature extends beyond that of the host system, the customer may be required to provide proof of purchase to obtain warranty service. CUSTOMER SETUP: Yes. Note: All other terms and conditions are the same as those applicable to the IBM machine on which the feature is installed. CHARGES Feature Purchase Number Price For 8559,8560, 8580 IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 2 5647 570 IBM PC Network Adapter II/A-Frequency 3 5648 570 Order Publications Number Price IBM PC Network Adapter II/A Frequency 2 Technical Reference SC30-3492 8.95 IBM PC Network Adapter II/A Frequency 3 Technical Reference SC30-3493 8.95 IBM PC Network Broadband Planning Guide S68X-2268-01 6.00 IBM PC Network Hardware Maintenance and Service S68X-2240-01 54.00