HOB's new development HOBLink SNA Router is to enable attachment of organization branches at reduced costs

Zirndorf, 28. October 1998. The software development organization and connectivity specialist HOB, resident in Zirndorf, enhances its product range with the HOBLink SNA Router, a software based Remote Access solution to attach branches from TCP/IP nets via IBM SNA protocol.

The product is available as of now and is to permit organizations attaching clients to IBM Mainframes at reduced costs due to good value purchase and support of cheap connection types such as ISDN X 31 D Channel. Besides HOBLink SNA Router features the APPN/Endnode.

Franz Wiedenmann, Distribution and Marketing Manager at HOB in Zirndorf comments: "60% of all WANs in use still involve SNA. HOBLink SNA Router is to provide good value Remote Access attachment of branches to organizations. Therefore in the development stages we have focused on the essential functions and provide a resource saving solution".

If HOBLink SNA Router is coupled with the HOB emulations HOBLink 3270 or the Java software HOBLink J-Term and the Mainframe bundle HOBCOM, the organization has a complete Remote Access bundle from the same source, which also allows data compression, persistent encryption of the entire data stream and system print of IBM host data.

HOBLink SNA Router runs on every standard Windows 95/98 or NT/2000 workstation PC - without additional server operating system and costly server hardware - which the other clients can access via Telnet 3270E for host connection. For logon to the host system HOBLink SNA Router support a.o. the good value protocol of the ISDN X.31 D Channel via CAPI 2.0. Alternatively HOBLink SNA Router also supports connections via DLC, SDLC/X.25 via serial adapter or Hayes AutoSync. The supported network topologies are FDDI, Ethernet and Token Ring.

Additionally decently arranged administrator tools allow easy configuring all settings as well as centralized administration of all sessions. Error diagnosing tools and functions are included as well as a connection tracking system.

The recommended retail price for HOBLink SNA Router for a 10 user version is fixed at app. US $ 1825 including VAT.

A complete Web to Host integration conception in the LAN/WAN environment is offered by HOB when acquiring HOBLink SNA Router coupled with HOB's own PC Host Connectivity solutions HOBLink 3270 and HOBLink J-Term by means of browser as loadable applet - in combination with the Mainframe software HOBCOM for installation on MVS, VSE and VM Hosts: HOBCOM provides a.o. selectable data compression and persistent data encryption starting from the client or applet through Host in an encryption key up to 256 bit.

The German IT organization HOB GmbH & Co. KG resident in Zirndorf was founded in 1964. Back in 1981 the organization has strategically focused on developing and manufacturing platform and protocol independent PC Host and Network Connectivity solutions.

HOB is represented by foreign branches in France, Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and in Austria. Beyond that HOB maintains two sales offices in the USA and two developing organizations in Malta and Moscow.