Using the MAPI OCX Controls

Microsoft System Network Architecture (SNA) provides a gateway connection between PC LANs or WANs and IBM mainframe and AS/400 hosts .

SNA APIs provide a standard interface between Windows-based applications and IBM SNA protocols, and are a key connectivity component of the Windows architecture. The SNA APIs standardize a corporation's method for host connectivity and eliminate compatibility issues. This lesson explains how Microsoft SNA APIs provide connectivity between PC networks and IBM mainframes and AS/400s.

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After this lesson, you will be able to:

• Describe how MS-DOS-based desktops connect to AS/400s via Microsoft SNA Server.
• Describe how Windows for Workgroups clients connect to AS/400s via Microsoft SNA Server.
• Describe how Windows 95 and Windows NT clients connect to AS/400s via Microsoft SNA Server.
• Describe how IBM OS/2 clients connect to AS/400s via Microsoft SNA Server.

Estimated lesson time 10 minutes

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Applications written to the Windows SNA APIs can run unchanged over multiple vendors ' SNA connectivity products under Windows. In addition, because the APIs are not restricted to a particular version of the Windows operating system, programmers can incorporate a common set of SNA code into their applications. The applications can run on Windows 3.1, Windows 95, Windows NT, and future versions of Windows.