Visara Announces the CNA-8000 a channel attached alternative to Cisco® Routers with (CIP’s), IBM® 3172 and 2216 gateways
Morrisville, N.C. – [Mar, 2010] – Visara International announces the CNA-8000 Channel Network Appliance, a channel attached gateway communications platform that provides a robust alternative to Cisco® Routers with Channel Interface Processors (CIP's), IBM® 3172 and 2216 gateways. The CNA-8000 can be configured to provide gateway functions for TN3270 clients, SNA PU2 traffic, and TCP/IP traffic.

The CNA-8000 host connectivity is provided through single or dual ESCON interfaces. Each ESCON interface supports up to 16 control unit images and 256 sub channels.

Network connectivity is provided by a pair of integrated 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet interfaces. Additional capacity can be optionally provided by one additional quad 10/100/1000 Mbps Ethernet interface. The CNA-8000 may also be equipped with one or more 4/16/100 Mbps Token Ring adapters. Each network interface can be configured to support TCP/IP and/or LLC2 SNA, and/or TN3270E traffic.

The CNA-8000 Channel Network Appliance consists of an enterprise class 3U rack mountable server platform running Linux software. The server is equipped with dual RAID drives, three hot swappable power supplies and several hot swappable fans.

According to Visara International's CEO Dr. Kenneth A. Bloom: "IBM® and Cisco® decided to end their production and support for 3172, 2216, and CIP, leaving customers without an adequate replacement until the CNA-8000".

The CNA-8000 can be configured to support up to 8,192 TN3270E capable clients. Up to 2048 downstream PU2.0 and PU2.1 platforms are supported through each network interface when configured as an SNA PU2 gateway.

Configured as an IP bridge, the CNA-8000 provides bridging of IP traffic between configured network interfaces and the channel interface for access to the TCP/IP stack. Support for VM/VSE environments is supported with appropriately installed IP stacks.

Configuration and management of the CNA-8000 can be through a browser interface or through direct attachment of a monitor, keyboard and mouse. Additional management options are offered through Visara's eManager product.


Headquartered near Research Triangle Park, North Carolina, Avenir Technologies Inc. d/b/a Visara International is a global leader in the innovation and development of Mainframe and Midrange Console Solutions, Console Automation Solutions, Virtual Tape Library and Printing Solutions. For additional information about Visara International's products and solutions, please visit our website at www.visara.com or email info@visara.com.