Carl,
Well, we have some of the same complaints as you, but your guess is as good
as mine.
Maybe they are still using too much COBOL instead of a more modern and
efficient
programming language (he..he..he).
Brian
-----Original Message-----
From: Carl Galgano [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 2:49 PM
To: Brian Richardson; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
Brian:
Well, an update to my frustrating day with IBM/ATT.....finally got to talk
to someone who knew what SNA is and have decided the best way to solve my
problem is to set up a switched list. Now explain why it will take until
October 1st to have it set up? I "like" IGN for the most part and make my
living supporting the best hardware platform on the planet (IBM AS/400---
oops, I mean iSeries), but sometimes I do not get IBM. Getting ANYTHING
done requires lots of time and bureaucracy. With all the technical
expertise at IBM, you mean to tell me a DB can not be updated immediately?
I guess my dealings w/IBM will get me ready to deal with government in 25
years when I retire.
BTW, has anyone heard from Bob Reed today and his data comm problem to SS.
I have set up a BSC receive on my system for him to test with and have not
heard from him all day.
cjg
Carl J. Galgano
EDI Consulting Services, Inc.
550 Kennesaw Avenue, Suite 800
Marietta, GA 30060
(770) 422-2995 - voice
(419) 730-8212 - fax
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.ediconsulting.com
AS400 EDI, Networking, E-Commerce and Communications Consulting and
Implementation
http://www.icecreamovernight.com
Premium Ice Cream Brands shipped Overnight
FREE AS/400 Timesharing Service -
http://www.ediconsulting.com/timeshare.html
"You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know" - rw
-----Original Message-----
From: Electronic Data Interchange Issues
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Brian Richardson
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 2:25 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
Carl,
Agreed. I think you and I are kindred spirits on this subject. Sorry if I
muddied
the waters on this one. Yes, and with all due respect to Jim and any VAN
employee
on this list - a VAN who dictates a specific modem is typically copping out
because
they don't really understand data comm....and we also agree on the data comm
experiences
on the VAN side - unfortunately, we also usually spend a lot of time
educating their
tech support folks, or going through many layers before getting to a data
comm knowledgeable
person. They'll specify a modem that they know works because of the fact
that they
really don't understand datacom.
Unfortunately, most of the modem manufacturers continue to turn out junk
even though
they could put higher quality components in their products - but most users
aren't sensitive
to this unless they are working with datacom issues on a regular (e.g.,
daily) basis.
And unless they suddenly reach some 'load threshhold' that highlights the
problem(s), they
might not even know they've got a problem.
These problems, to me, are one of the most frustrating to deal with, not
only because of
the lack of knowledge, but because typically neither the client or the VAN
want to step up
to the plate and pay for the time required to resolve these issues. Each
often feels it
is the others responsibility.
For what its worth, I'm a real-time guy first, and I guess I kind of got
used to reliable
datacom connectivity between dissimilar systems - the kind of issues we're
discussing here
tend to be not one of my more favorite tasks to have to resolve.....
Brian
-----Original Message-----
From: Carl Galgano [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 2:05 PM
To: Brian Richardson; [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: RE: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
Brian:
All I am trying to say is that if modem mfg conformed to the standards for
modem encoding schemes (ie V.32 or v.90), then you should be able to make
any modem that conforms to that standard work. In my opinion, a VAN that
says "you need to use this brand of modem" is coping out and not really
trying to help the customer. Sure, if it is your first connection, and you
are looking for a recommendation of what hardware/software to use, then the
VANs recommendation makes sense. But I have seen way to many VANs walk away
from comm problems because they did not know the hardware/software you are
using. You comment about support people knowing very little about datacom
is very true. I am a datacom guy first and an EDI guy second. I almost
ALWAYS know more that the support person on the other end of the line. It
usually takes talking to a half dozen people before you get someone who can
even understand what you are talking about. I am dealing with a dial up
problem for a client on the (old) Advantis network. I have been messing
with support people for 2 days and still can not get the info I need. The
AT&T people who answer the phone do not seem to know much about the IGN or
how it works......
Back to my fun.
cjg
Carl J. Galgano
EDI Consulting Services, Inc.
550 Kennesaw Avenue, Suite 800
Marietta, GA 30060
(770) 422-2995 - voice
(419) 730-8212 - fax
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.ediconsulting.com
AS400 EDI, Networking, E-Commerce and Communications Consulting and
Implementation
http://www.icecreamovernight.com
Premium Ice Cream Brands shipped Overnight
FREE AS/400 Timesharing Service -
http://www.ediconsulting.com/timeshare.html
"You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know" - rw
-----Original Message-----
From: Electronic Data Interchange Issues
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Brian Richardson
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 1:40 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
Carl,
I'm a bit confused by your line of reasoning here, and, not trying to speak
for Jim, I don't think that's what he's trying to say. I'm not trying to
flame anyone here, but it is pretty well known that in some instances, even
people who work for VANs aren't necessarily data communications experts.
And, as we all know, there are certain modems which are junk, even the
so-called
'business class' modems...and there are other modems that are known to be
at the other end of the spectrum. It is also pretty well know that not
all comm packages are even close to being well written, and will not work
well
under certain conditions. There are plenty of instances where a certain
brand
of modem works great with a certain computer/operating system under great
conditions - but inject a few variable like like noise, outdated telco
switch
gear, unforseen traffic loads, or whatever else, then the scenario changes.
Maybe what Jim is suggesting is that under certain conditions, he's had the
best
luck just using the modem/comm s/w suggested by a VAN because it was known
to work. That
to me doesn't necessarily mean you are going to have to use a different
modem for
each VAN. That also doesn't mean that some other combination of modem or
comm s/w
won't work either - just because the VAN folks haven't used them. It might
be that
in the long run this resulted in the least amount of headaches, and the
least amount
of expense (but not having to have people messing around to get the data com
right).
Remember, the EDI standards are for defining the data to be exchanged, and
really have
nothing to do with data comm eqpt, s/w, or line quality.
Then again, it all depends on how much data com experience one has when
attacking these
types of problems as well, and as we all know so well, data com is a career
all by
itself.
Brian
-----Original Message-----
From: Electronic Data Interchange Issues
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Carl Galgano
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 1:16 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
Jim:
If you have a client that connect to 3 different VANs and Walmart, then by
your approach, you would need to use 4 different comm software packages and
4 different modems if the recommendations of the VANs are different. This
defeats the use of standards. You may as well write custom code to convert
the EDI to a specific format while you are at it. The whole point of EDI is
standardization. Conform to the standards and you can talk to anyone.
cjg
Carl J. Galgano
EDI Consulting Services, Inc.
550 Kennesaw Avenue, Suite 800
Marietta, GA 30060
(770) 422-2995 - voice
(419) 730-8212 - fax
mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
http://www.ediconsulting.com
AS400 EDI, Networking, E-Commerce and Communications Consulting and
Implementation
http://www.icecreamovernight.com
Premium Ice Cream Brands shipped Overnight
FREE AS/400 Timesharing Service -
http://www.ediconsulting.com/timeshare.html
"You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know" - rw
-----Original Message-----
From: Electronic Data Interchange Issues
[mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Jim Divoky
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 12:54 PM
To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
I don't know what you find not practical. I've connected to dozens of VANs,
Banks, automotive manufacturers, and
retailers. I work only with large clients and most have long had multiple
connections to trading partners.
Jim Divoky
EC Solutions, Inc.
PO Box 667
Kent, OH 44240-0012
Providing EDI/EC Consulting and Contracting Services
Mobile 330-606-6826
Pager 877-282-3426 (Toll free)
Email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To send short message to mobile phone:
email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Carl Galgano" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
To: "Jim Divoky" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>; <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 9:51 AM
Subject: RE: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
> Jim:
> Your approach is not practical if you are connecting with more than one
VAN.
> The problem is that some mfg cut corners when implementing standards. I
> agree, you get what you pay for. I pretty much use UDS modems (V3400,
> V3600) because they support everything (except 201/208 stds). I have
> implemented the IBM branded multitech modems many times with the AS/400
and
> have not had any problems.
> cjg
>
>
> Carl J. Galgano
> EDI Consulting Services, Inc.
> 550 Kennesaw Avenue, Suite 800
> Marietta, GA 30060
> (770) 422-2995 - voice
> (419) 730-8212 - fax
> mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> http://www.ediconsulting.com
> AS400 EDI, Networking, E-Commerce and Communications Consulting and
> Implementation
> http://www.icecreamovernight.com
> Premium Ice Cream Brands shipped Overnight
> FREE AS/400 Timesharing Service -
> http://www.ediconsulting.com/timeshare.html
> "You ain't gonna learn what you don't want to know" - rw
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Electronic Data Interchange Issues
> [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Jim Divoky
> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 10:46 AM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
>
>
> As a former Sterling implementation consultant who made quite a few
special
> trips to sites to do nothing but get the
> modem connection working, I learned the hard way that the best solution is
> to use the modem and software recommended
> by the VAN. At the time for Sterling this usually meant Cleo software and
> hardware. The advantage was both the VAN &
> the hw/sw provider new exactly what you were trying to do. Even then
there
> were gotchas with other VANs or
> proprietary networks. The Cleo people usually had answers. They worked
> with these networks daily. The money saved
> by using a $100 modem was usually lost in implementation costs even if a
> consultant wasn't called in. If you call in
> the consultants you just burn money. Multitech used to be on my list of
> absolutely, positively don't use but that was
> 5 years ago.
>
> Jim Divoky
> EC Solutions, Inc.
> PO Box 667
> Kent, OH 44240-0012
> Providing EDI/EC Consulting and Contracting Services
> Mobile 330-606-6826
> Pager 877-282-3426 (Toll free)
> Email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> To send short message to mobile phone:
> email [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Brian Richardson" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 6:58 AM
> Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
>
>
> > Multitech modems are also well known to be very problematic because of
> > deficiencies when compared to some other modems.....their inability to
> > filter out line noise, and limited built-in
> > intelligence are just two we have encountered over the years. As
Michael
> > noted, perhaps
> > you might want to investigate other options....
> >
> > Brian Richardson
> > Highlander Technologies, Inc.
> >
> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: Electronic Data Interchange Issues
> > [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of Michael Burbury
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 2:03 AM
> > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
> >
> >
> > Dear sir,
> >
> > IBM have stated to me that they distribute the MultiTech modem worldwide
> > under different IBM product codes, yet these modems are <mostly> all the
> > same.
> >
> > If you pick up one of these modems and inspect the underside, you will
> > notice a diagram specifying the DIP switches to set for Async and BiSync
> > operation.
> >
> > Basically the switches for BiSync are as follows:
> >
> > 1 UP
> > 2 UP
> > 3 DOWN
> > 4 DOWN
> > 5 UP
> > 6 UP
> > 7 UP
> > 8 DOWN
> > 9 DOWN
> > 10 UP
> > 11 DOWN
> > 12 UP
> > 13 UP
> > 14 UP
> > 15 UP
> > 16 UP
> >
> > This will set the modem to BiSync with V25bis dialing options.
> >
> > Then, on your AS/400 you will need to set the line/device/controller
> > descriptions to perform V25bis dialing which is basically "CRM nnn-nnnn"
> <--
> > the number to dial. If you set your modem in this fashion, it will
negate
> > it's use for Async operation until the DIP switches are re-set.
> >
> > This is the best I could get from my personal friend who is an IBM guru
> aged
> > 68 and retired.
> > He also stated that finding support on protocols developed in 1973 may
be
> > quite difficult due to most help desk people being skilled on Internet
> based
> > protocols only. You may wish to investigate a different method should
you
> > wish to obtain support from a local helpdesk (which usually employ
people
> > less than 25 years of age whom know nothing about any protocols other
than
> > IP).
> >
> > The V25bis command set manual is 2 inches thick and may be purchased
from
> > IBM if required.
> >
> > Also the line will be half duplex if you use a two wire phone line and
> full
> > duplex if you use a 4 wire phone line and must be specified in your
> > line/device/controller descriptions on the AS/400. If you wish, I can
> > obtain sample line/device/controller descriptions for connecting to GE
> GXS.
> >
> > Lastly, if the modem does not connect within three dialing attempts, it
> will
> > require manual intervention by the AS/400 system operator to re-set the
> > line. This was one of the biggest problems with this method for our
> support
> > people here in Australia.
> >
> > Best of luck,
> >
> > Michael Burbury
> > GE ecXpress Australia.
> > System Administration
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: "Richer, Robert" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> > Sent: Wednesday, September 19, 2001 1:36 AM
> > Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
> >
> >
> > > Bonjour,
> > >
> > > I'm communicating with Sterling in bisynch mode using Cleo software...
> > >
> > > I know that Cleo support specific modems. Make sure the modem is
> > compatible
> > > with your communication s/w.
> > >
> > > Robert
> > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Bob Reed [SMTP:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 10:38 AM
> > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > > Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
> > > >
> > > > Yes Sterling has scoped the line and cannot see anything because the
> > > > handshaking doesn't go that far, from what I understand. Also, we
run
> on
> > > > an
> > > > AS400 and are using GENTRAN:Basic for AS/400 provided by Sterling
> > > > Commerce.
> > > > I have tried several banks of modems in different SuperTrax area and
> we
> > > > cannot find a solution. This is very wierd.
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Leah Closson [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > > > Sent: September 18, 2001 09:26 AM
> > > > To: Bob Reed
> > > > Subject: RE: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Are they unable to scope the line while you are dialing up? I'm not
a
> > > > communications person, but I've had other VANs do this and they were
> > > > able to provide some clue as to what the problem was. Also, maybe
IBM
> > > > could help?
> > > > Good Luck,
> > > > Leah
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Bob Reed [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > > > Sent: Tuesday, September 18, 2001 10:06 AM
> > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > > Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > bisync modem, sorry. It fails at the handshaking part. They are
> > > > handshaking
> > > > and then the lines just drop off
> > > >
> > > > -----Original Message-----
> > > > From: Steve X Lee SL [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]
> > > > Sent: September 18, 2001 08:35 AM
> > > > To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > > > Subject: Re: Connecting To Sterling Commerce
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Is this a async or bisync modem? What part is failing?
> > > >
> > > > -Steve
> > > >
> > > > ------------------------
> > > >
> > > > Good Morning,
> > > > I am trying to dial up to Sterling Commerce using an IBM767
> > > > modem
> > > > and seem to be having trouble. I was wondering if anyone else out
> there
> > > > had
> > > > the same modem and was connecting to Sterling Commerce. I have
indeed
> > > > talked
> > > > with Sterling Commerce technical people about it and they have
> suggested
> > > > that it might be a setting that we are both unfamilar with in the
IBM
> > > > modems. Sterling Commerce is using a Paradyne Modem. We have been
> > > > through
> > > > all kinds of testing and can use the same modem to dial out to
Federal
> > > > Express and other Value Added Networks. Any help would be greatly
> > > > appreciated.
> > > >
> > > > Thank you,
> > > > Bob Reed
> > > >
> > > >
> =======================================================================
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> > > >
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