X.25 Support for Remote Access

The remote access software allows LAN workstations to use an X.25 packet-switched network to dial out to synchronous host computers and allows remote users to dial in and access network resources. The following remote access software components provide this capability:

• AIOPAD
• NetWare^® Link/X.25^TM software
• The NetWare Asynchronous Services Interface^TM (NASI^TM ) Connection Service (NCS) and NASI
• Point-to-Point Remote Node Service (PPPRNS) and its remote client software

AIOPAD

AIOPAD, a NetWare Loadable Module^TM (NLM^TM ) file included with remote access, provides an asynchronous input/output (AIO) interface to support an X.25 driver. AIOPAD mediates between the AIO NLM and the X.25 driver to provide up to 128 virtual circuits for each physical port on the X.25 adapter. AIO and the remote access software interact with each virtual circuit as if it were a physical port. The number of circuits that can be active at one time is limited by the number of remote access licenses installed on the server and by port availability.

AIOPAD's X.25 implementation is based on the X.3 and X.29 ITU-T (International Telecommunications Union, Telecommunications Standardization Sector), formerly CCITT, standards and a subset of the X.28 ITU-T standard.

The AIOPAD NLM is installed automatically when remote access X.25 support is installed.

Figure 3 shows the relationship between AIO, AIOPAD, and an X.25 board driver.

Figure 3
Relationship Between AIO, AIOPAD, and an X.25 Driver

NetWare Link X.25

NetWare Link/X.25 is a software subsystem that operates in the remote access environment and also with other Novell communications server products. NetWare Link/X.25 is installed automatically when remote access X.25 support is installed.

NCS and NASI

The NetWare Asynchronous Services Interface (NASI) Connection Service and its client software, NASI, allow NASI users on the NetWare LAN to establish a connection to an X.25 network and access resources available through the network. Remote NASI users can also dial in to remote access through an X.25 network.

PPPRNS and Remote Dialer Software

The remote access PPPRNS service supports the following dialers:

• Novell Client^TM Remote Access Dialer (Windows* 3.x )
• Windows* 95 Dial-Up Networking dialer
• Windows* NT Remote Access Server dialer

NOTE:  PPPRNS is also backward-compatible with older Novell dialers, such as DOSDIAL and Windows Dialer, which were shipped with NetWare Connect^TM 2.0; NetWare Mobile^TM software; and LAN WorkPlace^® 5.0 software. The NetWare Connect 1.0 RNR dialer is no longer supported.

Using these dialers, remote users can dial in to remote access through an X.25 network.

Figure 4 shows a remote workstation running the Windows dialer to dial in to a remote access server running PPPRNS and NetWare Link/X.25.

Figure 4
Remote Dialer Software and Remote Access X.25 Connections