FarLinX Mini Gateway

The FarLinX Mini Gateway can handle single X.25 line to TCP/IP migration requirements.  The Gateway supports XOT to X.25 switching, X.25 to TCP data translation and connection routing, TCP to XOT, a Triple-X PAD, and a Host PAD. All this is easily managed from your Browser. There are also daily activity logs with a selectable level of detail, automatically archived on a daily basis. The SNMP support provides alerts for a numerous different conditions including critical events such as line down and line up.

Key Features

• TCP to X.25 data translation with a very wide variety of modes including: character streaming, RFC1006, Cisco RBP, APACS, ISO 8583, header stripping and parity conversion and many more
• TCP ↔ X.25 and TCP ↔ XOT routing including: fixed routes, dynamic routing and PAD routing
• Call routing between XOT (X.25 over TCP/IP) and the X.25 line
• X.28 PAD option supporting Telnet and an async connection
• X.25 Host PAD emulation support
• LAN accessible X.25 line as a sharable remotely manageable resource
• Choice of X.25 network interface connections: RS232 (V.24), V.35, RS422, RS530, X.21
• 400 messages per second and up to 255 simultaneous connections (PVC, SVC)
• Line Monitor (local or remote) to view X.25 traffic for easy network problem diagnosis
• IP and IPv6 support
• Browser graphical configuration, SNMP alerts for critical events and activity logging
• Real time display of current connections, line performance, errors, connections and much more
• Small rugged low profile all metal case, low power consumption

• Reduce line costs by replacing an expensive X.25 line with a TCP/IP connection and conversion to X.25 at
  each terminating node
• Conversion of legacy X.25 connections and data for transfer over a TCP/IP network
• POS Gateway to allow TCP/IP and X.25 based Point of Sale systems to interoperate
• Replacing an X.28 PAD over X.25 with an X.28 PAD over XOT
• FTAM or X.400 operation between TCP/IP and X.25
• Conversation from TCP to XOT eliminating the need for X.25 at that location
• LAN accessible and sharable X.25 port resource

The FarLinX Mini Gateway provides a reliable means of routing connections between X.25 and XOT (X.25 over TCP/IP). Connections can be routed between X.25/X.28 and XOT which is treated as another connection path. The connection routing module supports default routes, hunt groups, X.25 address translation, and routing commands with NUA wildcards for maximum flexibility.

Up to 255 SVC or PVC sessions can be handled simultaneously over XOT and the X.25 line.

This configuration shows a complete X.25 network simulated by FarLinX Mini Gateway’s running XOT over an IP network (4 X.25 lines in this example but could be hundreds or thousands). This allows complete X.25 networks to be replaced while leaving hosts connected by X.25 to that network undisturbed.

The Gateway provides connection establishment and data packetization services to allow applications sending data over TCP/IP to interface to X.25 or XOT connected hosts. The Gateway provides routing facilities to select the appropriate Host from those available and maintains X.25 or XOT sessions to the Host as required.

Up to 255 SVC or PVC sessions can be handled simultaneously between TCP/IP and X.25 or XOT.

TCP to X.25 or XOT data translation functions

The Gateway supports a wide range of TCP to X.25 or XOT data translation and connection functions, these include:

• Character stream
• ETX terminated messages
• Special character terminated messages (customisable)
• Message header conversion – types available 2 or 4 byte ASCII or Binary length representation
• Custom message header conversion
• RFC1006 – ISO Transport Class 0 protocol data units, using the RFC-1006 encapsulation on the TCP connection – used for FTAM and X.400
• Cisco RBP – Record Boundary Preservation
• TCP header pass through to X.25
• X.25 Parity conversion – the Gateway performs any required parity adjustments and removal on the X.25 / XOT connection
• POS protocols APACS, ISO 8583, HGEPOS plus CTL (Card Tech Ltd) – Requires the POS Firmware Option

Connection Routing and Address Mapping

The FarLinX Mini Gateway can support routes to hundreds of different X.25 / XOT hosts. Similarly, when using the called X.25 address as the routing key, incoming X.25 / XOT calls can be routed to hundreds of different TCP/IP hosts.
When making connections to the X.25 network or XOT, the Gateway has the capability of mapping the source IP address to a calling X.25 address, thus allowing the destination X.25 / XOT host to identify the connection source uniquely.
The Dynamic routing options allow the X.25 address (NUA) and call parameters to be set by the remote application at the time each X.25 / XOT connection is established. These modes allow X.25 packetisation information to be passed to the application. Linux and Windows sample applications provided.
The main modes supported include:

• Statically defined routing
• XDRPD (eXtended Dynamic Routing Packetized Data) and DRPD – these formats allow TCP connected applications to dynamically setup and control the X.25 or XOT connection
• X.25 Data Switching – allows X.25 devices to be interconnected via an IP network without the overheads associated with XOT
• PAD Routing – PAD or Dynamic routing may be employed to allow the TCP client application to specify the X.25 call parameters

Statistics

The Gateway maintains a comprehensive set of statistics and activity counts. This information can be used to indicate the total loads on the Gateway and also to give early warning of line performance problems and even misconfigured systems elsewhere in the network.

Logging

All connections setup through the Gateway can be logged. The logs are automatically saved on a daily basis. Old logs can be displayed as required. Log events can also be routed to syslog to allow logging centrally.

The connection status of active connections / most recent connections / disconnections are displayed in a browser window.

SNMP

The Gateway supports SNMP alerts with 3 configurable levels. Alerts can be issued for SVCs connecting and disconnecting, PVC errors, connection routing errors, line up and line down events and many more events.

System Upgrades

Upgrades to the firmware can be remotely and securely uploaded to the device to allow the latest revision firmware to be used. Rollback to a previous version is supported.

X.28 Host Pad

The FarLinX Mini Gateway can be configured to act as an X.28 host PAD for remote terminals or applications connecting over X.25 and expecting a host that supports X.28. The host PAD sends X.28 PAD configuration commands over X.25 to the connecting terminals. The host PAD profile is configurable.

X.28 Triple-X PAD

Triple-X PAD (X.28, X.3 and X.29) support is included with the Gateway, and is accessible over TCP/IP via Telnet or using the single permanent async port. The connecting terminal is presented with a Triple-X PAD service and can be used to make X.25 connections over the physical X.25 line or via XOT connections to remote hosts. The initial PAD profiles for the async port and for the Telnet access are fully configurable.

The FarLinX Mini Gateway is configured from a Browser – Chrome, Edge, and Firefox are all supported. Access to the configuration is secured through a user name and password. Secure configuration access is through https.

The majority of configuration changes to the appliance are made dynamically so continuous operation of the FarLinX Mini Gateway can be maintained.

Configurations can be saved for later use.

Line Monitor

The Gateway includes Line Monitor software installable from CD onto a Windows PC. This allows X.25 traffic to be recorded and displayed in real time. Multiple Gateways can be monitored simultaneously. Support to allow the popular Wireshark line monitor to record and display the X.25, TCP/IP and XOT line traffic is also included.

This very useful feature allows Network Managers and System Installers to locally or remotely analyse and rapidly diagnose problems that may occur on the X.25 lines without the need for expensive external line monitors.

The line traces can be saved and viewed later, for example in a customer support situation.

FarSite recognises that this product is frequently used as a key component in networked systems and as such a guaranteed response to unexpected problems is required. Maintenance contracts are available for the FarLinX Mini Gateway for fast hardware swap out, firmware upgrades, priority service and rapid problem resolution.

Please contact the sales team to get a quote for your project.