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STCP

STCP is a STREAMS-based implementation of the standard TCP/IP family of protocols for Stratus modules running VOS. Unlike OS TCP/IP, STCP functions within a standard STREAMS environment.

Key features and benefits
Product description

STCP: Product Description

STCP: Key Features and Benefits
Features Benefits

Built-in fault tolerance. Although almost any operating system today supports TCP/IP, STCP is unique. Stratus has built fault tolerance into STCP, so if network adapters or connections fail, the system can continue to function on a backup adapter.

Increased reliability and availability for applications that use TCP/IP.

A complete STREAMS-based protocol stack with kernel-loadable and unloadable drivers.

STCP is a less proprietary product than OS TCP. Kernel-loadable drivers provide greater flexibility.

SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) support, which allows remote access to system management information.

Allows data to be consolidated using SNMP-based tools already available on other platforms.

Simplifies management of VOS systems from remote locations.

STCP relies on STREAMS to load the components in the protocol stack and any related STREAMS driver used by STCP.

Simpler to configure and use than OS TCP.

Support for dynamic routing via the OSPF (Open Shortest Path First) protocol.

Improves performance and reliability of networks in which VOS systems participate.

Standard socket and TLI programming interfaces.

Programmers can develop applications using standard, common and well-understood programming techniques.

Support for a wide range of standard applications, such as the Simple Network Management Protocol (SNMP) agent, TELNET and FTP.

Provides VOS customers with a standard implementation of common functionality and reduces dependence on VOS-specific applications.

Support for variable-length subnets (VLSNs).

Provides greater flexibility in network configuration and management.

STCP supports level-1 and level-2 IP multicasting (send and receive) on the Continuum series. Stratus modules can both send and receive network multicast datagrams.

Allows VOS systems to more fully participate in multicast networks and simplifies programming for multicast applications.

Open StrataLINK support.

With Open StrataLINK, STCP helps reduce reliance on proprietary hardware and software and enables Stratus systems to operate in standard network environments.

UNIX-like APIs and functions. STCP has the same API's and functions as UNIX systems, so customers can use and write programs for STCP as they would for UNIX.

Helps customers find and retain programming staff more easily. They do not have to know VOS to develop new applications.

Simplified packaging. It consists of one product that includes the protocol stack, the utilities, and the programming interface, unlike OS TCP/IP, which consists of three separately purchased products.

Simplifies configuration and use of STCP and applications that make use of it.

Product description:

STCP is a STREAMS-based implementation of the standard TCP/IP family of protocols for Stratus modules running VOS. Unlike OS TCP/IP, STCP functions within a standard STREAMS environment.

STCP, rather than OS_TCP, represents the Stratus future direction for TCP/IP. Stratus will continue to support OS_TCP, but STCP is the product of choice for the future. STCP is the product which can take advantage of the POSIX compliance in VOS.

Customers already using OS TCP can upgrade to STCP at no charge. The STCP tape (S0115V) must be explicitly ordered and is shipped separately.

All software components related to STCP are included in the STCP product. It consists of the following main components:

  • The STCP kernel-loadable components. These are the protocol drivers that comprise the STCP protocol stack and the drivers that communicate with the protocol stack.
  • The STCP startup and shutdown command macros, which enable starting and stopping of STCP during the current bootload. The startup macro should be used to start STCP at each bootload from the module_start_up.cm file.
  • The STCP command library, which includes the applications and networking daemons available with STCP.
  • The STCP template database files. These show the format of the files that define various aspects of STCP on the module, and can be used to create unique files that define a specific network configuration.
  • The STCP log files associated with the individual daemon processes (and the internal start_stcp_stack command issued as part of the start_stcp.cm command macro).
  • The STCP application programming interface (API). This consists of a socket library that enables programmers to write C-language STCP applications that use the standard TCP/IP protocols to communicate with other hosts in a TCP/IP network.
  • STCP-related documentation.

The following diagram illustrates the components of STCP:

STCP components

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