FarSync X25 T-Series PCI cards
Intelligent X.25 card solutions for Windows XP, 2000 and Server 2003

Product Overview

The FarSync X.25 T-Series range of adapters has been developed to provide very high performance X.25 connectivity for Windows XP, 2000, Server 2003 and Linux (see X.25 support on Linux). The competitively priced 1, 2 and 4 port PCI / PCI-X cards in the range are capable of driving each line at speeds of up to 8.448 Mbits/s (E2) with support for RS232C, X.21, RS530 and V.35 network interfaces.

The X.25 software has a host of features including ISO Transport (classes 0 to 3), IP over X.25, support for OpenFT FTAM, a WinSock2 compliant Sockets API, a Java API, a COM Port API, a low level NCB API and a LAP-B layer 2 (HDLC) that is also directly accessible by its own API. The Sockets API is also accessible from .NET applications.

Up to 4095 connections per line can be supported using the FarSync X25 High Capacity Pack or 254 per line as standard.

The FarSync X25 cards and software are well proven and very reliable making them ideal for non stop applications.

A comprehensive Developers Toolkit is included with each product together with a GUI multi-port Line Monitor and a Line Statistics application.

Typical Applications

The FarSync X25 T-Series PCI adapters are suitable for connection to all types of X.25 network, including access via the ISDN D channel, Dialup X.25 and leased lines. Many thousands of FarSync X.25 cards are in use today in a wide variety of applications, including:

• Private X.25 networks such as Lottery, Police, Customs, Military, Fishery, Financial, Government and Airline
• E-Commerce gateways for credit verification
• Mixed X.25 and IP networks
• SMS message gateways
• Billing and Mediation
• FTAM access
• Control applications requiring a HDLC link
• Low cost PC / Server based X.25 Switches
• ATM connections
• High speed Stock Exchange data feeds, click here for examples
• X.400

The card is compatible with all public X.25 networks, including: Datex-P, BT X.25 Direct, Eirpac, Austpac, Transpac, Iberpac and Itapac and many more.

Application Development

Application developers have a choice of APIs for X.25, ISO Transport and accessing HDLC. An API selector guide is provided to assist the developer in choosing the most appropriate interface. The comprehensive Developers Toolkit is included with the product.

Sockets API - X.25 and ISO Transport

The Sockets API is extremely popular as a simple, easy to use API to access TCP/IP communications networks. The Sockets support for the FarSync X.25 cards retains this ease of use and also allows the special features of X.25 and ISO Transport classes 0 to 3 to be accessed.
The FarSync Windows Sockets interface is WinSock2 compliant, it supports standard AF_ISO / ISOPROTO_X25 sockets used by a number of applications, such as MS-Exchange. It also supports an alternative address family, AF_X25, to allow easy porting of applications between Windows and Linux.
Applications developed in most programming languages including Visual Basic, Delphi, C++ including .NET applications can use the Sockets API to the FarSync X.25 cards. Documentation and a wide variety of sample applications are provided.

More details on the X.25 Sockets API

Java API - X.25

The Java API allows applications written in Core Java Software (J2SE) and Enterprise Java Software (J2EE) easy access to the functions and features of X.25 offered by the FarSync X.25 cards. Full documentation and sample applications are provided.

COM Port API - X.25

The COM Port API provides a very quick and easy to use interface to X.25. Each X.25 session is represented by a COM Port controlled by AT commands. The COM Port API is particularly suitable for applications developed in Visual Basic and similar languages or for those who would prefer to address the adapter as if it were a modem type device. Full documentation and a sample application is provided.

NCB API - X.25 and ISO Transport

A legacy API to maintain compliance with older X.25 cards

HDLC API - LAPB

Easy to use HDLC API provides a programming interface into LAPB (X.25 Layer 2). In addition, an alternative API is provided to raw HDLC frames, with the API just providing the CRC generation and the framing. The FarSync X.25 driver is bypassed, with layer 2 being provided by the HDLC API DLL, which takes over completed control of the port being addressed. An example application in C is provided.

Developers Toolkit

The developers toolkit is included with the FarSync X25 products and features:

• Documented working C, Java, Visual Basic and Delphi source sample programs. Source code from these samples can be used to fast-track your development process
  
  
• Comprehensive set of API manuals with function call definitions and helpful advice on the best way to utilise the various interfaces
  
  
• Free email and telephone assistance to application developers
  

TCP/IP over X.25

The IP over X.25 support is included as part of the FarSync X25 product and is fully integrated into Windows XP, Server 2003 and 2000.

Configuration is performed using standard network configuration menus. Multiple connections over multiple X.25 sessions are supported.

The IP over X.25 support complies with RFC 1356 (IP over X.25), RFC 1598 (PPP over X.25), RFC 1662 (Async format PPP over X.25). Higher level protocols that run over IP including TCP, UDP, HTTP and FTP are supported.

Card Performance

The intelligent FarSync T-Series cards have been designed with performance in mind. The cards are driven by an AMD processor with on board zero state SRAM memory mapped to the PC. There are 3 cards on the T-Series range offering from 1 to 4 ports. The software supports a full set of X.25 features whilst still providing very high data packet throughput.

• Up to 254 simultaneous SVC and PVC virtual connections per line, or 4095 per line with the FarSync X25 High Capacity Pack for Windows
• Well over 2000 pps (data packets per second)
• PCI Bus mastering DMA interface on the FarSync T1U, T2U and T4U
• X.21 (V.11 / RS422), V.35, RS232C (V.24 / X.21bis) and RS530
• Line speeds of up to 8.448 Mbits/s
• Up to 4 cards (T2U and T4U) can be installed providing up to 16 ports

PC/Server PCI/PCI-X Bus Compatibility

The FarSync X25 TU1, T2U and T4U are PCI version 2.2 compliant and PCI-X compatible, this Universal PCI adapter can operate in PCs using either 3.3 volt or 5 volt signaling. The card is suitable for PCs with both 32 bit bus and 64 bit bus configurations. The power for the card is taken from the 3.3 volt supply rail.

Fast Installation and Configuration

All cards support 'Plug and Play'. Fast installation and easy configuration are key features of the products.

There is context sensitive help and an on-line manual should it be required. Many of the parameters such as DTE / DCE selection are determined automatically. Selecting the line speed by default automatically sets suitable timer and retry values. An advanced tab permits users to exactly specify the configuration of the line if necessary.  (click here for example).

FarSync X.25 High Capacity Pack

The optional FarSync X.25 High Capacity Pack allows up to 4,095 simultaneous connections to be made per port, a huge increase from the standard 254.  The expanded capacity applies to SVC, PVC and ISO Transport connections.

Customer applications developed to use the standard X.25 Sockets API are compatible with the FarSync X25 High Capacity Pack.

The FarSync X.25 High Capacity Pack is available under product code FS9504, it should be ordered at the same time that the FarSync X.25 card is purchased although a retrofit upgrade is possible. One FarSync X.25 High Capacity Pack is required per X.25 card.

Line Monitor and Network Statistics Utilities

The product includes a multi-port line monitor, an invaluable tool when testing new applications and commissioning new systems. Line traces can be displayed in real time, recorded and reviewed with full protocol decoding, comments can even be inserted in the trace to assist later analysis. Click here for a sample screen).

A connection status and statistics utility is also provided. It's functions include the display of the channel connection status and statistics of user data, packet and frame types passed over the X.25 lines.

Cables

The cable and connector configurations available for each card type are described here. The FarSync X25 T-Series product range and compatible cables table lists the cables available by card type. Crossover cables, sometimes referred to as null modem cables are also detailed.

FarSync X25 T1U	This one port card has a single high density D type connector on the card. Cables supporting RS232C (V.24, X.21bis), X.21 (V.11, RS422), RS530 and V.35 are available.
FarSync X25 T2U	This two port card has two high density D type connectors on the card. Cables supporting RS232C (V.24, X.21bis), X.21 (V.11, RS422), RS530 and V.35 are available.
FarSync X25 T4U	This four port Universal PCI card uses a single large high density D type connector on the card, all four lines are available though this connector. The quad port cables splits out the four network interfaces into separate network connectors. Cables supporting RS232C (V.24, X.21bis), X.21 (V.11, RS422) and V.35 are available. Cabling is compatible with the FarSync X25 T4P.

Packaging

The X.25 software, Utilities, IP over X.25 support and the Developers Toolkit are all included on the CD-ROM supplied with the FarSync communications adapter. Cables are ordered separately.

An optional X.25 connection expansion pack is available, this must be ordered at the same time as the X.25 card.

New releases of X.25 software for FarSync cards are made available for downloading from the Support X.25 software download page.