@make[report]
@majorheading[GEC]
@section[General]
In view of the position of GEC in the Academic Community, this report is an
update only.
@section[Hardware Description]
There are two major developments due for GEC switches, the MCC - megastream
controller card and the KCC - kilostream controller card.  Both cards use an
on-board M68000 as a processor.  The MCC is currently being field trialled
in METSATNET, the KCC should be field trialled in the first quarter of 1986.
In both the MCC and the KCC, all of both levels 1 and 2 of X.25 are handled
on the M68000 card.
@section[Software Description]
In order to increase the number of lines on a 4190 beyond 60, or to run either
the MCC or KCC, it will be necessary to run the Type 3 software.  This software
is under field trial currently, the first full release will be in the 1st
quarter of 1986.  This version will not include the 'JNT enhancements',
and should appear in the 2nd quarter of 1986.
@section[Configuration Options]
The first release of Type 3 will not allow a 100 line switch to be constructed.
The maximum currently envisaged is 99 lines and it will take about 3 months of
software effort to achieve this.  The hardware can be constructed by adding a 
3rd FMC onto a 4190.
@section[Line Speeds/Interface Options]
The MCC supports G703 (?). By the 1st quarter of 1986, both the MCC and KCC
will offer X.21 (leased line).  It is not planned to support X.21 on the
existing PCC boards.  The MCC supports a single line at up to 2Mb/s.  Up
to 2 MCCs can be supported on a single DMAD (DMA Director).  The KCC will
support either 4 lines at 64Kb/s, 2 lines at 128 Mb/s or a single line at
256Kb/s.  Up to 7 KCCs can be supported on a single DMAD (although this
hasn't been tested).  One important advantage of both the KCC and MCC is
that they do not require 'way numbers' and consequently can be mounted in
the empty slots of an FMC that already has the maximum complement of PCC
boards.
@section[Throughput]
The handling of X.25 level 2 on the KCC and MCC card will take processing
load off the main switch CPU.  This will mean that a higher performance
for the switch.  Unfortunately, GEC are not yet prepared to quote a figure
for this although it is suggested that a switch constructed entirely of the
new cards would have a throughput nearly doubled that of an existing
processor.  A 99 line switch could therefore reach a performance of 1000
packets/sec, but would need a substantial number of its lines handled by
the new cards.
@section[Costs]
@begin[verbatim]
               4160 with 18 lines:  Full Price - @T{#}36,000
                     With educational discount - @T{#}29,000

               4190 with 48 lines:  Full Price - @T{#}85,000
                     With educational discount - @T{#}66,000

               4190 with 99 lines:  Full price - @T{#}?????
                     With educational discount - @T{#}11,8000
@end[verbatim]

@I{NOTE: It will not be possible to produce a 100 line switch in 1986}

The additional costs for adding KCC lines are:
@begin[verbatim]
             The DMAD:  @T{#}3,500
                  KCC:  @T{#}3,000

             (Interface costs ?????) 
@end[verbatim]
@section[X.25 FAcilities]
All.
@section[Multinode Network]
Under Type 2 of the software, there are problems with passing 'Clear Requests'
with a 'Network Cause' between GEC switches in a multinode network.  Even
under Type 3 software there will be problems unless all the nodes are under
the control of a single node or a Network Management Machine.
@section[Addressing]
Complies.
@section[Network Management]
Enhanced facilities are being promised but certainly not before the 3rd
quarter of 1986.
@section[Statistics]
Complies.
@section[Operator Control]
Enhanced facilities are being promised, in particular all DTE tables will be
'soft' and all the DCE tables, with the exception of the rather critical
ability to change routing tables but again not before the 3rd quarter of 1986.
@section[Date-Time Stamp]
Requires the 'JNT enhancements'.
@section[PSS Compatibility]
Complies.
@section[Performance - Packet Transmissions]
Complies.
@section[Availability and Reliability]
At this stage, there are no promises that the 48 line switch, far less the 99
line switch, will reach an MTBF of 2000 hours.  The situation is liable to
get worse when the Type 3 software is introduced until it has been in service
for a period of time.
@section[Operation]
Complies.
@section[Reconfiguration]
Complies.
@section[Known Problems]
The major problems are that even a 99 line switch running Type 3 software with
the JNT enhancements will not be available until the 2nd quarter 1986 at the
earliest and that its reliability will not meet the 2000 hour MTBF requirement.
@section[X.25 (1984)]
GEC say that it will take about 6 years to implement all the features of X.25
(1984).  They have not seen the ISO DP8878 document and although they will be
prepared to consider its implementation, there are no timescales as yet.
@section[Academic Community Special Requirements]
GEC would be prepared to do the 'special' converters for the Academic
Community though obviously the question of timescales would have to be entered
into very carefully.
@section[Product History]
Known.
@section[Company Information]
Known.
@section[Contact Name]
Known.
@section[Confidentiality]
None.
@section[Summary]
Although GEC are taking a more realistic attitude to their customers of late,
it does not appear that they can realistically offer a 100 line switch in less
than 6 to 9 months.  Even when such a switch can be marketed there will be
doubts about its reliability.