A group of interlinked computers and other devices is referred to as a network. When computers with the same type of communication structure are linked, we use the term homogeneous network.
The term heterogeneous network is used to denote a computer network in which computers intercommunicate with different communication architectures. Essential properties of computer networks are distances to be covered, the type transmission route, the utilization of public services and the type of protocols, i.e. the entire range of rules and regulations which must be observed for information transfer.
The most renowned networks supported by openFT are TCP/IP, ISO, SNA, X.21/X.25, ISDN. Not all network types are supported on all platforms.
Network management in heterogeneous networks are based on SNMP (Simple Network Management Protocol) in most cases.
The openFT products on BS2000 and Windows support the SNMP-based network management and thus underline their import in open networks.