The Net Unit supplies the central link of all the SE server's IP network connections. It concentrates the network connections of the various Server Units to the outside into the customer network (public networks) and, internally, establishes the network connections between the various Server Units (private networks).
The hardware of the Net Unit is supplied preconfigured. All the cable connections to the Server Units are implemented professionally in the cabinet in the factory. Connections to the customer networks (data networks, management networks) only need to be established to the reserved connection ports of the Net Unit (uplinks). In terms of the software the Net Unit is fully installed and immediately ready to operate.
Up to two uplinks are possible per public network to provide the connection to the customer's LAN structure. The uplinks are provided without vendor dependencies and can be connected to any switch (managed or unmanaged). The uplinks are operated without a VLAN ID (i.e. untagged), and no switch protocol (e.g. spanning tree) is used.
Only the relevant configuration measures need to be implemented in the operating systems to use the networks. It is not necessary to involve network administrators of the customer network.
Private networks have been configured for the Sever Units to communicate with each other. These separate the network communication within the SEs totally from the customer network. The private networks are protected from each other and can be configured flexibly according to customer requirements. Network security is automatically enhanced because of this protection and the flexibility to configure and operate private networks independently of the customer infrastructure.
The private networks can be operated with high performance, do not influence the customer network, and cannot be influenced by it (e.g. they continue to function even when the customer infrastructure fails).
The Net Unit can be designed with redundancy in the interest of protection against failure. By default, SE700 and SE500 incorporate a redundant Net Unit. Redundancy can be ordered as an option for SE300.
The BS2000 systems communicate with the MU over a private network, see section "Integration of BS2000 into the SE Manager".
The following logical networks are supported:
Data Network Public
Data Network Public (DANPU): when required, up to 8 additive networks DANPU<n> (where <n>= 01..08) can be configured for connecting applications to the public customer network.
Data Network Private
Data Network Private (DANPR): when required, up to 99 networks DANPR<n> (where <n>= 01..99) can be configured for internal private customer networks for SE servers.
Public management networks
Management Admin Network Public (MANPU) for administrative access to the MU, BS2000 systems and AUs
Management Optional Network Public (MONPU): the additive administration network can be configured when required (e.g. when AIS Connect is not to be operated via MANPU but over a separate network).
Management Network Private
Management Control Network Local (MCNLO) for the local SE server communication
Management Control Network Private (MCNPR) for SE server communication
Management Optional Network Private (MONPR): when required, up to 8 additive networks MONPR<n> (where <n>= 01..08) can be configured for SE server communication.
Management SVP Network Private (MSNPR) enables SVP communication to the SU /390 on SE700/SE500
In addition to the connections of the units to the switches of the Net Unit, direct cabling from the units to the customer network can also be used.
The SE Manager provides a graphical display of the network topology with all the network components and connections of the SE server in the Topology tab of the Hardware -> IP networks menu. See section "Graphical display of the internal IP network topology".
Figure 2: Block diagram of the Net Unit