             D A T A  C O M M U N I C A T I O N S  P R O D U C T S

AST 5251 Family

Full Featured 5250 Emulation Solutions Providing Advanced PC to IBM(R)
S/3XAS/400 Connectivity in a Variety of Communications Environments.

     o Complete Family of Twinax, Remote, and LAN Gateway Solutions

     o Available for Both Industry Standard Architectures and IBM Micro
       Channel(TM) Buses

     o Common Emulator Across All Communication Environments

     o File Transfer Included


The AST 5250 Family

     Enhanced AST-5251/11 Plus(TM)
     Enhanced AST-5251/11A Plus(TM)
     AST-5251/12(TM)
     AST-5251/12A(TM)
     AST-5250/Gateway Option(TM)


AST offers a complete selection of 5250 emulation products allowing your AST
or IBM personal computer to communicate with an IBM System/34/36/38 or AS/400
in local or remote environments. These solutions not only prove highly
cost-effective, but also preserve your PC's flexibility and functionality.

Naturally, you wouldn't expect anything less from the company that leads the
industry in PC to System/3X connectivity. We've earned our reputation by
helping to define industry standards with reliable quality and advanced
design. And that's reflected in each member of our 5250 family.


Enhanced AST-5251/11 Plus
Enhanced AST-5251/11A Plus

If you need direct twinax or twisted pair connection in a local environment,
you can't go wrong with AST's complete 5250 hardware/software packages. Each
emulates an IBM 313180, 5251 Model 11, 5291 or 5292 Model 1 display terminal.
And provides sophisticated features like multiple display and printer
sessions, automatic sign-on with password security to prevent unauthorized
use, and dual processors for unparalleled speed and versatility. You also get,
at no extra charge, bidirectional file transfer software that converts data to
popular PC software formats. Compatible with IBM PC/XT/AT(R)  and other
industry standard bus models, Enhanced AST-5251/11 Plus supports up to seven
display or sessions (with a maximum of five printer sessions). For IBM PS/2
Micro Channel machines there's Enhanced AST- 5251/11A Plus--also supporting up
to seven display or printer or printer sessions.


AST-5251/12
AST-5251/12A

For more remote applications in an SNA/SDLC environment, there's the
AST-5251/12 product line. They emulate an IBM 5251 Model 12 terminal,
eliminating the need for costly protocol converters and terminal control
units. They also allow you to choose the most cost-effective communications
method, whether it's switched, leased, point-to-point, or multi-point lines.
Bidirectional file transfer software is provided at no charge.

AST-5251/12 products are available for both the industry standard and Micro
Channel bus.


AST-5250/Gateway Option

Now PCs on a Local Area Network can enjoy the benefits of 5250 emulation
without an additional hardware requirement. This economical software upgrade
allows seven LAN to access all the features (display and printer sessions) of
an AST 5250 emulation card installed in a single Gateway PC. Up to 72 gateways
can be utilized in a single LAN, giving you complete 5250 communications
throughout your entire network.AST Gateways are compatible with AST and
NETBIOS LANs. Both local and remote environments can exist on the same
network, so multiple System/3X's or AS/400's can be accessed simultaneously.


Common Family Features: AST-5250 and AST-3270/II Products

Everybody's familiar with IBM's central mainframe and mid-range architectures:
S/3X-AS/400 and S/370. But the real news is that AST is the only vendor to
offer a single common emulator for both 5250 and 3270 products. So if you need
access to IBM mini's and mainframes, look to AST for solutions which deliver
unified functions and user interfaces across both architectures.

Common family features include:

     AST Windows Manager(TM) for
     Session Management
     Emulator Security
     Configurator Security
     Printer Session Status
     Management
     Configurator Quickstart
     Session Auto Sign-on
     Keyboard Macros
     Emulation Trip Switch
     Keyboard Remapping

An ""A'' following the product name indicates Micro Channel compatibility.



System Requirements

Enhanced AST-5251/11 Plus AST-5251/12

AST Premium computers and other IBM AT(R) compatible computers with 256Kb
memory and PC-DOS 2.0 or above. One full length IBM expansion slot.

Enhanced AST-5251/11A Plus AST-5251/12A

IBM PS/2 Micro Channel computer or compatible with 256Kb memory. One full
length expansion slot. DOS 3.3 or above.

AST-5250/Gateway Option

AST Premium Computer, IBM PC/XT/AT or PS/2 compatible with 384Kb RAM, DOS 3.1
or above and AST or NETBIOS network capability.


Specifications

Enhanced AST-5251/11 Plus

Typical configuration:   PC or PS/2 with Enhanced AST-5251/11 Plus twinax
                         adapter, host computer (IBM System/34/36/38 or
                         AS/400), twinax cable assembly (supplied by AST), AST
                         emulation software (included) and optional IBM
                         PC-compatible printer for 5250 printer emulation.

Protocol to host:   Standard twinax

Terminal emulation: IBM 5251 Model 11, IBM 5291, IBM 5292 Model 1,
                    IBM Model 3180, IBM Model 3196

Host session support:    Enhanced AST-5251/11(A) Plus supports up to seven
                         logical sessions of displays or printers. These may
                         consist of up to seven 5250 display sessions or up to
                         five printers (maximum) for a maximum of seven devices
                         in any configuration of displays or printers.

Printer emulation:  IBM 5256, IBM 5224, IBM 5225, or IBM 5219:  supports any
                    standard serial or parallel printer.


AST-5251/12

Typical configuration:   PC or PS/2 with Enhanced AST-5251/12, host computer
                         (IBM System/34/36/38 or AS/400) with communication
                         support option, two synchronous modems (optional), AST
                         emulation software (included), and IBM PC-compatible
                         printer (optional) for 5250 printer emulation.

Protocol to host:   SNA/SDLC data link protocol

Communication line speed:     1200-9600 bps

Terminal emulation: IBM 5251 Model 12

Printer emulation:  IBM 5256, IBM 5224, IBM 5225 or IBM 5219; supports any
                    standard serial or parallel, IBM PC compatible printer

Host session support:    Nine 5251/12 display sessions and up to five5224,
                         5219, 5225 or 5256 printer sessions.

File transfer support:   AST-5250 FT/A, IBM FSU, IBM PC Support/36, IBM PC
                         Support 38, Other 3rd Party Offerings


AST-5250/Gateway

Protocol to host communication:    AST-5250/Gateway-local: standard twinax
                                   AST-5250/Gateway-remote: SNA/SDLC,
                                   Synchronous Modem, 1,200 - 9600 bps

Supported LANs:     AST-Ethernet(TM), AST-EtherNode(TM) and any other
                    NETBIOS-compatible LAN

Gateway to LAN:     Up to 7 nodes per gateway, up to 72 gateways in a single
                    LAN

Printer support:    IBM 5256, 5224, 5225, 5219 printer emulation


AST, AST logo and AST Premium registered and Enhanced AST-5251/11 Plus,
Enhanced AST-5251/11A Plus, AST-5251/ 12, AST-5251/12A, AST Windows Manager,
AST-5250/Gateway Option, AST- Ethernet, AST-EtherNode trademarks AST Research,
Inc. All other brand and product names are trademarks or registered trademarks
of their respective companies.

The information in this data sheet is subject to change without notice. AST
Research, Inc. shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or
omissions contained herein; nor for incidental or consequential damages
resulting from the furnishing, performance, or use of this material. This
material contains information protected by copyright. Copyright 1989 AST
Research, Inc. All rights reserved.
