CONNECTION ORIENTED VS.

CONNECTIONLESS
The terms connection oriented and connectionless are descriptive words
used to describe different kinds of communication.

CONNECTION ORIENTED
Connection-Oriented means that when devices communicate, they
perform handshaking to set up an end-to-end connection. The
handshaking process may be as simple as syncrhonization such as in the
transport layer protocol TCP, or as complex as negotiating
communications parameters as with a modem.

Connection-Oriented systems can only work in bi-directional

communications environments. To negotiate a connection, both sides
must be able to communicate with each other. This will not work in a
unidirectional environment.

CONNECTIONLESS
Connectionless means that no effort is made to set up a dedicated end-
to-end connection.

Connectionless communication is usually achieved by transmitting

information in one direction, from source to destination without checking
to see if the destination is still there, or if it is prepared to receive the
information. When there is little interferance, and plenty of speed
available, these systems work fine. In environments where there is
difficulty transmitting to the destination, information may have to be re-
transmitted several times before the complete message is received.

Walkie-talkies, or Citizens Band radios are a good examples of

connectionless communication. You speak into the mike, and the radio
transmitter sends out your signal. If the person receiving you doesn't
understand you, there's nothing his radio can do to correct things, the
receiver must send you a message back to repeat your last message.

IP, UDP, ICMP, DNS, TFTP and SNMP are examples of connectionless
protocols in use on the Internet.
Logical paths

The logical path between two subarea nodes is a virtual route.

Virtual route (VR): A virtual route is a bidirectional logical connection between two
subarea nodes. At least one end of a virtual route must be in a subarea node that
activates virtual routes. All hosts can activate virtual routes.

Eight virtual routes numbered 0 to 7 can be defined between two subarea nodes.
One or more virtual routes must be defined for each forward-reverse explicit route
pair. A virtual route places a transmission priority on data traffic using the
underlying explicit routes.

Transmission priority (TP): The transmission priority identifies the priority of

message units flowing over an explicit route during a session. The three possible
levels of transmission priority are: 0 (lowest), 1, or 2 (highest).

In general, high-priority messages are routed before low-priority messages. Within

a specific transmission priority, messages are routed on a first-in, first-out (FIFO)
basis.

Route extension: A route extension is a logical connection between a subarea

node and a peripheral node. A peripheral node uses local addresses for routing and
requires boundary function assistance from an adjacent subarea node to
communicate with a nonadjacent subarea node.

Virtual route and explicit route portrays the mapping of a virtual route onto explicit
routes. ER0 is the physical path that connects HOSTA to NCPA using transmission
group TG1 and NCPA to NCPB using transmission group TG15. The reverse explicit
routes (ER0) traverses the same physical path, that is, the same subareas and
transmission groups.
Virtual route and explicit route

Virtual route VR0 is the logical connection between the endpoint subareas. VR0
connects HOSTA and NCPB. In our example, VR0 maps onto ER0.

VTAM routing definitions are static and you have to define the routes prior to
bringing up the network. While the network is up and running, you can update or
add route definitions dynamically.

Virtual route and explicit route illustrates a very simple and basic subarea network
composed of two type 5 nodes. The media connecting the two type 5 nodes is an
Ethernet LAN.

HOSTA has been assigned 1 as its subarea number, and HOSTB is defined as
subarea 2.

To connect the two hosts, you have to assign and define the explicit route (forward
and reverse) and the virtual route. ER0 (explicit route 0) is assigned as the forward
and reverse ER. ER0 uses the Ethernet OSA as the physical media.

VR0 (virtual route) is the logical connection between HOSTA and HOSTB. The VR is
mapped to ER0 on both sides, HOSTA and HOSTB.