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Internetwork Design Guide -- Designing SDLC, SDLLC, and QLLC Internetworks
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This article addresses some of the special requirements for implementing routing technology within IBM System Network Architecture (SNA) environments. Internetworking within an SNA environment often involves making special accommodations for devices that were not originally designed for connection to meshed internetworks.
This article addresses some of the special requirements for implementing routing technology within IBM System Network Architecture (SNA) environments. Internetworking within an SNA environment often involves making special accommodations for devices that were not originally designed for connection to meshed internetworks.
Latest revision as of 21:22, 16 October 2012
This article addresses some of the special requirements for implementing routing technology within IBM System Network Architecture (SNA) environments. Internetworking within an SNA environment often involves making special accommodations for devices that were not originally designed for connection to meshed internetworks.
This article describes three techniques designed to enable internetworking capabilities for SNA-based network architectures:
The sections that describe serial tunneling (STUN), Synchronous Data Link Control (SDLC) over the Logical Link Control, type 2 (LLC) protocol (SDLLC), and Qualified Logical Link Control (QLLC) focus on the following topics:
- Technology overview and issues
- Router technology options, implementation guidelines, and configuration examples
|For information about IBM serial lines, refer to IBM Serial Link Implementation Notes.
SDLC via STUN
SDLC via serial tunneling (STUN) encapsulates SDLC frames into Internet Protocol (IP) packets and routes the encapsulated packets over IP-supported network media. The SDLC frame is transmitted without modification, and the information within the frame is transparent to the network. All SNA physical unit (PU) types are supported. This section focuses on the SDLC data-link protocol and its various configurations and then explains how to implement STUN.
Figure: Sample STUN network configuration illustrates elements of STUN configuration in an environment that includes front-end processors (FEPs) and cluster controllers.
Figure: Sample STUN network configuration
SDLC Data Link
SDLC is the synchronous, bit-oriented protocol used by the SNA data-link control layer. As formally defined by IBM, SDLC is a line discipline for managing synchronous, code-transparent, serially transmitted bit information over a data link. Transmission exchanges can be full duplex or half duplex and can occur over switched or nonswitched links. The configuration of the link connection can be point-to-point, multidrop, or loop.
Common physical link-layer implementations are V.24 (EIA/TIA-232, formerly RS-232), V.35, and X.21. This section describes SDLC as it applies to STUN.
The SDLC data link allows a reliable exchange of information over a communication facility between SNA devices. The protocol synchronizes receivers and transmitters and detects transmission errors. It accomplishes these functions by acknowledging frame receipt and by performing a cyclic redundancy check (CRC) on the data.
Supported Data-Link Configurations
This section provides information related to router-specific hardware implementation. Table: SDLC Support for V.24 (EIA/TIA-232) provides a matrix of SDLC support for V.24.
Table: SDLC Support for V.24 (EIA/TIA-232)
Product Type
Full Duplex
Half Duplex
Maximum MTU
Cisco 7000
Cisco 7010
Cisco 2500
Cisco 4000
4T card only
Cisco 4500
4T card only
Cisco 3104
Dual serial card only
Cisco 3204
Dual serial card only
The following notes apply to the entries in Table: SDLC Support for V.24 (EIA/TIA-232):
- For the Cisco 7000, Cisco 4000, Cisco 4500, and Cisco 3000 products, support of data terminal equipment (DTE) or data communications equipment (DCE) functionality depends on which cable is used.
- For the AGS+ and MGS, if you are using a nonreturn to zero inverted (NRZI) applique, the systems support DCE natively. A special cable is required to support DTE mode operation. Prior to the availability of the NRZI applique, customers specifically ordered a DCE or DTE applique.
- Half-duplex support is available for the AGS+ and MGS with Software Release 9.1(7) or later. The NRZI applique, three-port SCI card, and Software Release 9.1(7) or later are all required for half-duplex support.
- Prior to software releases 8.3(6), 9.0(3), or 9.1(2), only 2-KB frame sizes were supported. When increasing maximum transmission unit (MTU) size, consider interface card buffer memory size constraints.
SDLC Frame Format
The SDLC frame format is illustrated in Figure: SDLC frame format.
Figure: SDLC frame format
The Flag field starts and ends the frame and initiates and terminates error checking. When the link is idle, the router sends streaming flags to maintain link synchronization, but this is not necessary to keep the link up.
The Addr field contains the SDLC address of the secondary station regardless of whether the frame is coming from the primary or secondary station. The Addr field can contain a specific address, a group address, or a broadcast address. Routers support specific addresses and support broadcast addressing on a limited basis.
The Control field is a 1-byte field (for modulo 8 frames) or a 2-byte field (for modulo 128 frames). The extra byte is required for modulo 128 frames to accommodate larger send and receive frame count fields. The value of the Control field identifies three different frame formats, as shown in Table: Frame Formats.
Table: Frame Formats
|Binary Configuration
|[P/F off)
|(P/F on)
|Command Name
Unnumbered Info
Receive Ready
Numbered Info Present
Components of the Control Field
The Info field is a variable-length field containing a path information unit (PIU) or exchange identification (XID) information. Table: PIU Support lists supported PIUs.
Table: PIU Support
|PIU Type
|Router Support
PIU FID0-bisync and start/stop (non-SNA)
Not supported
PIU FID1-host channel to FEP to remote FEP
Supported via STUN
PIU FID2-FEP to cluster controller (PU 2)
Supported via STUN and SDLLC
PIU FID3-FEP to SNA terminal (PU 1)
Supported via STUN
PIU FID4-FEP to FEP using virtual route
Supported via STUN
PIU FIDF-FEP to FEP (VR SNF overflow sweep)
Supported via STUN
XID 2-Contains PU parameters for PU types 1, 2, 4, and 5
PU types 2 and 4 supported via STUN and SDLLC
XID 3-APPN variable format for PU 2 and PU 2.1
Not supported
The frame check sequence (FCS) field is a 2-byte field that, for transmitted data, contains the result of a CRC performed on the first bit after the Flag field through the last bit of the Info field. If the frame format is unnumbered or supervisory, the CRC is performed through the last bit of the Control field. As the remote device receives the data, it performs the same CRC computation and compares the result with the contents of the FCS field. If the comparison fails to find a match, the frame is discarded and recovery procedures take place.
STUN Configuration for SDLC
The following sections provide design and implementation information for a variety of STUN-related configuration topics:
- Local Acknowledgment
- Virtual Multidrop
- SDLC Address Prioritization
- SDLC Two-Way Simultaneous Mode
- LU Address Prioritization
- Flow Control
- Transmission Groups and Class of Service Capabilities
- SNA Host Configuration Considerations for STUN
Local Acknowledgment
Local termination of SDLC sessions allows frames to be locally acknowledged by the receiving router. By locally terminating SDLC sessions, acknowledgment and keepalive traffic is prevented from traversing the backbone, and SNA sessions are preserved if the network fails.
Local acknowledgment locally terminates supervisory frames, which include receiver-ready, receiver-not-ready, and reject frames. Figure: STUN-to-SDLC local acknowledgment illustrates the operation of SDLC local acknowledgment.
Figure: STUN-to-SDLC local acknowledgment
|Local acknowledgment requires that TCP/IP sessions be maintained between the routers to provide reliable transport.
Virtual Multidrop
Virtual multidrop exploits SDLC address mapping to allow an FEP to communicate with multiple cluster controllers. With a virtual multidrop configuration, the address of each SDLC frame is checked individually. Only addresses that match the configuration are forwarded to the specified destination, which allows an FEP to communicate with multiple 3174s from a single serial link-a multidrop link. You can also use SDLC address mapping as a security feature to restrict access based on SDLC address, as shown in Figure: SDLCtransport in virtual multidrop environment.
Figure: SDLCtransport in virtual multidrop environment
The following steps are required to establish the network configuration illustrated in Figure: SDLCtransport in virtual multidrop environment:
- Include a LINE definition in the Network Control Program (NCP) running in the FEP, followed by PU definitions for SDLC address 7, 9, and A. The NCP interprets these definitions as a multidrop link.
- Use the stun route address tcp global configuration command to specify how to forward frames.
- Determine whether priority queuing is required. If so, local acknowledgment is required.
SDLC Broadcast Across Virtual Multidrop Lines
The SDLC broadcast feature (introduced in Cisco IOS Software Release 10.2) allows SDLC broadcast address 0xFF to be replicated for each of the STUN peers, so that each end station receives the broadcast frame.
In Figure: SDLC broadcast in virtual multidrop line environment, the FEP views the end stations as if they were on an SDLC multidrop link. Router A duplicates any broadcast frames sent by the FEP and sends them to any downstream routers (in this example, routers B and C).
Figure: SDLC broadcast in virtual multidrop line environment
The sdlc virtual-multidrop interface configuration command enables SDLC broadcast and should be used only on the router that is configured as the secondary station on the SDLC link. In addition, the stun route address tcp command for SDLC address 0xFF must be configured on the secondary station (in this example, Router A) for each STUN peer. A sample configuration follows:
stun peername xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx stun protocol-group 1 sdlc ! interface serial 1 encapsulation stun stun group 1 stun sdlc-role secondary sdlc virtual-multidrop sdlc address 01 sdlc address 02 sdlc address 03 stun route address 01 tcp yyy.yyy.yyy.yyy stun route address 02 tcp zzz.zzz.zzz.zzz stun route address 03 tcp zzz.zzz.zzz.zzz stun route address FF tcp yyy.yyy.yyy.yyy stun route address FF tcp zzz.zzz.zzz.zzz
SDLC Address Prioritization
For STUN prioritization of SDLC addresses over simple serial transport connections, use the priority-list or the queue-list global configuration command and the priority-group interface configuration command or the custom-queue-list interface configuration command, respectively, on the interface that connects to the remote router (the output interface).
For STUN prioritization of SDLC addresses over TCP/IP transport connections, you must configure the priority-list global configuration command and use the priority-group interface configuration command on the interfaces that connect to the end devices (the input interfaces). Also, you must specify the local-ack and priority keywords of the stun route address tcp global configuration command.
SDLC Two-Way Simultaneous Mode
Two-way simultaneous mode (introduced in Cisco IOS Software Release 10.2) allows a router that is configured as a primary SDLC station to utilize a full-duplex serial line more efficiently. When two-way simultaneous mode is enabled in a multidrop environment, the router can poll a secondary station and receive data from that station while it sends data to, or receives data from, a different secondary station on the same serial line. (See Figure: Two-way simultaneous mode in a multidrop environment.)
Figure: Two-way simultaneous mode in a multidrop environment
The sdlc simultaneous command enables two-way simultaneous mode in a multidrop environment. When two-way simultaneous mode is enabled for a point-to-point connection to a secondary station, the router can send data to the secondary station even if there is an outstanding poll, as long as the window size limit is not reached. The sdlc simultaneous command with the single keyword enables two-way simultaneous mode in a point-to-point link environment.
LU Address Prioritization
To prioritize logical units, use the locaddr-priority-list global configuration command on each router. For example:
locaddr-priority-list 1 02 high locaddr-priority-list 1 03 high locaddr-priority-list 1 04 low
You must also assign a priority list to the STUN priority ports using the priority-list global command. For example:
priority-list 1 protocol ip high tcp 1994 priority-list 1 protocol ip medium tcp 1990 priority-list 1 protocol ip low tcp 1991
The serial interfaces attached to the end systems (input interfaces) must be associated with priority lists using the locaddr-priority and priority-group interface configuration commands. The locaddr-priority command links the interface to a local LU priority list (specified with the locaddr-priority-list global configuration command). The priority-group command links the interface to a TCP priority list (specified with a priority-list global configuration command). For example:
interface serial 1 locaddr-priority 1 priority-group 1
In addition, you must specify the local-ack and priority keyword options of the stun route address tcp global configuration command.
The LU address prioritization feature has been enhanced to allow you to specify the PU on which an LU resides. This enhancement is important because there might be multiple PUs on a multidropped SDLC line that have the same LU address. For example, in Figure: LU prioritization for STUN, LU02 on 3174-2 is a 3287 printer, and LU02 on 3174-1 is a 3278 terminal. Do not assign the same priority to the printer and the terminal.
Figure: LU prioritization for STUN
As of Software Release 9.1(9), LU address prioritization for both remote source-route bridging (RSRB) and STUN solved this problem. In addition to the LU address, you can specify the SDLC address to identify a PU in a multidropped SDLC line. The syntax of the locaddr-priority global configuration command follows:
- locaddr-priority list lu-address sdlc secondary
The keyword sdlc indicates the next byte (in hexadecimal), and secondary is the secondary SDLC address.
Flow Control
SDLC-level flow control is also offered with local termination. When the router detects that the TCP queue is 90 percent full, it blocks further SDLC frames until the TCP queue recedes to 80 percent full. This is accomplished by transmitting receiver-not-ready frames.
There is also a flow control protocol between STUN peers. When SDLC output queues become congested, a router can request the remotely attached router to exert back-pressure on the SDLC link.
Transmission Groups and Class of Service Capabilities
This section describes the transmission group and class of service (CoS) support that NCP-to-NCP communications provide, including the following topics:
- Typical NCP-to-NCP Communications
- NCP-to-NCP Communications over a Routed Network
- Transmission Group and CoS Support
- Transmission Group and CoS Design Guidelines and Notes
Typical NCP-to-NCP Communications
In a typical NCP-to-NCP communications arrangement, a host is channel-attached to an FEP acting as an NCP. In Figure: Typical NCP-to-NCP multilink transmission group communication configuration, NCP A is the primary SDLC station, and NCP B (remote NCP) is a secondary SDLC station. The NCPs dynamically determine their relationship; the NCP with the higher subarea number becomes the primary SDLC station. NCP V5R4 and later allows you to determine which NCP is the primary and which NCP is the secondary station.
Figure: Typical NCP-to-NCP multilink transmission group communication configuration
A transmission group is defined as one or more parallel SDLC links connecting adjacent PU Type 4 (NCP) nodes. Transmission groups are used to increase the reliability of the logical link connection between NCPs and to provide additional bandwidth capacity. When one link fails or is congested, data is routed on one of the other links in the group. The transmission group function is implemented at the path control (PC) layer of the NCP architectural model. The PC layer encapsulates request/response units in PIUs and sends them to the data-link control (DLC) layer for transmission.
The PC layer uses the transmission header of the PIU to route messages through the network. SNA defines different transmission header formats and identifies the different formats by Format Identification (FID) type. A transmission header of type FID 4 is used to route data between type 4 nodes that support explicit and virtual routes.
The NCP assigns a sequence order number to each link in a transmission group. In later versions of NCP, you can specify the sequence order in which an NCP should use the transmission group links; otherwise, this order is determined by the order of link activation. Deactivation and reactivation of a link cause it to become the last activated link in the transmission group, and PIU traffic will be sent on the last activated link only if all other links fail or are busy.
Traditionally, the PC layer communicates directly with the DLC layer to transmit PIUs. When sending PIUs over a multilink transmission group, a transmission group layer exists between the PC and DLC layers. The transmission group layer contains a transmit queue. When the transmission group layer gets a frame to send, it checks for the availability of a link in the transmission group in priority (activation default) order. If the transmission group layer finds an available link (that is, a link that is not down and is not busy), it assigns the PIU the next NCP sequence number and sends the frame on that link. NCP sequence numbers range from 0 to 4,095 and wrap on overflow.
When all links in the transmission group are busy, PIUs are placed in the transmission group transmit queue to await transmission. PIUs accumulate in the queue until a link becomes available. When an SDLC link becomes available, a CoS algorithm is performed on the PIUs in the transmit queue. The PIU with the highest priority is dequeued, assigned the next NCP sequence number, and sent on the available link. Sequence numbering must occur when PIUs are removed from the transmit queue because PIUs can overtake each other on the transmit queue when CoS priority processing is performed. PIUs are never preempted by other PIUs on the same SDLC link queue.
There are several reasons why PIUs might arrive at the receiving NCP out of transmission group sequence: links that operate at different speeds, PIUs on different links that have different lengths, and SDLC link transmission errors that cause retransmission. Because PIUs can arrive out of order, the receiving FEP performs resequencing by queuing incoming PIUs if their sequence number is larger than the next expected sequence number. The algorithm is not important, but the rule is that the receiving FEP propagates PIUs by sequence number order. PIUs with a lower sequence number than expected are considered duplicates and are discarded.
Later versions of NCP deviate from the SDLC standard in their use of SDLC echo addressing. The SDLC secondary NCP sets the high-order bit of the SDLC address when sending a response. For example, the primary NCP sends frames with address 01, and the secondary NCP sends frames with address 81. This addressing scheme limits the range of SDLC addresses from 01 to 7F. Additionally, SDLC address FF is used on frames preceding and during the NCP's XID exchange. The XID and DM frames use the broadcast address.
Another deviation from the SDLC standard occurs in NCP-to-NCP communication when a host NCP loads a remote NCP. Normally, numbered information frames can be sent only after an SNRM (or SNRME), which resets the station counts to ensure that the two stations start with consistent counts. When a host NCP loads a remote NCP, the host sends a Set Initialization Mode (SIM), and the remote NCP responds with a Request Initialization Mode (RIM), which allows numbered information frames to flow. NCPs are allowed to violate the SDLC standard because these violations (echo addressing, broadcast addressing, and sending numbered information frames before SNMRE) occur only when an NCP communicates with another NCP.
NCP-to-NCP Communications over a Routed Network
There are several reasons for routers to carry NCP-to-NCP traffic. Routers allow other protocols to share high-cost bandwidth (such as leased lines) that is set aside for SNA traffic. In the traditional NCP-to-NCP communications, a leased line is required for each line in a transmission group. However, routers enable a number of leased lines to be collapsed into one leased line. In addition, routing capabilities enable routers to dynamically determine wide-area network paths, which can result in a more reliable network.
Figure: NCP-to-NCP communications over a routed network illustrates NCP-to-NCP communications in a router-based internetwork.
Figure: NCP-to-NCP communications over a routed network
Changing from STUN pass-through to STUN local acknowledgment has the following benefits:
- Keeps SDLC poll (RR) traffic off of an overutilized WAN
- Prevents NCP timers from expiring due to network delay
- Collapses multiple WAN leased lines into one leased line
- Reduces store-and-forward delays through the router network
Consider the situation illustrated in Figure: NCP-to-NCP communications over a routed network. Notice that the router attached to the SDLC primary NCP (Router A) acts as an SDLC secondary station, and vice versa for the other router (Router B). For this discussion, assume that all serial links between NCPs and routers are in the same transmission group. This means that the NCP considers the lines to be in transmission group X, and the router considers the lines to be in transmission group Y. There is no relationship between X and Y. X is used in the NCP system generation, and Y is used in the router configuration.
Transmission Group and CoS Support
The following features facilitate the support of transmission groups and CoS in Cisco routers:
- SDLC address violation allowances
Two specific instances are exempt from SDLC addressing restrictions:
- Echo addressing
- Broadcast addressing
- Remote NCP load sequence
- During the load sequence, the remote NCP performs minimal SDLC functions. It cannot go into Normal Response Mode (NRM) until it is loaded. The load sequence for a remote NCP starts with a SIM/RIM exchange between NCPs, which initializes each NCP's SDLC frame count to zero. After the SIM/RIM exchange, the NCPs pass numbered information frames; this event normally does not occur until after a SNRM/UA sequence. The router's SDLC transmission group local-acknowledgment support allows loading of remote NCPs when the routers pass through all frames after a SIM/RIM sequence and before a SNRM/UA sequence. After the SNRM/UA exchange, normal local acknowledgment occurs.
- Rerouting in multilink transmission groups
- When a router acknowledges an Information frame, it must ensure delivery of that frame to the receiving NCP. If, after the frame is locally acknowledged, the corresponding link in the receiving transmission group is lost, the receiving router reroutes the frame onto another SDLC link in the same transmission group.
- CoS
The sending NCP performs CoS. Each PIU is assigned a sequence number. The best service the routers can perform is to try to preserve the CoS as assigned by the sending NCP via sequence numbers. Therefore, all SNA data PIUs are treated equally with the goal to preserve PIU order. However, virtual route-pacing responses flow at SNA network priority level and do not have sequence numbers (that is, they have a sequence number of 0). The router prioritizes all SNA network priority PIUs higher than SNA data to achieve more efficient virtual route pacing.
- Flow control tuning for better CoS operation
- The tcp-queue-max keyword of the stun route address tcp global configuration command allows you to tune the size of the outbound TCP queue so that when the WAN becomes congested, frames generated by an NCP can be stored in the router as well as in the NCP. When the size of the outbound TCP queue is small, back-pressure via SDLC RNRs is applied to sending NCPs sooner, causing the NCP to hold more frames. The more frames that are held by the NCP, the more frames to which the NCP's CoS algorithm is applied. The size of the outbound TCP queue should be configured to 70 or above.
Transmission Group and CoS Design Guidelines and Notes
The following guidelines should be considered when implementing transmission groups and CS:
- Bandwidth of the WAN should be greater than, or equal to, the aggregate bandwidth of all the serial lines. If other protocols are also using the WAN, bandwidth of the WAN should be greater than the aggregate bandwidth of all the serial lines.
- If the network delay associated with one line of an NCP transmission group is different from the network delay associated with another line in the same NCP transmission group, the receiving NCP spends additional time resequencing PIUs. This happens when one or more of the NCP transmission group lines is routed and one or more lines is directly connected between NCPs.
- The Software Release 9.1 prioritizing algorithm ensures that only the highest priority traffic is guaranteed to get through. Software Release 9.21 prioritization is enhanced by the addition of custom queuing. Custom queuing can be used to guarantee specific bandwidth allocated to protocols with respect to bandwidth allocated to other protocols.
If you are using Software Release 9.1 and an SNA WAN as a multiprotocol backbone, give SNA traffic the highest priority and assign the next highest priority to other mission- critical protocols. In addition, make sure that your WAN bandwidth is significantly greater than your aggregate SNA serial line bandwidth so that your SNA traffic does not monopolize the WAN.
Table: Comparison of Priority Queuing and Custom Queuing Configuration Commands lists equivalent commands for configuring priority queuing and custom queuing.
Table: Comparison of Priority Queuing and Custom Queuing Configuration Commands
|Priority Queuing
|Custom Queuing
priority-list 4 protocol ip high tcp 1994
queue-list 2 protocol ip 1 tcp 1994
priority-list 4 protocol ip medium tcp 1992
queue-list 2 protocol ip 2 tcp 1992
priority-list 4 protocol ip normal tcp 1991
queue-list 2 protocol ip 3 tcp 1991
priority-list 4 protocol ip low tcp 1990
queue-list 2 protocol ip 4 tcp 1990
4. When NCPs are directly connected, their poll-and-pause timers should be configured for maximum throughput using the NCP PAUSE statement. Configuration of this parameter depends on whether the NCP is acting as a primary or secondary SDLC station. Table: NCP PAUSE Parameter Guidelines outlines the defaults and recommendations as specified in the IBM publication Tuning and Problem Analysis for NCP SDLC Devices.
Table: NCP PAUSE Parameter Guidelines
|Pause Statement Parameter
|IBM Guideline
NCP primary PAUSE
Specifies the time the NCP will wait between sending polls if it has no data to send. (Default is 0.2 seconds; 0 is recommended.)
NCP secondary PAUSE
Specifies the time that the secondary NCP will wait before returning a frame with the final bit set. (Default is 0.2 seconds; recommended to be high -0.2 to 1.0 seconds.)
Adding routers with local acknowledgment creates two SDLC sessions instead of one. The result is that the two SDLC sessions do not preserve the original characteristics of the original NCP-to-NCP SDLC session. To adapt a secondary NCP to the router environment, change its system generation PAUSE statement to a value between 0.0 and 0.1 seconds, inclusive.
SNA Host Configuration Considerations for STUN
When designing STUN-based internetworks featuring routers and IBM SNA entities, you must carefully consider the configuration of SNA nodes and routing nodes. SNA Host Configuration for SDLC Networks provides examples of SNA host configurations that focus on two specific SNA devices:
- FEP configuration for SDLC links
- 3174 SDLC configuration example
STUN Implementation Checklist
Before implementing a serial tunneling (STUN) internetwork, make sure you are familiar with Synchronous Data Link control (SDLC). Depending on your implementation, you may need to review the "SDLC via STUN" section at the beginning of this article.
Use the following steps as a checklist when implementing SDLC STUN in your internetwork:
Step 1 Evaluate your current environment by answering the following questions:
- What host-attached cluster controllers or front end processors (FEPs) are being used (such as 37x5, 3172, and 3174)? The host site might be referred to as a local, core, or backbone site, or as a data center.
- Through what media is the network connected to the host site?
- STUN: Serial connection at both ends.
- SDLLC: Token Ring at primary station and SDLC at secondary station, or Ethernet at primary stations and SDLC at secondary station.
- Reverse SDLLC: SDLC at primary station and Token Ring or Ethernet at secondary station.
- What are the link speeds for local and remote end systems?
- What are the current SDLC line utilization measurements of those links that will attach to the router? This information will be helpful in determining the site requirements.
- What interface types are to be used (for example, V.24 [EIA/TIA-232, formerly RS-232], V.35, X.21)?
- What modems, data service units (DSUs), channel service units (CSUs), or modem-sharing or line-sharing devices are to be used?
- What remote end system types are involved (for example: 3174, 3274, or AS/400)?
- What kind of emulation requirements are involved (for example: half or full duplex, NRZ or NRZI)?
- What are the current transaction response times? Consider peak load periods and characterize traffic patterns.
- How many PUs are in place? How many are planned? This information is important for router utilization sizing.
- How many LUs are in place? How many are planned? Many busy LUs attached to a PU will increase link utilization.
Step 2 Determine current host configurations. Important information includes the following:
- If the FEP is a 3745, 3725, or 3720, the Network Control Program (NCP) definition listing, especially the GROUP, LINE, PU, and LU definition statements.
- Remote controller configuration worksheets for 3x74, 5x94.
- OS/2 Communication Manager configuration files.
- Network topology diagram.
Step 3 Determine what router-based IBM features will best suit your requirements:
- If remote devices are SDLC-attached PU type 2 devices, consider using SDLLC. See the following section, "SDLLC Implementation."
- Depending on the specific situation, STUN can be used in many instances and supports all PU types.
Step 4 Determine what FEP-to-NCP conversion changes are required:
- Are FEP lines multidrop? Is virtual multidrop required? Refer to the "Virtual Multidrop" section earlier in this article.
- Do PU addresses require changing if SDLC address prioritization is used? Refer to the "SDLC Address Prioritization" section earlier in this article.
- Does the reply timeout T1 timer need to be increased to accommodate network delays if local acknowledgment is not used?
- Does the "Retries" parameter need to be adjusted for longer elapsed retry sequences?
Step 5 Determine how end-station controllers are configured and, if possible, configure the router to accommodate them:
- Addresses might need to be changed if you use virtual multidrop. Refer to the "Virtual Multidrop" section earlier in this article.
- NRZ support might be required depending on router platform and interface used. Refer to the "Supported Data-Link Configurations" section earlier in this article.
- If the controller toggles RTS (assumes half-duplex mode), refer to the "Supported Data-Link Configurations" section earlier in this article.
SDLLC Implementation
The SDLLC function allows serial-attached devices using the SDLC protocol to communicate with LAN-attached devices using the LLC2 protocol. The basic purpose of the SDLLC function is to consolidate the traditionally disparate SNA/SDLC networks onto a LAN-based, multiprotocol, multimedia backbone network.
Routers use the SDLLC feature to terminate SDLC sessions, to translate SDLC to the LLC2 protocol, and to forward the LLC2 traffic through remote source-route bridging (RSRB) over a point-to-point or IP network. Because a router-based IP network can use any arbitrary media, such as FDDI, Frame Relay, X.25, or leased lines, routers support SDLLC over all such media through IP encapsulation. Figure: SDLLC media translation illustrates a general SDLLC media translation internetwork arrangement.
Figure: SDLLC media translation
|In Figure: SDLLC media translation, the Token Ring connection (Token Ring 10) could also be an Ethernet segment that connects the FEP or 3172 and router.
SDLLC Configuration
The following sections provide design and implementation information for the following SDLLC-related configuration topics:
Local Acknowledgment
Local acknowledgment of LLC2 sessions allows frames to be locally terminated by the Token Ring-attached router, which guarantees delivery to the ultimate destination through the reliable transport services of TCP/IP. Locally terminating LLC2 sessions enables packet reception to be locally acknowledged, prevents acknowledgment and keepalive traffic from traversing the backbone, and preserves SNA sessions if the network fails. The router that is performing the media translation always acknowledges the SDLC session in an SDLLC environment.
Local acknowledgment locally terminates supervisory frames, which include receiver-ready, receiver-not-ready, and reject frames. Figure: Local acknowledgment operation illustrates the operation of local acknowledgment.
Figure: Local acknowledgment operation
Multidrop Access
There are two ways to configure multidrop operation for the SDLC link in an SDLLC environment. The first way is to use a line-sharing device or a modem-sharing device (MSD) to connect multiple controllers at a single site to a single SDLC port on the router. The second way is to connect multiple controllers at different sites through a multidrop service provided by a telephone company. For more information about multidrop connections, refer to IBM Serial Link Implementation Notes.
Consider line speed, link utilization, and the number of controllers that will share a single line when designing a multidrop environment. In addition, consider the number of attached LUs associated with individual PUs, and determine if these LUs are being heavily used. If so, increase the bandwidth of the attached serial line. When implementing multidrop environments featuring large numbers of PUs and LUs, contact your technical support representative for specific capabilities.
Router Configuration
To configure a router for SDLLC, you need certain virtual telecommunications access method (VTAM) and NCP definition statements. Figure: Required end-to-end SDLLC information illustrates the required configuration information.
Figure: Required end-to-end SDLLC information
Consider an example of two routers that implement the SDLLC functionality in an environment that interconnects a remote site to a host channel attached to a 3174 Token Ring gateway, as shown in Figure: SDLLC implementation with 3174 Token Ring gateway.
Figure: SDLLC implementation with 3174 Token Ring gateway
|Routers also support SDLLC implementations in environments with a 3745 Token Ring gateway.
The following conditions apply to the sample network illustrated in [[Internetwork Design Guide -- Designing SDLC, SDLLC, and QLLC Internetworks#Figure 13:
- The SDLC address of the 3174R is C1.
- The device called 3174L is a 3174 Token Ring that is channel attached to an IBM mainframe.
The 3174R must be defined in the configuration of the 3174L using the virtual Token Ring MAC address. This address is created in the router configuration; it includes the SDLC address as the last byte. This virtual MAC address is mapped to a host subchannel address. One host subchannel address is assigned for each downstream physical unit at host system generation time. PU and LU functions are defined to VTAM within the switched major node function. The following configuration commands are required on Router 1:
- The sdllc traddr interface configuration command with a virtual ring address for the 3174R. Note that the last byte must be 00 and that you must specify the appropriate SDLC address (in this case, C1) for the same last byte during the 3174L customization.
- The sdllc partner interface configuration command with the MAC address of the 3174L gateway and the SDLC address of the 3174R.
- The following version of the sdllc xid interface configuration command:
sdllc xid c1 00000000
The sdllc xid interface configuration command is specified with all zeros in the IDBLK/IDNUM field to establish the LLC session between Router 1 and the 3174L. All zeros in the node ID field of the XID command indicate that there is no unique node identifier in this field.
Encapsulation Overhead
Cisco routers provide several types of encapsulation solutions. Because encapsulation always incurs a certain amount of overhead, you need to assess the advantages and performance trade-offs of each encapsulation solution within the constraints of your environment.
TCP/IP encapsulation is recommended most frequently because it is very robust, provides a high quality of service, and is media independent. If SDLLC local acknowledgment is required, TCP/IP encapsulation is required. If SDLLC local acknowledgment is not required, Fast-Sequenced Transport (FST) encapsulation is highly recommended because it is less CPU intensive.
Direct High-Level Data Link Control (HDLC) encapsulation can be used only in point-to-point environments. FST and direct HDLC encapsulation are comparable in performance, but FST has more overhead, which may be an issue on low-speed serial links. TCP/IP encapsulation has the most overhead in terms of processor utilization and the WAN connection. If TCP/IP encapsulation with header compression is a requirement, use it only on link speeds of 64 Kbps or less.
Table: SDLLC and RSRB Encapsulation Overhead outlines encapsulation overhead for SDLLC and RSRB implementations.
Table: SDLLC and RSRB Encapsulation Overhead
|TCP/IP with Header Compression
CPU intensive
Less CPU intensive
Very CPU intensive
Least CPU intensive
4 bytes for HDLC
4 bytes for HDLC
4 bytes for HDLC
4 bytes for HDLC
20 bytes for IP
20 bytes for IP
3-8 bytes for TCP/IP
16 bytes for virtual ring
20-24 bytes for TCP
16 bytes for virtual ring
16 bytes for virtual ring
16 bytes for virtual ring
Total: 60-64 bytes
Total: 40 bytes
Total: 23-28 bytes
Total: 20 bytes
SDLLC Guidelines and Recommendations
The following suggestions can help improve resource response time and network performance:
- Token Ring frame size-Allow the Token Ring Interface Coupler (TIC) FEP to send the largest possible frame, and let the router segment the frame into multiple SDLC Information frames.
- MAXOUT (window size)-Change the MAXOUT value in the VTAM-switched major node for the 3174 PU. MAXOUT is IBM's terminology for window size. IBM recommends setting window sizes on LAN-attached devices to 1 because their tests found no performance benefit with a larger window size. The red books, which are published by the IBM International Systems Center, show examples with MAXOUT=1. Because the remote device is an SDLC-attached 3x74, not a Token Ring-attached device, changing MAXOUT to 7 can improve performance dramatically.
- SDLC line speed-Increase the line speed of the 3x74 to 19.2 Kbps (older units) or 64 Kbps (newer units) when the controller is directly attached (as opposed to being attached through a modem) to the router. Modem and communication facilities are frequently the limiting factors in determining the line speed in the prerouter configuration.
- SDLC frame size-Set the largest SDLC frame size to 521 on newer 3274 models (not 265, which is required for older 3274 models). See the note that follows.
- Request To Send (RTS) control-Set the 3174 for permanent RTS if the device is not connected via a multidrop service through modem-sharing devices or line-sharing devices. Modem-sharing and line-sharing connections require that RTS be toggled when the device is transmitting. Setting permanent RTS cuts down online turnaround delays and can improve link utilization by 10 percent. (However, setting permanent RTS is unlikely to achieve any perceptible response time improvements.)
SDLLC Implementation Scenarios
The following case study shows how an internetwork can evolve from a SNA-specific SDLC environment featuring 3x74 controllers and 3270 terminals to a network of PCs with client-server applications. The most important requirement for this evolution is the protection of existing SNA investment.
Assume that the original network consisted of hundreds of SDLC 3x74 controllers connected to a number of 37x5 FEPs in the data center. A disaster recovery center maintains the "mirror-image" of the data center. Many 3x74s are multidrop-connected to the host via 9.6- or 19.2-Kbps leased lines. The challenges facing the corporate MIS organization for this internetwork include the following:
- Reliability-When an SDLC line goes down, all the downstream users are affected. There is no network redundancy.
- Leased line charges-Providing lines to multiple remote SDLC devices results in excessive service charges and must be minimized.
- FEP CPU use-CPU use is higher for SDLC-supported sessions than for LAN-supported sessions.
- Maintaining VTAM and NCP-Every move and change requires system programmers to regenerate VTAM/NCP, which increases the cost of maintaining a statistically defined network.
- Supporting LAN-based applications-There is a growing need to support LAN-based interconnection, both PC-to-host and PC-to-PC.
- Availability and up time-To maintain a competitive advantage, the organization needs to keep SNA sessions alive even if the network fails.
A phased strategy aimed at addressing these challenges would consist of three phases. Each of these phases is discussed in the following implementation examples.
Phase 1: Redundant Backbone Using STUN and Virtual Multidrop
Build a redundant backbone network with routers and high-speed E1 or T1 links in each regional office, as shown in Figure: Connecting multiple SDLC devices via SDLC transport with virtual multidrop. Connect multiple SDLC devices to a router via SDLC transport with virtual multidrop. The resulting network increases reliability and minimizes leased-line charges.
Figure: Connecting multiple SDLC devices via SDLC transport with virtual multidrop
Phase 2: Fault-Tolerant Host FEP Token Ring and SDLLC Implementation
Implement a fault-tolerant host FEP Token Ring, as shown in Figure: Fault-tolerant TICs and SDLLC implementation. Connecting existing SDLC devices to the host Token Ring via SDLLC improves response time. Because SDLC devices appear as Token Ring-attached devices to the host, you do not need to regenerate NCP and reload when you are adding or changing PUs and LUs. This can be done dynamically through VTAM-switched major nodes. This implementation also reduces FEP CPU utilization.
Figure: Fault-tolerant TICs and SDLLC implementation
Phase 3: Strategic LAN-to-WAN Implementation
Implement LAN (both Token Ring and Ethernet) internetworks in selected locations along with alternative WAN technologies, such as Frame Relay, as shown in Figure: Implementing alternative LAN-to-WAN technologies for an integrated solution. Connect LAN-based and remote SDLC devices to host FEP Token Ring via SDLLC, RSRB, and translational bridging, and to host FEP SDLC via reverse SDLLC (SDLC side primary). SNA session integrity is maintained through local termination of both LLC2 and SDLC traffic. These solutions provide needed support of LAN-based applications and improve availability and up time for SNA network devices.
SDLLC Implementation Checklist
Before implementing an SDLLC-based internetwork, make sure you are familiar with the information that deals with SDLC. Depending on your implementation, you might need to review the "SDLLC Configuration" and "SDLLC Implementation Scenarios" sections earlier in this article. In general, the following guidelines help you create a working, manageable network:
- Use a phased approach to implement your router network.
- Establish a test environment to initially bring up the routers.
- Plan a gradual cutover of end devices into the production environment.
- During the cutover period, observe the router's behavior by using show commands.
Figure: Implementing alternative LAN-to-WAN technologies for an integrated solution
Strive to create a network that has predictable behavior early in the development cycle. This strategy can prevent problems as more devices are brought online. The following is a specific SDLLC implementation checklist that you can use to identify technologies, implementations, and possible solutions for your internetwork:
Step 1 Evaluate the customer requirements for SDLLC support:
- Identify all host-attached controllers. Examples include 37x5, 3172, and 3174 devices. The host sites might be referred to as local, core, backbone, or data center sites.
- How are the host site controllers connected to the network?
- Is Token Ring already in place? Ethernet?
- What are the link speeds for remote end systems?
- What are the current line utilization measurements? Network Performance Monitor, which makes historical data available, is typically installed in the larger SNA shops.
- What interface type is required (for example: V.24 (EIA/TIA-232, formerly RS-232), V.35, or X.21)?
- What modems, data service units, channel service units, modem-sharing devices or line-sharing devices will be used?
- Is Link Problem Determination Aid (LPDA) support required? LPDA is a feature of IBM modems and data service units that reports line quality and statistics to NetView. LPDA Version 1 is not compatible with STUN and SDLLC; LAPD Version 2 may be compatible with STUN.
- What remote end-system types are expected? Examples include 3174, 3274, and AS/400.
- Will there be end-system emulation?
- What is the current transaction response time? Is subsecond response required?
- How many PUs are there? (This information will be important for router utilization sizing.)
- How many LUs are there? (Many busy LUs attached to a PU increases link utilization.)
Step 2 Determine current configuration. Important information includes the following:
- NCP system generation for 3745, 3725, and 3720 devices; in particular, note the LINE, PU, and LU definition statements.
- Local controller current worksheets for 3174 and 3172 devices.
- Remote controller configuration worksheets for 3x74 and 5x94 devices.
- OS/2 Communication Manager configuration files.
- Network topology diagram.
Step 3 Determine the SDLLC features that best suit your requirements.
Confirm that devices to be attached are SDLC PU type 2 devices. Select specific feature requirements, such as local acknowledgment and virtual multidrop. Step 4 Determine what host conversion changes are required:
- Switched major node definitions for VTAM.
- FEP/NCP changes for Token Ring addition and SDLC link reduction.
QLLC Conversion
QLLC is a data-link protocol defined by IBM that allows SNA data to be transported across X.25 networks. With QLLC, each SDLC physical link is replaced by a single virtual circuit. Figure: Typical QLLC topology illustrates a typical QLLC topology. In this topology, both ends of the connection over the X.25 network must be configured for QLLC.
Figure: Typical QLLC topology
QLLC conversion is a feature of Cisco IOS Software Release 10.2 that causes the router to perform all of the translation required to send SNA data over an X.25 network so that IBM devices that are connected to a router do not have to be configured for QLLC.
QLLC conversion allows a device (typically a FEP or an AS/400) that is attached either directly to the router or through a Token Ring to communicate with a device (typically a 3174 terminal controller) that is attached to an X.25 network, as shown in Figure: Simple topology for QLLC conversion. In this example, only the terminal controller must be configured for QLLC and must have an X.25 interface.
Figure: Simple topology for QLLC conversion
In some topologies, one router interface uses SDLC to communicate with the terminal controller, and another router interface uses X.25 to communicate with the remote device over the X.25 network. In Figure: Topology that uses SDLC and QLLC conversion, the router, configured for QLLC conversion, handles SNA traffic between the terminal controller and the FEP.
Figure: Topology that uses SDLC and QLLC conversion
QLLC conversion also supports multiple SDLC connections coming through an MSD, as shown in Figure: QLLC conversion supports multidrop SDLC topology.
Figure: QLLC conversion supports multidrop SDLC topology
The router that is configured for QLLC conversion does not need to be on the same Token Ring as the FEP. In Figure: Comples QLLC conversion topology, Router A is configured for QLLC and remote source-route bridging (RSRB), and Router B is configured for RSRB only. RSRB allows the FEP to connect to Router A. If a Token Ring connected to the X.25 network communicates with the Token Ring attached to the FEP by a protocol other than SRB, RSRB can provide connectivity.
Figure: Comples QLLC conversion topology
Figure: Comples QLLC conversion topology shows an example using local acknowledgment, which causes the LLC2 session from the Token Ring-attached SNA device (the FEP) to be terminated at the adjacent router (Router B). A TCP session transports the data from Router B to the router attached to the X.25 network (Router A). Only Router A is configured for QLLC conversion. When enabled, local acknowledgment applies to all QLLC connections. The source-bridge qllc-local-ack global configuration command enables local acknowledgment and applies to all QLLC connections.
In pass-through mode, local acknowledgment is not used. Instead, the LLC2 session from the Token Ring-attached SNA device (the FEP) is terminated at the router connected to the X.25 network (Router A).
QLLC conversion also supports a configuration in which SNA end stations (3174 or equivalent) that are connected to a Token Ring reach the FEP through an X.25 connection, as shown in Figure: QLLC conversion supports SNA end-station connections over Token Ring and X.25 networks. In this case, IBM Network Packet Switching Interface (NPSI) software is installed on the FEP.
Figure: QLLC conversion supports SNA end-station connections over Token Ring and X.25 networks
This article addresses some of the special requirements for implementing routing technology within IBM System Network Architecture (SNA) environments. It describes the three techniques designed to enable internetworking capabilities for SNA-based network architectures, as follows:


text:
Pictured: Jamie Mannion finished fourth in the 1,650-yard
freestyle at the ECAC Championships.
Photo Courtesy: David Silverman
PITTSBURGH, Pa. – A strong effort on the third day of competition fell short as the men's swimming and diving team took second at the 2010 ECAC Championships, Sunday at Trees Pool. Harvard finished with 530.5 points for the competition, trailing only Navy who finished with 673.5.
Jamie Mannion kicked off the Harvard effort on the final day with a fourth-place finish in the 1,650-yard freestyle, posting a time of 16:15.43. Gregory Pelton followed with a fourth-place finish in the 200 backstroke with a time of 1:51.75, and Nicholas DuCille chipped in 17 points with a second-place time of 45.60 in the 100 free.
Rick McKellar (1:51.07), Ryan Cutter (1:51.25) and Ross Ford (1:51.26) finished four-five-six in the 200 butterfly to boost the Crimson point total. Harvard wrapped up the meet with a win in the 400 free relay as DuCille, Cutter, McKellar and Eric Taylor posted a time of 3:03.09 to capture the event win.
Harvard is back in action in two weeks as it will send a select group of athletes to the NCAA Zone A Diving Championships hosted by Rutgers University. The NCAA swimming championships will take place in Columbus, Ohio the following weekend.
Men's Swimming and Diving Takes Second at ECAC Championships
Pictured: Jamie Mannion finished fourth in the 1,650-yard
freestyle at the ECAC Championships.

subset: commoncrawl


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Prospector Files: OHL battle pits Ekblad vs. McDavidby Mike G. Morreale
Defenseman Aaron Ekblad and forward Connor McDavid were teammates on the Canadian National Junior Team for nearly two weeks during the recently completed 2014 IIHF World Junior Championship in Malmo, Sweden.
Now it's time to resume regular duty for their respective Ontario Hockey League teams as opponents when Ekblad of the Barrie Colts meets McDavid of the Erie Otters on Thursday night at the Barrie Molson Centre.
Ekblad is considered to be the best defenseman available in the 2014 NHL Draft at Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, June 27-28. Partnered with Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Derrick Pouliot for much of the tournament, Ekblad had one goal, one assist and eight shots.
He is an A-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's December players to watch list and has 10 goals and 25 points in 29 games with Barrie.
McDavid, who turns 17 on Jan. 13, could very well be the No. 1 pick in the 2015 draft. He was only the sixth 16-year-old to play for Canada at the World Junior Championship, joining Wayne Gretzky, Eric Lindros, Jason Spezza, Jay Bouwmeester and Sidney Crosby.
McDavid finished the 11-day event with one goal and four points in seven games. He generated 10 shots on goal. In 31 games with Erie, he has 12 goals, 50 points and a plus-22 rating.
"When Connor was going through his exceptional-player status, we texted a lot," Ekblad told NHL.com. "Connor McDavid is second to none. A lot of guys will compare him to Crosby, but I'd like to say he's his own player. He's got the puck on a string when he goes up and down the ice; an unbelievable skater and his vision is crazy good."
Does he feel there is a rivalry between the two players?
"I don't think we have ever seen it as a rivalry; me and Connor have been good friends for a really long time," Ekblad said. "We have a lot of fun when we play against each other even though it doesn't happen very often."
The teams will meet one more time in Erie on Feb. 14. Ekblad was asked how he would handle McDavid if the young forward were bearing down on him, one-on-one.
"Patience is the biggest thing," he said. "A lot of times it doesn't really matter who the player is coming down on you. You have to respect them and be patient, knowing they can make a move at any time. When Connor is coming down, I'll look at his chest, keep my hands and head up, and make sure my stick is on the puck. He'll never get around me."
Canada coach Brett Sutter was asked about the play of Ekblad during the tournament. He praised Ekblad's willingness to learn from his mistakes and his attentiveness to detail.
"He's an elite-level player for a young man," Sutter said. "He's a strong guy and he understands the game. At the same time there are young kid's mistakes when you're playing at this level that are going to happen, but he learns from it. He's an intelligent player and he picks things up pretty quickly. You don't have to tell him twice."
Five players who starred overseas in the 2014 World Juniors from the Canadian Hockey League will be participating in the 19th annual BMO CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Calgary on Jan. 15.
Each player is an A-rated prospect on NHL Central Scouting's December players to watch list for the 2014 draft.
Ekblad of Barrie in the OHL and forward Samuel Reinhart of the Kootenay Ice in the Western Hockey League played key roles for fourth-place Canada. Reinhart, who had two goals, five points and a plus-3 rating in a top-six role for Sutter, will play for Team Cherry. Ekblad, who will suit up for Team Orr, had one goal and two points in his first WJC tournament.
Center Ivan Barbashev of the Moncton Wildcats in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League chipped in with one goal, one assist and a plus-1 rating in seven games for bronze medal-winning Russia. He'll play for Team Cherry. Defenseman Julius Honka of the WHL's Swift Current Broncos starred for gold medalist Finland, notching one assist and generating nine shots in a top-six role.
Center Leon Draisaitl of the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders racked up a tournament-high 52 penalty minutes and was suspended one game for Germany. The 6-foot-1, 209-pound Team Orr member did play a big part in Germany's best-of-three relegation round series victory against Norway to finish with two goals and six points.
The fact forward Laurent Dauphin of the Chicoutimi Sagueneens was the last replacement player added to the 2013 CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game in Halifax certainly didn't deter him from making a huge impression.
That's precisely the attitude that defenseman Jacob Middleton of the Ottawa 67's will likely take as a replacement for Nelson Nogier (Saskatoon Blades) at the 2014 Top Prospects Game in Calgary on Jan. 15.
A 17-year-old from Stratford, Ontario, Middleton is a C-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's December players to watch list from the OHL. He's in his second season with the 67's after being chosen No. 8 by the team in the 2012 OHL Priority Selection.
Nogier, a B-rated prospect from the WHL, is unable to participate due to season-ending shoulder surgery.
Draft dandy of the week: Malone
The University of Wisconsin recruit, a B-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's December players to watch list from the USHL, leads the league with three shorthanded goals and is tied for sixth with three game-winning goals. In 23 games for the Fighting Saints this season, the 5-foot-9.25, 165-pound left-handed shot has a team-high 10 goals, along with 19 points and a plus-9 rating. He's second on the team with four power-play goals.
Earlier in the season, Malone centered the top line alongside Brett Boeing (Michigan Tech University) and Karson Kuhlman (University of Minnesota-Duluth), a C-rated prospect on Central Scouting's list. More recently, he's shared a line with Jarrid Privitera and Robby Darrar (University of Vermont). Privitera is second on the team with 20 points (six goals).
As a rookie in 2012-13, Malone had six goals, 27 points and a plus-12 rating in 50 games.
"Seamus Malone is a skilled player; he darts in and out and is a solid in the open ice," Central Scouting's Greg Rajanen told NHL.com. "Seamus has some bite to his game and is very strong on the power play."
Malone describes himself as a smart, skilled forward who can play "with a controlled edge and take pride in both zones."
"I think the thing Seamus will have to prove is that he's a skilled guy," Central Scouting's David Gregory said. "The puck comes off his stick so quickly, he's going to score goals."
Favorite NHL team: Chicago Blackhawks
NHL player: Jonathan Toews
Shootout move: "Forehand, backhand, five-hole."
Goal celebration: "Jumping into the boards with a packed crowd."
Video game: Call of Duty
Movie: Anchorman
Actor or Actress: Denzel Washington
Following on Twitter: Paul Bissonnette
Music: Hip-hop, Rap
Three you would invite to dinner: Miley Cyrus, Kate Upton, Patrick Kane
Sport (other than hockey): Golf
Breakfast food: Breakfast burrito
Superhero: Hulk
-- Mike G. Morreale
Dauphin, a 6-foot, 166-pound left wing in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, had one goal and one assist to earn player of the game honors for Team Orr in a 3-0 victory over Team Cherry. He was ultimately chosen in the second round (No. 39) by the Phoenix Coyotes last June. The Coyotes dealt two later picks in the 2013 draft to gain the New Jersey Devils' second pick in the second round to draft Dauphin.
Middleton will follow Ottawa 67's alum Sean Monahan, who participated in the event last season before being selected No. 6 by the Calgary Flames. The 6-2.75, 208-pound left-hander has one goal, 13 points and 40 penalty minutes in 37 games for the 67's in 2013-14.
Last year's Top Prospects Game featured 19 players selected in the first round of the 2013 draft, including Nathan MacKinnon (Colorado Avalanche). MacKinnon, who leads all NHL rookies with 26 points, was the 11th player in the past 18 years to be selected No. 1 after competing in the Top Prospects Game.
Calgary native and Flames' Stanley Cup champion Tim Hunter was announced as a replacement head coach for Team Orr at the Top Prospects Game.
Hunter was previously named a member of the Team Cherry coaching staff but will replace Lanny McDonald behind the bench for Team Orr. McDonald is unable to participate for personal reasons.
Hunter played two seasons in the WHL with the Seattle Breakers from 1978-80 and was selected by the Atlanta Flames in the third round of the 1979 draft. He played 815 career NHL games over 16 seasons including 545 games in 11 seasons with his hometown Flames, winning the Stanley Cup in 1989.
He has spent 14 seasons as an NHL assistant coach, most recently with the Washington Capitals in 2012-13.
Additionally, Flames' Stanley Cup champion Mark Hunter has been added as an assistant coach for Team Cherry. The general manager of the OHL's London Knights played 628 NHL games over 12 seasons, including 133 games with the Flames from 1988-91.
The Canadian Hockey League also added Sportsnet hockey analysts Nick Kypreos and Doug MacLean as bench assistants for the second straight year. Kypreos will be assisting Team Cherry and MacLean will join Team Orr.
Team Cherry will be coached by Jim Peplinski with assistants Paul Reinhart, Hunter and Kypreos. Tim Hunter is joined by assistants Mike Vernon, Joel Otto and MacLean for Team Orr.
1. Jacob Middleton, Ottawa 67's (OHL): The second-year defenseman was added as a replacement for Saskatoon Blades defender Nelson Nogier (shoulder) for Team Cherry at the Top Prospects Game. In two seasons, Middleton has two goals and 18 points in 66 games. He has one goal and 13 points in 37 games this season.
"He's a good package of size, strength and skating," NHL Director of Central Scouting Dan Marr told NHL.com. "He has good containment in his own zone but is most effective when he's playing with a physical component. He makes good decisions at the offensive blue line and has a good point shot."
2. Ryan MacInnis, Kitchener Rangers (OHL): The 6-3.5, 185-pound left-handed center has 10 goals and 23 points in 39 games as a rookie with the Rangers this season. He doesn't have the shot of his dad, defenseman Al MacInnis, who spent 23 seasons in the League with the St. Louis Blues and Calgary Flames, and compares his style to Dallas Stars forward Jamie Benn.
MacInnis, a B-rated prospect on Central Scouting's December players to watch list from the OHL, will also participate in the Top Prospects Game.
"Responsible two-way center with a very good hockey IQ; he sees the ice and anticipates very well to generate scoring chances," Marr said. "He's a good playmaker but just needs to work on his shot and shoot more often."
3. Sam Lafferty, Deerfield Academy (HIGH-MA): Deerfield coach Brendan Creagh believes the 6-1, 178-pound left wing has what it takes to become a pro player. The left-handed shooter is a C-rated skater on NHL Central Scouting's December players to watch list among high school players in the United States.
"He has the work ethic," Creagh told NHL.com. "I have never coached a kid more willing to make the sacrifices to improve. If he wants it, he'll put in the work."
Lafferty, who will attend Brown University in 2014-15, has seven goals and 24 points in nine games at the Massachusetts prep school. He considers himself a good skater with good vision on the ice.
"I like his skill package; he's a nice skater with nice puck skills," Central Scouting's Greg Rajanen said. "He looks like he has a lot of potential."


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6:30 pm
Mexico -- One Plate at a Time with Rick Bayless "Cooking In Wine Country" Ever dream of owning a winery? Don and Tru Miller made their dreams come true 12 years ago when they built Adobe Guadalupe in the Valle de Guadalupe. Rick's dream of cooking in their stunning kitchen, with its handmade wood-fired oven, comes true this season when he cooks for the Millers and other local winemakers. Along the way, Rick shops for just-picked produce at the idyllic farm stand on the grounds of Mogor Baden Winery, artisanal cheeses at Rancho La Campana (a 100-year-old cheese cave) as well as for breads and olives at the charming Cremeria los Globos. D
7:00 pm
Globe Trekker "Globe Trekker Special: Best American Hikes" Globe Trekkers climb mountains in Wyoming, Washington and Colorado.G
8:00 pm
The Victory Garden "Old" Host Jamie Durie visits a vegetable garden at San Francisco's City Hall, where he talks with Mayor Gavin Newsom and chef Alice Waters about the slow food movement.G
8:30 pm
The Woodwright's Shop "The Tiny Tool Kit" How can you stretch a basic kit of tools to build impressive casework? Chris Schwarz, editor of Popular Woodworking Magazine, shows how with the toolkit of young Thomas, hero of the 1839 book The Joiner and Cabinet Maker. D
9:00 pm
Woodsmith Shop "Library Table" Join the editors of Woodsmith as they pack a lot of woodworking into this beautiful craftsman-style library table. You'll learn tricks for fitting sturdy mortise and tenon joints and assembly tips to get everything together. Plus, discover the ins and outs of adding drawers and the best way to build a top. D
9:30 pm
Growing Bolder "Pursuit of Passion" NULL
10:00 pm
Scheewe Art Workshop "Summer Favorites: Geraniums" This favorite will surely brighten any room in your house and bring nostalgic memories of summer! One of Susan's favorite flowers, the geranium, provides inspiration and creativity as she gazes out of her window. Geranium blossoms require the application of pigment layers to achieve depth and variation in hues. D
10:30 pm
Best of the Joy of Painting "Crimson Oval" Shades of crimson, lavender and gold surround a bubbling brook; a gorgeous oval painting by Bob Ross. D
11:00 pm
Essential Pepin "All Puffed Up" Sugared Puff Paste Sticks; Fast Puff Pastry; Crystallized Puff Paste Of Orange; Choux A La Creme; Chocolate Paris-Brest Cake. D
11:30 pm
Burt Wolf: What We Eat "Here's Looking at You Kid: The Story of Wine In The Americas" Burt looks at the history, folklore and culture of winemaking in America from the earliest plantings by Spaniards, through prohibition to today's prized vintages.G


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He's been charged with running what many in the beer industry are predicting could become the most beautiful brewery in the world when it is completed.
Brian Grossman, who will comanage Sierra Nevada's multifaceted Mills River facility currently under construction, has logged more airline miles in the past year than most people accumulate in a lifetime. Whether it's the back-and-forth trips to Western North Carolina from his home in Chico, Calif., or the multiple jaunts to Germany to purchase hand-crafted brewing equipment, Grossman's life has been a whirlwind ever since the day in January when he returned from honeymooning in Costa Rica with his new bride, Gina, just in time to join Gov. Beverly Perdue at a news conference to formally announce his company's expansion plans in Western North Carolina.
And now, Grossman faces a whole new realm of responsibility for something every bit as precious and meaningful as the 33-year-old family business. Grossman, who is about to turn 28, became a father for the first time Dec. 18 when Gina Grossman gave birth to a healthy boy named Jaxon Kenneth Grossman. The baby's middle name is a nod to Brian's father, Ken, who founded Sierra Nevada in 1980. "Most people are stressed enough about having a kid on the way; I've got the brewery and a kid," Grossman told the Times-News during an interview in Chico in September. "You know when they say there's never a good time to have a child, so you might as well hop into it, and when it happens, it happens? Well, I might disagree with them. If the brewery was a year later or a year earlier ... but, you take it as it comes."
Grossman continued that the previous week, one of his good buddies had become a father, and Grossman said a visit to the hospital that day "instantly gave me hope," though an ensuing conversation over a couple of beers at Grossman's home also reiterated how radically different his life would become.
"I don't know what to expect; it's sort of surreal to me," Grossman said during the September interview. "I mean, the obligations up to now have been minimal. ... I'm sure things will change as soon as the baby is out. Right now it's just a checklist that I'm going through that I need to get done for the brewery, and it's really just line items going down, but when the baby comes out, it doesn't work as a line item."
Still, those close to Grossman have no doubt he will be able to handle his dual roles, thanks to a support network that includes the couple's close-knit families, their numerous friends and the quality team Grossman is going to work with in opening the new brewery this summer.
Grossman already has purchased a home in Mills River and said in November that he, Gina and the baby plan to move here in early February.
"I have complete confidence in Brian's ability to handle all his new adventures," Stan Cooper, who will co-manage the Mills River plant with Grossman and who also recently purchased a home here, said via email last week. "We are all proud of his commitment to the new brewery and very happy to have Gina and Brian decide to raise their family in Henderson County."
Vinnie Cilurzo, founder and owner of one of America's most highly acclaimed breweries, Russian River in Santa Rosa, Calif., is one of Grossman's closest friends. Cilurzo became ordained as a minister and married Brian and Gina nearly a year ago. He's not too worried about his buddy, either.
"Brian has always wanted to have kids as long as I've ever known him, and this will be a pretty exciting time in his life," Cilurzo said. "He's got great role models and his parents, Ken and Katie, are just awesome people and they're definitely great examples for good parenting, as well as Brian's sisters, Carrie and Sierra."
Cilurzo acknowledged it won't be easy.
"He already works a lot; he's surrounded himself with a good team of people at the brewery, and even though I'm sure he'll be working 80-, 100-hour weeks, particularly here to begin with, he'll figure out the balance," Cilurzo said. "I think most importantly, he's got a great lady behind him in Gina. They'll be awesome parents. And she understands. She knew what they were getting into when they committed to moving out to North Carolina with the brewery and all. And I think that's a part of what builds your character and personality, too, is going through what will be a busy couple of years for both of them; but he'll find a balance between the two.
"He grew up watching his dad work more hours than (Ken) probably cares to remember, so he'll use that as something sort of to learn from."
New brewery's boss launches into parenthood
He's been charged with running what many in the beer industry are predicting could become the most beautiful brewery in the world when it is completed.


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Economic Zones World (EZW) is the global provider of sustainable industrial and logistics infrastructure solutions. The company aims to create a robust network of economic zones, technology, logistics and industrial parks as well as build-to-suit developments across the world with an objective to support the dynamic expansion of its rapidly growing international customer base. EZW's current portfolio includes Jafza, Gazeley, TechnoPark and Dubai Auto Zone.
Jafza is Economic Zones World's flagship operation and home to 6500+ multinational companies, including over 150 of the Fortune Global 500 enterprises. It is the region's most efficient logistics hub and the only one in the world located between Jebel Ali Port and Al Maktoum International Airport, enabling the best in multi modal connectivity.
Also in the portfolio is Gazeley, one of Europe's leading developers and providers of sustainable logistics and industrial spaces. Gazeley has strong presence in the UK, mainland Europe, China and India.
TechnoPark is the company's research and development initiative in core economic sectors, including Energy, Water and Environment. It focuses on nurturing business ideas/new technologies in various fields, which could be quickly translated into real-world industrial operations.
Dubai Auto Zone (DAZ) is a comprehensive market place for the Auto Industry catering to buyers, sellers, service providers, principals and traders.Less...
Contact Information:
Building 14,
4th Floor,
Sheikh Zayed Road,
Jebel Ali Free Zone,
P.O. Box 17000
United Arab Emirates


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By Takahiro "Horitaka" Kitamura
When I think about good tattooing, I think of art executed by skilled craftsman. In an era of chain stores and mass production, it is always refreshing to see something hand-made. I met Jamie from RePop through my good friend Chris Yvon. Chris told me about Jamie and RePop, and the hand-made goods they produced. The product certainly lived up to the hype! Rings, buckles, wallets and more, all with old world craftsmanship, with some weight -no cheap materials, and a great retro feel…
I was stoked to visit Jamie's workshop, a small room, packed to the gills, where he works his magic. You can guess that growing up with Chris Yvon, Jamie would be into tattoos and he has a bunch. So I wasn't too surprised when Jamie asked me about a collaboration between RePop and State of Grace.
He had a really cool idea, to make a stuffed leather collectible in the shape of a hand. Loosely based on the circus punk idea, Jamie wanted to print tattoo designs on leather and mount them on a base. We set about assembling a team of artists for the project and sent out templates for artwork. Many of the artists also donated their original drawings to Japan Tsunami Relief.
Chuey Quintanar- one of So-Cal's finest! Chuey is one of the top black and grey tattooers and also an avid graphic designer for many companies.
Tim Hendricks- personality, artist, amazing tattooer, machine builder, inventor and all around nice guy!
Colin Baker- my apprentice and far better a tattooer, Colin is one of the most talented artists that I know.
Horiken- just in from Yokohama, Horiken is a true expert of traditional Japanese tattooing.
Chris Brand- this guy is a genius.
Scott Sylvia- a world-class machine builder and one of the best tattooers I know!
Chad Koeplinger- a great friend and even better tattooer.
Chris Trevino- a "Tattoo Artist Magazine book worthy" tattooer but I also chose Chris since he has made collectible toys before!
Dan Wysuph- the kid sensation, Dan was good from the start!
Chris Yvon- the Death Squad!! Tattooer, clothing designer and all around bad ass!
Thomas Hooper- had to call Thomas, when i think of tattoos on hands, I think of Thomas first!
Steve Byrne- another great traditional tattooer, Steve even painted a whole sheet around his "hand" design!
and me- in by default! And of course, as with any project, there are tons more people i would have liked to include… maybe round two!?!
Each hand will be made in a numbered edition of 100 only. RePop will release one per month starting this December. For more information check out www.repopmfg.com.
Horitaka (Taki) can be found at:
State of Grace Tattoo
221 Jackson Street
San Jose, CA 95112
Phone: (408) 441-7770
Hours: 11am – 7pm
Closed on Tuesday


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How fast can corn be planted? After watching corn planting progress this year, it is clear that growers can cover a lot of ground fast. Most of the corn crop in the 18 official corn states was planted in five weeks.
But has corn planting actually occurred at a faster rate than in previous years?
Darrel Good and Scott Irwin at the University of Illinois researched this very question. They first considered the pace of planting that occurred on a week for peak corn planting in Indiana, Illinois and Iowa. The pair saw no trend towards a larger percentage of crop planted on the peak week from 1960 to 2011.
So Good and Irwin expanded their research to look at planting progress per day of suitable fieldwork. A suitable fieldwork day was determined from USDA's weekly progress reports. They also limited the research to Illinois.
The results: Yes, Illinois growers are planting more corn per day than four decades ago.
"The bottom line is that farmers in Illinois can now plant about 15-20% more acres of corn per suitable field day than they could in the 1970s," states the report from Good and Irwin. "This increase is likely due to improvements in planter technology and increases in the average size of planters.
"The results also indicate that while more corn acres in Illinois were planted per day from 1970 through 2011, there has been only a very small trend increase in the percentage of the crop planted per day," the report continues. "Taken together, these results suggest that planting speed has adjusted at about the same rate as the increase of corn acres in Illinois."
To read the full report, visit http://www.farmdocdaily.illinois.edu/2011/06/corn_planting_speed_revisited.html.


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BRIDGEWATER — Bridgewater State University's business school has a new dean.
BRIDGEWATER — Bridgewater State University's business school has a new dean.
Dr. Elmore Alexander brings more than three decades of higher education experience to Ricciardi College of Business, according to a news release from the university.
"I am so delighted to have the opportunity to come to Bridgewater and be part of such a dynamic organization with such an enthusiastic faculty," he said in the release. "It's especially exciting to be at a university with a strong international focus, because I believe that's where the future of business education is."
Alexander has been a faculty member, administrator and consultant to businesses, government agencies, and hospitals in the United States and abroad. Prior to this position, Alexander was dean of the School of Management at Marist College in New York and, before that, dean of the School of Business Administration at Philadelphia University.
The South Carolina native is a graduate of Wake Forest University with a Ph.D. and Master of Arts degree in organizational behavior from the University of Georgia. His area of academic interest is organizational communication.
His previous positions include director of the Division of Business and Management at Johns Hopkins University, and associate dean and chair of the Management Department within the Kogod School of Business at American University in Washington.
Named for Bridgewater alumnus Louis M. Ricciardi, '81, the Ricciardi College of Business has launched both an MBA and a Master of Science program in accounting.
"The challenge ahead is to enhance our graduate and undergraduate programs and develop a unique brand to go with the Ricciardi name," Alexander said.
Previously published in The Standard-Times.


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Follow RFF News on your cell phone. Text follow rff to 40404 you will receive txt messages with RFF News
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Those rankings are interesting. I never would have guessed that would have been the order either, but I hope that it is right. The way I see it anyway is that Matt will be around for another week after this one, as I think that he will get more votes because he was almost voted off last week and Lil will hopefully be gone. She did seem like she could sing earlier, she has basically just had somewhat of an identity crisis ever since the finals began.
WOW! I'll say more after the show airs on the West Coast. Over 45,000 votes last night!
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What Parents Should Know Before Flying With a Baby
There are increased health risks for infants on planes, especially if they are sitting in laps. WSJ's Scott McCartney talks with Tanya Rivero on Lunch Break about what parents should know before flying with babies. Photo: iStock/gchutka
This transcript has been automatically generated and may not be 100% accurate.
... new research reveals that fall I may be more dangerous for infants than many parents Wheelock is ... here to shed light on some of the most common causes the in flight infant death and injury ... is WSJ's Middle Seat columnist Scott McCartney ... Scott thanks so much for joining us ... so it's got this is some disturbing stuff I gotta say tells about the recent study analyzing Inflight pediatric medical emergencies what were some of the most surprising finding ... this is really a new way of looking and etc search of safety for for instance traveling ... some researchers at University Hospitals and in Cleveland got together with many are which is a provider of health services to airlines ... a ground sensor on call center where ... airline crews report emergencies and ... its economic from doctors on the ground ... they studied as seventy five hundred pediatric care of in flight emergencies all around the world ... many area serves lots airlines and an outlet to different places ... in what they found is if you if you look at the Datsun there were only ten deaths of non not a large number but ninety percent of the nine minute and ... aam involved infants under the age of two of one was a fifteen year-old boy ... but the ... concentration of the deaths um in infants ... I was really alarming to the researchers so we know what caused these and think that sending the numbers as you said while still low are very concerning ... yes ... it's the it's the trend this concerning another reason to want to make clear this is not ... you know they don't want this to the alarming and they don't want this to discourage travel on but there were ... the work awful thing someone ... in in about ... half the cases ... of there was a pre existing medical condition in a few other cases the babies were actually traveling to seek medical care ... and so the stress of the of the airline flight aam surly had an effect on that ... if a child has an existing medical condition need to take precautions and ... make sure you have but you may need oxygen Saddam ... for the baby things like that ... ALM so deftly consults tell people that health experts before you go ... on but just as the as concerning to the researchers were the otherwise so perfectly healthy babies who didn't survive flying ... aam and in those cases I made it than to speculate on they don't have the real answers but the thing ... aam some of them involved By Sharon seats with parents that side ... they especially on long on flights ... where sleep is involved ... on the American Academy of Pediatrics for years has reckoned as I have a strong recommendation that ... parents not sleep in the same bed or couch ... with an infant ... indeed there are other issues Some of the oxygen concentration in the fact that my half ... on a mature respiratory systems so bottom line if you are traveling with him and on the long flight you really should seriously consider ... getting them their own see it tracks that ... I think this is more in the nation in that ... in the U twenty in that direction on ... the news is that for three decades the National Transportation safety Board ... has has really urge the FAA to impose the regulations require thing and I'm that everybody have their own seat ... and the carseats be used ... on the FAA has resisted that aam ... but I think they are these health researchers say you know especially on a long flight with sleep and all aam and it's not a good idea to share see with an infant on the bad things can happen ... and that and a child really needs its own seen on an airplane as another quickly that things are played out ... anew in your story is a window seats are better for kids ... and don't forget how dangerous turbulence can be and there's now product on the market that can help with this cracked me tell us quickly add that ... he ... knew when to cease any new money away from carts and and things that enough olive overhead bins ... on turbulence is the number one cause of injury for for ... babies on board airplanes ... on grade five is a former anti ESB investigator of was the lead investigator of minicrashes became very concerned about ... about this problem ... and in some others developed a of the little fall mobile phone you see that sits on a lap of a parent of clips to the parent seatbelt ... you can strap the baby and babies so I'm happy bouncing on the parent's lap ... but buckled in for any sort of turbulent events the forces are so great ... there's no way intended to hang on to a child ... me really is ... ridiculous that we for PS people are ... strapped down their laptops and bags and everything else about their children right in the fact that our kids in cars that not ... not necessarily in planes all right thank you so much for that very important reports that


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Baked French toast is the lasagna of breakfast – prepare it in advance so you can lounge in your PJs with the rest of the family instead of being a stove slave stuck frying toast while listening to the muffled laughter of your family in the other room.
This baked French toast has three layers of goodness. Its base is a warm, gooey mixture of maple and bananas (when serving, make sure to scoop all the way to the bottom of the pan so you don't miss this part!). The bananas are covered in a moist, eggy challah with a touch of ginger. The whole thing is then topped with crunchy walnuts and cacao nibs (or chocolate chips) and more maple. Hungry yet?
Because this recipe is for French toast and not French cake, you can eat as much as you like guilt-free, right?
Baked French Toast Recipe
I came up with my baked French toast recipe by adapting the banana praline French toast recipe at Inn Cuisine,which was adapted from Good Housekeeping and Donna Diegel, Providence Food Examiner. The baked French toast recipe uses six eggs, so it was a great way for me to use up the eggs from the egg shells that I baked cupcakes inside of.
Baked French Toast with Bananas, Walnuts, and Cacao Nibs
For the banana base
- 1/2 C unsalted butter room temperature
- 1/2 C light brown sugar
- 1/4 C maple syrup
- 3-4 ripe bananas cut diagonally in 1/2-inch slices
For the bread
- 1 loaf challah approximately 21 ounces, or 1 pound 5 ounces, cut in 1" thick slices
For the custard
- 6 large eggs
- 2 C milk
- 1/4 C unsalted butter melted
- 2 tbsp sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla bean paste or vanilla extract
- 1 tsp ginger
For the nut topping
- 1/2 C chopped walnuts
- 1/4 C cacao nibs shown in the photo or chocolate chips
For the second topping
- 2 tbsp maple sugar regular granulated sugar would also work
- Liberally butter a 14" x 8" baking dish and set aside.
- Prepare the banana base:
- In a small saucepan over medium heat, mix all banana base ingredients. Cook until butter is melted and sugar is dissolved.
- Remove pan from heat and pour into the buttered baking dish, spreading evenly as necessary.
- Atop the banana base, add challah - laying slices on their side and creating 2 (up to 3, if necessary) even, equal layers.
- Prepare the custard mixture:
- In a large mixing bowl, whisk eggs, milk, melted butter, sugar, vanilla bean paste, and ginger until thoroughly incorporated.
- Slowly pour custard mixture over challah slices, covering bread thoroughly.
- Using a large, flat spatula, firmly press bread slices down into baking dish until all slices have absorbed the custard mixture and layers appear evenly wet. The challah acts like a big sponge.
- Repeat this pressing process again, making sure bread is evenly soaked.
- Top casserole evenly with walnuts and nibs.
- Cover tightly with plastic wrap (or aluminum foil) and refrigerate overnight.
- When ready to bake in the morning, preheat oven to 350 F.
- Remove dish from refrigerator, uncover, and sprinkle top evenly with maple sugar.
- Bake for approximately 45-55 minutes, or until a knife inserted (in 2 or 3 places) near center comes out clean. I would err on the side of under-baking rather than over-baking. It's not as good if it gets dried out.
- Allow casserole to cool approximately 10 minutes before serving.


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The grandeur of a larger than life Victorian banking building is a fitting setting for Belfast's most dramatic and beautiful hotel. The exterior of the building is Italianate in style, with sculptures depicting Commerce, Justice and Britannia, looking down benignly from the apex of the magnificent facade.
The entrance is up two flights of steps, through tall mahogany and glass revolving doors and then into a room of epic proportions with high ceilings, a central glassed dome with Tyrone crystal and brass chandelier, Corinthian columns, very tall doors painted black with bevelled glass panes and lovely windows with stained glass features at the back (where chunky bamboo plants give at least the appearance of garden outside).
The lobby - furnished with comfortable sofas and chairs, rich autumnal fabrics, antiques and curiosities - sets the tone for the whole hotel, which has an authentic period feeling throughout and, although very luxurious, is not at all ostentatious.
The adjacent cocktail bar is equally beautifully furnished in the same style, with red velvet and deep fringing and more of that autumnal velvet too on soft chairs; here, there are two beautiful windows overlooking the street. (On the other side of the front door, also with two beautiful windows, a residents' bar with modern furnishings, may seem less successful.)
The bedrooms and suites are all named after a literary figure with Belfast associations (MacNeice, Heaney, Brian Friel, C.S. Lewis, Larkin etc); the geography of the building means there are features like lovely marble fireplaces with comfy chairs in lobbies and quaint corners en route to somewhere else - a world away from purpose built hotel accommodation with long corridors of doors.
All guest rooms are elegantly and opulently appointed and offer air conditioning, black out curtains, WiFi, flat screen television, and spacious marbled bathrooms with many extras.
Everything at this Belfast hotels about luxury and indulgence - including the offer of The Merchant Bentley, which you can book to collect you from the airport or elsewhere.
Conferences/Banqueting (100); free broadband wi/fi. Children welcome (under 4s free in parents' room, cot available free of charge, baby sitting arranged). Fitness room, jacuzi, steam room. Spa (massage, treatments).
Rooms 62 (6 suites, 2 junior suites, 34 executive, 4 family, 2 shower only, 7 ground floor, 2 disabled, all no smoking). Room rate from about £225. 24 hr room service; lift; laundry service. SC 10%.
The Great Room Restaurant:
Three central steps take you from the lobby up to the restaurant, where a small antique reception desk and menu signal the transition; here, despite the great height and scale, low dividers give a sense of more intimate spaces without interrupting the view - and a bold choice, carried throughout the hotel, is the striped carpet.
Menus offered at various times include set, vegetarian and à la carte, and a 9-course Tasting Menu is also available; it offers good value, and is available with suggested wines with each course at only £20 extra.
This Belfast Restaurants house style is upbeat classic and, typically, you might expect to find starters like starters like game terrine en croute with Madeira jelly and celeriac remoulade and dressy main courses including Irish venison loin, served with loin chestnut puree, wild mushrooms and peppered jus.
Desserts include house versions of many favourites and there's an informatively described French and Irish cheeseboard. Coffee is beautifully served in art deco style silver pot with wicker handles and matching bowls. An outstanding wine list is compiled in consultation with Jane Boyce, MW.
*A traditional Afternoon Tea, with all the trimmings, is also served in The Great Room.


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Carnival project 2013 - Panda Bear
Added Feb 8, 2013
by peipe
Allschwil, Switz...
Carnival is quite big where I live (Switzerland and Southern Germany). Kids love to put on costumes. The coming Sunday there will be a big "procession" and for the theme of "Noah's Arch" we were asked to participate as animals. For my daughter I made this Panda Bear costume, based on the pattern 152, January issue of the Burda magazine.
The matching mask I made myself with papier mch – stripes of newspaper and wallpaper paste. The framework was a inflatable beach ball. It made a first cover, had it dry and added a second layer. After everything was dry I glued the fake-fur-fabric and the ears (pattern 143, 1/2011) on the "head", cut holes to look out and put the nose on. For glueing I used the glue gun.
Material Notes
fake-fur in white and black, zipper
1 Comment Sign in to add a post
Feb 8, 2013, 10.57 AMby Mary Athey
Wow!! You did.a fabulous job on this. Its.first class x
1 Reply
Feb 8, 2013, 05.29 PMby peipe
Thank you Mary!
Add to Favorites no one added it


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My mom (johanka) will be here in one week. Wonder what kind of "trouble" the two of us can get in to. Let see, first thing is to pull out my Storm At Sea quilt (from a kit) and have a look at it. Until I signed up on the board last Aug., she was my only set of eyes to look at some thing. Mind you she lives 1300 miles from me so it was all via Computer. Now I have everybody out here and it it a wonderful gift!!!
Once we get done playing with the layout on that, she gets to go through all the tops that I have to quilt, about 10. Then there are 4 different LQS within a 30 to 40 mile drive from my house. Not to mention the thrift stores and a few Antique stores on the way. Wonder if my DH and two young sons can handle all this???
On top of that fun, she also gets to spend time with the newest quilter in the family, my 9 year old son. He can not wait to show her what he has been doing. Then there will be at least one or two projects that we will work on together. Guess I better rest now, since I do not see any coming once she gets here and I can not wait for the time she is here!!!!


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this is my first post on this forum and i would start by saying im a big fan of conkers bad fur day, i have it original to Nintendo 64 and playing it multiplayer from time to time awesome game!
I got a little project going, its not an easy task since i have never done anything like it before, okay listen up im going to make a real life figure of conker with a beer, a squirrel soldier with the m16 and a teddy soldier with the revolver or flamethrower kinda ironicly dont you think? probably around 10inches i think would be nice anyways so i need alittle help! i searched alot around and quickly found out that nemu 64 is the best for model and texture dumping, so i got me the 0.8 version with the lemu GFX plugin and tried to run conkers bad fur day, what happends is instant "program does not respond" - terminate. now wth be that?
the game runs fine in project 64 but no easy way to dump the models in that one even with plugins if im not mistaking.
so now im stuck, neither do i get to export the models or seen the textures as a preperation.
i have read the guides and walkthough but 1964 does not work well with bad fur day and project 64 does not have any working plugins that supports the game....
please help me out, i see so many with this solved but no one is answering and there is no real answers to those who have asked about this before.
please just a kick in the right direction will help ALOT!


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MenuDirections 2013 Day 2: Culinary Competition
The first culinary competition at MenuDirections offered an afternoon of great food and friendly competition between market segments.
The healthcare team's upscale take on pork and beans, which featured saucy beans infused with vegetables, diced apples and a blend of several Asian sauces. This comfort food with a twist was named the winner of the competition at the Awards Banquet.


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Today, of course, is Election Day here in the U.S. The polls have been open around here for a bit already, but when I checked the news, they were not yet projecting a winner (I'm hanging my chad in shame over joking about such a serious topic).
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Jan 05, 2007
Jan. 5, 2007
CAMBRIDGE, Mass. - The MIT women's basketball game on Saturday, Jan. 6 at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy will be webcasted on www.sportsjuice.com. The 3:00 p.m. tip-off will mark the New England Women's and Men's Athletic Conference (NEWMAC) opener for both teams. Listeners can send e-mails to email@example.com during the broadcast.


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Current Law Students / Clerkship Question re: Bar Stipend / BarBri payment« on: September 17, 2008, 03:56:49 PM »
Lucky enough to land a clerkship (Fed. Dist. Ct.) ... going to firm I summered at the conclusion of the clerkship -- will the firm pay me a bar stipend and pay for barbri in May 09 (even though I won't start there until Sep '10?
Any thoughts on this are appreciated!
Any thoughts on this are appreciated!