The SAS/C Socket Library has an open architecture that permits using TCP/IP products from different vendors. If a vendor provides the appropriate SAS/C transient library module, existing socket programs can communicate using the TCP/IP implementation specified during configuration of the system. A program compiled and linked with the SAS/C Socket Library at one site can be distributed to sites that are running different TCP/IP implementations. In addition, any site can change TCP/IP vendors without recompiling or relinking its existing SAS/C applications.
Starting with Release 6.00, the SAS/C Library supports both integrated and non-integrated sockets. With integrated sockets, the TCP/IP sockets are integrated with UNIX System Services (USS) support instead of being a direct run-time library interface to the TCP/IP software implemented only in the run-time library.
With non-integrated sockets, the SAS/C Socket Library relies on an underlying layer of TCP/IP communications software, such as IBM TCP/IP Version 2, or higher, for VM and OS/390. TCP/IP communications software handles the actual communications. The SAS/C Library adds a higher level of UNIX compatibility, as well as integration with the SAS/C run-time environment.
Copyright © 2001 by SAS Institute Inc., Cary, NC, USA. All rights reserved.