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A network addressable unit (NAU) is a resource in IBM’s Systems Network Architecture (SNA) that the communications system manages and that serves as the origin or destination of information sent through the network. The term belongs to SNA. It does not mean any network-connected device, and it is not a synonym for an IP address.
What the term means
IBM’s current z/TPF documentation defines an NAU as “a resource managed by the communications system.” It is used as the origin and/or destination of transmitted information. Each NAU has a unique network name, and that name is translated into a unique address so the network can route traffic to it.
Because the definition is architectural, an NAU is a logical resource rather than a box or a cable. A single physical machine can host several NAUs, and what matters is the role each one plays in an SNA exchange.
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Readers often merge these two ideas, so it helps to separate them:
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- Network name is the symbolic identifier that people and configuration files use to refer to an NAU.
- Network address is the value SNA uses to identify the NAU within its addressing scheme. IBM’s z/OS Communications Server glossary describes an SNA network address as having a subarea field and an element field.
The address is therefore the routable form of the name. A network address by itself is a broader concept than an NAU; the NAU is the resource that the address points to.
The NAU types
IBM documents do not give one universal list of NAU types. The list depends on which product’s documentation you read. The two most useful IBM sources differ in what they name:
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| IBM source | Types named | Context to keep in mind |
|---|---|---|
| z/OS Communications Server Glossary | Logical unit (LU), physical unit (PU), system services control point (SSCP) | Describes SNA as implemented in z/OS Communications Server |
| Basic SNA terms and concepts (z/TPF documentation) | SSCP, PU, LU, and control point | Adds control point to the list; this page also states that “node” and “NAU” have the same meaning in that documentation |
When you need to classify a resource, use the role it plays rather than memorizing a single list:
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- Representation of a physical resource: the PU represents a physical node in the network.
- Application communication: the LU is the point through which users and applications exchange data in a session.
How NAUs communicate: sessions
Two NAUs cannot exchange data just because both exist. According to IBM’s z/TPF terminology, they must first be formally connected, and that connection is called a session. Data moves only inside an established session. This is why SNA troubleshooting usually starts with whether the sessions between two resources are active, not just whether the resources are reachable.
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Can an NAU have more than one address?
In some cases, yes. IBM’s historical manual SNA Concepts and Products notes that a logical unit may have multiple addresses so that it can carry parallel LU-LU sessions. This is architectural background from an older manual. It describes how the design allows parallel sessions; it is not a universal rule that every modern SNA configuration follows, so check the documentation for the product and release you are working with.
What an NAU is not
- It is not an IP address. An IP address belongs to the TCP/IP world; an NAU belongs to SNA.
- It is not “any computer on the network.” A computer may contain NAUs, but the NAU is the managed SNA resource itself.
- It is not interchangeable with a network address. The address identifies the NAU; the NAU is the resource.
Where you will see the term
IBM Personal Communications documents a configuration parameter named NAU_ADDRESS. Its meaning and availability depend on the specific release, so read the parameter reference for your version before relying on it. Outside IBM SNA documentation, the term is rarely used with the same precision.
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If you are reading older IBM material, the concepts are stable, but product names and default settings may have changed. For current definitions, start with the z/TPF “Basic SNA terms and concepts” page and the z/OS Communications Server glossary.
Sources: IBM z/TPF documentation, “Basic SNA terms and concepts”; IBM z/OS Communications Server Glossary; IBM SNA Concepts and Products (historical manual); IBM Personal Communications documentation for the NAU_ADDRESS parameter.
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The short answer for most readers: an NAU is an SNA resource identified by a network name and address, that communicates only through sessions, and that is classified by its role in the network.
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