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Systems Network Architecture
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<p> Systems Network Architecture (SNA) is <a href="/facts/IBM/QszA7nwd">IBM</a>'s proprietary <a href="/facts/Computer_network/3w5RM99p">networking</a> architecture, created in 1974. It is a complete <a href="/facts/Protocol_stack/Btj9FtwJ">protocol stack</a> for interconnecting <a href="/facts/Computer/SQe1aK05">computers</a> and their resources. SNA describes formats and protocols but, in itself, is not a piece of software. The implementation of SNA takes the form of various communications packages, most notably <a href="/facts/Virtual_Telecommunications_Access_Method/b6pWPmPM">Virtual Telecommunications Access Method</a> (VTAM), the <a href="/facts/Mainframe_computer/nrBR6rWa">mainframe</a> software package for SNA communications. </p>