OpenTP1 can also be installed on a FEP (front-end processor) connected to a large-scale computer. A FEP acts as an intermediary between the large-scale computer and terminals.

Using OpenTP1 on the FEP provides both communication and failure-recovery benefits. OpenTP1 supports multiple communication protocols, so OpenTP1 enables the FEP to handle multi-protocol and multi-line connections over a WAN. Also the error-recovery features of OpenTP1 improve reliability. For example, OpenTP1 can take over transaction processing in case of a failure in the host computer.

Figure 1-7 shows an example of how an FEP is configured.

Figure 1-7 Example of an front-end processor (FEP)