Special Purpose Communication Devices
Front End Processor (FEP) is
1. a nonprogrammable, hardwired, communication control unit designed by the computer manufacturer to adapt specific line and terminal characteristics to the computer or
2. a minicomputer or microcomputer that can handle some or all the
communication input/output activity as well as perform some processing
The primary purpose of the FEP is to serve as the interface between the host computer and the data communications network with its hundreds or even thousands of terminals and microcomputers