6947ch01.fm Draft Document for Review April 7, 2004 6:15 pm
10 IBM eServer zSeries 990 Technical Guide
zSeries supports FCP channels, switches and FCP/SCSI devices with full fabric connectivity
under Linux on zSeries. Support for FCP devices means that z990 servers will be capable of
attaching to select FCP/SCSI devices, and may access these devices from Linux on zSeries.
This expanded attach ability means that customers have more choices for storage solutions,
or may have the ability to use existing storage devices, thus leveraging existing investments
and lowering total cost of ownership for their Linux implementation.
The 2 Gb capability on the FICON Express channel cards means that 2 Gb link speeds are
available for FCP channels, as well.
The Fibre Channel Protocol (FCP) capability, supporting attachment to SCSI devices in Linux
environments, was made generally available in conjunction with IBM TotalStorage®
Enterprise Tape System 3590, IBM TotalStorage® Enterprise Tape Drive 3592, IBM
TotalStorage Enterprise Tap e Libra ry 3494. For VM guest mode , z/VM Version 4 Release 3 is
required to support Linux/FCP. When configured as a CHPID type FCP, FICON allows
concurrent patching of Licensed Internal Code without have to configure the channel off and
on.
The required Linux level for this function is SLES 8 from SUSE. This support allows a z990
system to access industry standard devices for Linux, using SCSI control block-based
Input/Output (I/O) devices. These industry standard devices utilize Fixed Block rather than
Extended Count Key Data (ECKD™) format. For more information, consult the IBM I/O
Connectivity Web page:
http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/zseries/connectivity/#fcp
FICON CTC function
Native FICON channels support CTC on the z990, z890, z900, and z800. G5 and G6 servers
can connect to a zSeries FICON CTC, as well. This FICON CTC connectivity will increase
bandwidth between G5, G6, z990, z890, z900, and z800 systems.
Because the FICON CTC function is included as part of the native FICON (FC) mode of
operation on zSeries, a FICON channel used for FICON CTC is not limited to intersystem
connectivity but will also support multiple device definitions. For example, ESCON channels
that are dedicated as CTC cannot communicate with any other device, whereas native FICON
(FC) channels are not dedicated to CTC only. Native mode can support both device and CTC
mode definition concurrently, allowing for greater connectivity flexibility.
FICON Cascaded Directors
Some time ago, IBM made generally available the FICON Cascaded Director function. This
means that a native FICON (FC) channel or a FICON CTC can connect a server to a device
or other server via two (same vendor) FICON Directors in between.
This type of cascaded support is important for disaster recovery and business continuity
solutions because it can provide high availability and extended distance connectivity, and
(particularly with the implementation of 2 Gb Inter Switch Links), has the potential for fiber
infrastructure cost savings by reducing the number of channels for interconnecting the two
sites.
The following directors and switches are supported:
򐂰CNT (INRANGE) FC/9000 64-port and 128-port models (IBM 2042)
򐂰McDATA Intrepid 6064 (IBM 2032)
򐂰McDATA Intrepid 6140 (IBM 2032)
򐂰McDATA Sphereon 4500 Fabric Switch (IBM 2031-224)