Sun Microsystems 96257 manual Native FICON Attachment, Native FICON Channel FC

Configuration Planning

Native FICON Attachment

Native FICON attachment refers to a FICON CPU channel connected to a FICON control unit interface, which may pass through a FICON director (switch). Since the connection is all-FICON, all channels can provide the increased performance of FICON if the attached devices are capable of FICON speeds.

Figure 2-6illustrates the two attachment modes for native FICON: direct and switched. Di- rect (point-to-point) attachment consists of a CPU FICON channel that connects directly to a FICON control unit interface, without any intervening directors (switches).

Switched attachment is similar to direct attachment except that the FICON path passes through a FICON switch, similar to an ESCON director. Adding a FICON director/switch providee increased flexibility and connectivity similar to what ESCON directors provide, but with the benefits and features of FICON.

Native FICON Channel (FC)

FICON Direct		FICON Switched
Point-to-Point (FC)		Point-to-Point (FC)
Host System	Host System Host System

FICON

Director (Switch)

FICON

Interface

VSM5 - VTSS

FICON	FICON
Interface	Interface

VSM5 - VTSS A504_020

Figure 2-6. Native FICON Attachment Options

2-36	Sun Confidential: Internal Only	96257
	Revision A