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A New Generation for SANs –
FICON Express2
FICON Express2 offers new packaging with increased
connectivity in the same amount of physical space.
Increased performance is also possible with FICON
Express2. This refresh of technology can help to satisfy
your server consolidation connectivity requirements, and
may help to reduce the number of I/O features required for
consolidation. At the same time, you may be able to realize
a performance advantage.
FICON Express2 Doubles the Channel Capacity
As zSeries has increased its maximum number of I/O
features, so has FICON increased its channel maximums
to meet the ever increasing demands of Storage Area
Networks (SANs). You can now install up to a maximum of
80 channels on z890 (when all are FICON Express2). The
maximum number of FICON features per server (any com-
bination of FICON Express2 and FICON Express) remains
at up to 20 on z890. Each FICON Express2 offers 4 ports
per feature – a 100% increase in channels per feature in
the same amount of physical space.
On the smallest sub-uni the maximum quantity cannot
exceed 16 features per server.
FICON Express2 SX (short wavelength) (#3320) and
FICON Express2 LX (long wavelength) (#3319) occupy
a single I/O slot, utilizing one CHPID per channel (four
CHPIDs per feature). Each of the four independent ports/
channels is capable of 1 gigabit per second (1 Gbps) or
2 Gbps depending upon the capability of the attached
switch or device. The link speed is auto-negotiated, point-
to-point, and is transparent to users and applications. The
FICON Express2 feature does not support FICON Bridge
(CHPID type FCV).
FICON Express2 LX
• The unrepeated distance between FICON Express2 LX
channels is limited to 10 kilometers (6.2 miles). If greater
distances are desired, an RPQ request should be sub-
mitted.
• If reusing existing 50 or 62.5 micron fi ber optic cabling
with a pair of MCP cables, the unrepeated distance
between FICON Express2 channels cannot exceed 550
meters (1804 feet). MCP cables are only supported at 1
Gbps link data rates.
FICON Express2 SX
• When supporting a link data rate of 1 Gbps and using
50 micron multimode fi ber, the unrepeated distance
between FICON SX channels is limited to 500 meters
(1640 feet).
• When supporting a link data rate of 2 Gbps and using
50 micron multimode fi ber, the unrepeated distance
between FICON SX channels is limited to 300 meters
(984 feet).
• When supporting a link data rate of 1 Gbps and using
62.5 micron multimode fi ber, the unrepeated distance
between FICON SX channels is limited to 250 meters
(820 feet).
• When supporting a link data rate of 2 Gbps and using
62.5 micron multimode fi ber, the unrepeated distance
between FICON SX channels is limited to 120 meters
(394 feet). If greater distances are desired, an RPQ
request should be submitted.
Performance Increase
Your enterprise may benefi t from FICON Express2 with:
• Increased data transfer rates (bandwidth)
• Improved performance
• Increased number of start I/Os
• Reduced backup windows
• Channel aggregation to help reduce infrastructure costs
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