VSM 7 FC/FICON Data Path Connectivity

FC and FICON ports connect the two VSM 7 nodes to the ELS host software and VTCS interface software on the MVS host systems, and to Real Tape Drives (RTDs) in the tapeplex. Attachment may be direct or through a switch.

There are four FC/FICON ports per VSM 7 node, a total of eight for the VTSS. For FICON, each port supports IBM Control Unit (CU) and IBM Channel Mode (CH) images concurrently, so that when connected through a switch each port may attach to both hosts and RTDs. Sharing a HOST port with an RTD connection does not reduce logical pathing.

For FC, two FC ports on each node are dedicated for host connections and two ports are dedicated for RTD connections.

Functionality

• The link between the VSM 7 and VTCS is the RTD NAME.
• The link between VTCS and the RTD is the FC/FICON cable to the relevant DEVNO in the relevant drive bay.
• VSM 7 CLI commands define the connections to the VSM 7.
• VTCS commands define the connections to the VTCS configuration.
• VTCS uses the RTD name defined on the FCPPATH or FICONPATH command used in the VSM 7 CLI.
• Multiple FCPPATHs/FICONPATHs can route to the SAME RTD.
• Physical RTDs are defined to VTCS as FC or FICON devices with CHANIF ids.
• The CHANIF id is not used to reference the device but must be present to meet VTCS syntax rules. Each CHANIF id must be unique and with valid syntax for each VSM 7 defined in VTCS.
• VTCS allows 32 unique CHANIF ids. Each VSM 7 can have a maximum of 32 physical RTDs defined.

Refer to the VSM Planning Guide for information about VSM 7 FC/FICON port assignments and RTD connectivity examples.