VSM 6 FICON Data Path Connectivity

FICON ports connect the two VSM 6 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 FICON ports per VSM 6 node, a total of eight for the VTSS. 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.

Functionality

• The link between the VSM 6 and VTCS is the RTD NAME.
• The link between VTCS and the RTD is the FICON cable to the relevant DEVNO in the relevant drive bay
• VSM 6 CLI commands define the connections to the VSM 6.
• VTCS commands define the connections to the VTCS configuration.
• VTCS uses the RTD name defined on the FICONPATH command used in the VSM 6 CLI.
• Multiple FICONPATHs can route to the SAME RTD.
• Physical RTDs are defined to VTCS as 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 6 defined in VTCS.
• VTCS allows 32 unique CHANIF ids. Each VSM 6 can have a maximum of 32 physical RTDs defined.

Refer to the VSM Planning Guide for more information about FICON port assignment details and connectivity examples.