Brocade Fabric OS v7.2.0d Release Notes v1.0

Fabric OS v7.2.0d Release Notes v1.0 Page 48 of 52
Appendix: Additional Considerations for System z (FICON) Environments
As noted at the beginning of the release notes, Brocade recommends all customers planning or using
previously FICON qualified FOS version 7.2.0b to upgrade to FOS v7.2.0d.
New Features Support
Not all possible combinations of features and hardware configurations are included in the FICON qualification
process. Features and hardware configurations not supported for FICON may be supported for open systems
environments. This appendix articulates those features and configurations tested for FICON environments and
include supplemental information for users deploying FOS-based platforms in FICON environments.
FOS v7.2.0d is FICON qualified release with several new features and enhancements for FICON environment
including:
• Monitoring and Alerting Policy Suite (MAPS) is a key component of Brocade Fabric Vision technology
providing proactive monitoring and alerting capabilities and is fully supported in FICON environments.
A description of MAPS functionality can be found at the beginning of this document.
• Flow Vision is another key component of Brocade Fabric Vision technology and is also supported in
FICON environments. The Flow Vision tool suite includes Flow Monitoring, Flow Generator, and Flow
Mirror capabilities. A description of Flow Vision functionality can be found at the beginning of this
document.
• Added the ability for the CUP Diagnostics to determine the firmware version of all the switches in the
fabric which allows interoperability with FOS v7.1.0c.
• A new Command Reject Error Code provides more details to the CUP about failures.
Notes on FICON Support
 Multiple 10 Gb/sec ISLs and FCIP links can load-share between cascaded FICON directors/switches
but do not load balance in a FICON configuration.
 10-bit addressing mode is not supported in a FICON environment.
 Please refer to the Firmware Upgrades and Downgrades section of this document when planning an
upgrade to a fabric that includes the 7800 or has any FX8-24 blades in a DCX, DCX-4S, DCX8510-8, or
DCX8510-4 chassis.
Area
Comments
Cascading
There are special configuration considerations for environments with three or more
switches (domain IDs) in a FICON fabric. Assistance from service support should
be sought to ensure proper configuration.
Cascading
Fiber ICL configurations (with DCX8510-8/DCX8510-4) supported for FICON are
the same as the supported configurations for copper ICLs (with DCX/DCX-4S).
Cascading
Encryption and compression is supported on Fibre Channel ISLs in addition to IP
links.
FCIP
VEX ports are not supported on the 7800 and FX8-24 blade in a FICON
environment