HP Mainframe Connectivity Design Guide

11 FICON and FICON SAN extension
FICON and FICON SAN extension enables you to implement disaster-tolerant storage solutions
over long distances and multiple sites.
FICON extension overview
A FICON extension is an extended CHPID-to-CU connection or a CTC connection. It extends the
distance of the channel, but may or may not include a FICON SAN.
An extended FICON channel distance is any distance greater than the maximum unrepeated
distance supported by the CHPID or CU, as well as:
• Any distance greater than the FICON maximum repeated distance of 100 km, see “Maximum
repeated distance” (page 96)
• Any distance greater than that listed in Table 47 (page 94) for the CHPID
• Any distance greater than that listed in Table 60 (page 104) for the P9500 storage system
• Any distance greater than that listed in Table 71 (page 111) for the XP storage system
• Any distance between a pair of WDM or FCIP products
NOTE:
• The maximum repeated distance for FICON is 100 km.
• WDM products (CWDM and DWDM) can extend FICON up to 100 km.
• In addition, DWDM products can extend FICON to 300 km. However, this may require a
request for price quotation from IBM.
• Qualified FCIP products can extend FICON up to 300 km.
• Any distance greater than 300 km requires an FCIP extension product.
For the FICON-supported distances, see “FICON SAN fabric connectivity rules” (page 71).
You can implement FICON extension in any FICON topology. Figure 13 (page 121) shows five
FICON extension examples. You can use WDM or FCIP products in all five topologies.
120 FICON and FICON SAN extension