HP Mainframe Connectivity Design Guide

Figure 23 (page 129) shows a VSM back-end extension with the FICON channels extended between
VSM and the remote tape library.
Figure 23 VSM back-end extension
25299a
Production
LPARs
FICON directors
(optional)
Local Remote
Tape library
VSM
Tape library
You can link two VSM controllers to create a clustered VSM. The VSM controllers make a copy of
each tape write, similar to asynchronous disk replication. You configure the clustered VSM on the
mainframe as tape drives to provide a storage replication solution for mainframe tapes.
Channel-to-channel communication
CTC communication allows applications on different mainframes to share data. Data is sent directly
from one mainframe application to the other mainframe application through FICON channels. You
can extend the channels by using one of the FICON or FICON SAN extension methods, including
WDM and FCIP products. Supported CTC extension distances vary, depending on the gateway
product.
NCR Teradata Data Warehouse System
In addition to the FICON extension methods described thus far, the NCR Teradata Data Warehouse
System (NCR 5500, 550S, 5400, and 5405) can be connected to a mainframe across an HP
FICON SAN. You can extend FICON channels from the mainframe to the Teradata CU using one
of the FICON or FICON SAN extension methods, including WDM and FCIP products. Supported
device extension distances vary, depending on the gateway product.
FICON long-distance technology
FICON and Fibre Channel use the same long-distance technology. This section describes the
long-distance hardware and methodologies used for FICON or FICON SAN extension.
Fiber optic transceivers
Long-wave transceivers are the default for FICON; short-wave transceivers are the default for Fibre
Channel. Long-wave transceivers are recommended for all FICON ports, including the CHPIDs,
P9500 and XP storage systems, and FICON director ports.
NOTE: Ensure that each end of the fiber optic cable uses the same transceiver type, and that the
cable is the correct type for the transceivers.
FICON long-distance technology 129