HP Mainframe Connectivity Design Guide

12 FICON SAN best practices
This chapter describes the HP best practices for FICON SAN design and implementation.
FICON SAN design
When planning a FICON SAN, it is important to eliminate all SPOFs to ensure continuous data
availability. A properly designed FICON SAN provides multiple paths from the mainframe to the
storage system. In the event of a component failure, the application can use an alternate path to
access data. Figure 33 (page 154) illustrates multiple fabrics and device paths in a NSPOF
environment.
Figure 33 Sample FICON SAN with multiple fabrics and device paths
25254b
A B
The following best practices help to ensure continuous data availability:
• Use dual-redundant fabrics.
HP recommends that you use dual-redundant fabrics in a FICON SAN. Ensure that each fabric
resides in a separate director and that there are no ISLs between the fabrics. This prevents
errors on one fabric from being propagated (transmitted) to the other fabric.
NOTE: SAN LPARs, Open VSANs, and VSANs that reside on the same director do not
comprise a dual-redundant fabric.
• Use separate cabinets for each director.
Connect each director to two separate PDUs.
In a data center, install fabrics apart from one another.
◦ Use a separate power source for each fabric.
◦ Ensure that the director cabinets are not installed under a common emergency sprinkler
shower head.
• Install multiple channel cards on the mainframe.
154 FICON SAN best practices