HP StorageWorks XP Disk Array Mainframe Host Attachment and Operations Guide (A5951-96154, September 2010)

are tag numbers. You need tag numbers for the path setup. To determine the tag number, use the
devserv command with the rcd (read configuration data) parameter.
Attaching FICON/zHPF CHAs
You can attach the storage system to a host system using FICON adapters. The storage system can
be configured with up to 112 FICON physical channel interfaces.
FICON/zHPF uses a mapping layer technique based on Fibre Channel and multiplexing technologies
to improve data-transfer rates, reduce the number of channel connections, and support greater distances
between storage systems and mainframe hosts. FICON and FICON/zHPF have identical hardware
specifications, but FICON/zHPF offers improved performance.
By supporting full-duplex data transfers and allowing greater throughput rates over longer distances
than ESCON, FICON/zHPF delivers faster data access, higher transaction rates, higher data movement
speeds between mainframe servers and storage devices. Infrastructure management is simplified, and
allows geographically dispersed data centers for optimal business continuity. This simplifies data
center operations and reduces hardware and storage management costs.
In summary, FICON/zHPF provides the following key features:
• Full-duplex bi-directional data transfers
• Multiple I/O processes
• Allows small and large data transfers to be transmitted at the same time
• High-bandwidth transfer (up to 4 Gbps)
• Greater throughput rates over longer distances than ESCON
• Lowered interlock between the disk controller and channel
• Executing pipeline CCW
• Use of FCP as the fibre-channel link transport for zHPF
FICON/zHPF physical specifications
The following table compares the physical specifications between ESCON and FICON/zHPF.
Table 4 Comparing ESCON and FICON/zHPF physical specifications
FICON/zHPFESCONItem
ANSI FC-PH/PC-PI-2 etc. For details, see ANSI
standard Fibre Channel Single-Byte Command Code
Sets Mapping Protocol – 4.
ESCONPhysical Interface
ANSI FC-SB-2/FC-SB-3/FC-SB-4ESCONLogical Interface
1 Gbps / 2 Gbps / 4 Gbps
Bidirectional
200 Mbps
Unidirectional
Bandwidth and Direction
Single Mode/9um
Multi Mode/50 or 62.5um
Multi Mode/62.5umCable
Distance
Single Mode/9um
10 km, 20 km (with RPQ)
—Long wave
FICON/zHPF and ESCON host attachment14