Chapter 3. Connectivity 123
FCP and FICON mode characteristics
Probably the single largest difference between the FICON channel (FC and FCV) and FCP
channel mode types is the treatment of data access control and security. FICON (and
ESCON) channels have long relied on EMIF (Enhanced Multiple Image Facility) to address
concerns regarding shared channels and devices. EMIF provides ultra high access control
and security of data so that one operating system image and its data requests cannot
interfere with another operating system’s data requests.
Linux guest operating systems under z/VM can have access to an FCP channel defined to the
z/VM operating system. An FCP channel can also be shared, through EMIF, between Linux
LPARs and z/VM LPARs wit ...