IBM eServer zSeries 990 Technical Guide

8 IBM ^ zSeries 990 Technical Guide

1.3.7 I/O connectivity

Here we discuss I/O connectivity.

I/O cage

Each book provides 12 STI links (48 STI maximum with four books) for I/O and coupling

connectivity, and for cryptographic feature cards. Each of these links can either be configured

for ICBs, or be connected to STI distribution cards in the I/O cage(s). The data rate for the STI

is 2 GBps.

The z990 I/O cage contains seven STI domains. Each domain has the capability of four I/O

slots. A subset of previous zSeries 900 I/O and cryptographic cards is supported by the I/O

cages in the z990.

The installation of an I/O cage remains a disruptive MES, so the Plan Ahead feature remains

an important consideration when ordering a z990 system.

The z990 is a two-frame server. The z990 has a minimum of one CEC cage and one I/O cage

in the A frame. The Z frame can accommodate an additional two I/O cages, making a total of

three for the whole system. Figure 1-4 shows the layout of the frames and I/O cages.

Figure 1-4 I/O cage layout and supported cards and coupling links

Note: Spanned channels are not supported for ESCON channels, FICON conversion

channels (FCV), and Coupling Receiver links (CBR, CFR).

Note: The z900 compatibility I/O cage is not supported on the z990.

Note: Parallel channels, OSA-2, OSA-Express ATM, pre-FICON Express channels, and

PCICC feature cards are not supported in the z990.

Front View

CEC

cage

1

st I/O

Cage

3

rd I/O

Cage

z-Frame

A-Frame

2nd I/O

Cage

ESCON

FICON/FCP

FICON

™

Express

Networking

OSA-Express

Gigabit Ethernet

1000BASE-T Ethernet

Token Ring

HiperSockets

Coupling Links

ISC-3

ICB-2, ICB-3, ICB-4, IC

Crypto

PCICA

PCIXCC

Not Supported

Parallel

OSA-E ATM and OSA-2

FICON (pre-FICON Express)

PCICC