IBM eServer zSeries 990 Technical Guide

Chapter 1. zSeries 990 overview 13

complex RSA cryptographic operations used with the Secure Sockets layer (SSL) protocol

supporting e-business. The PCICA feature is designed specifically for maximum speed SSL

acceleration.

Each zSeries PCI Cryptographic Accelerator feature (PCICA) contains two accelerator cards

and can support up to 2100 SSL handshakes per second.

PCI X-Cryptographic Coprocessor (PCIXCC) feature

The Peripheral Component Interconnect X Cryptographic Coprocessor (PCIXCC) feature has

one coprocessor and is an optional addition, containing support to satisfy high-end server

security requirements by providing full checking and fully programmable functions and User

Defined Extension (UDX) support.

The PCIXCC adapter is intended for applications demanding high security. The PCIXCC

feature is designed for the FIPS 140-2 Level 4 compliance rating for secure cryptographic

hardware.

1.3.9 Parallel Sysplex support

Here we discuss Parallel Sysplex support.

ISC-3

A 4-port ISC-3 card structure is provided on the z900 family of processors. It consists of a

Mother Card with two Daughter Cards that have two ports each. Each Daughter Card is

capable of operating at 1 Gbps in compatibility mode (HiPerLink) or 2 gigabits/sec in peer

mode and up to 10 km. The mode is selected for each port via the CHPID type in the IOCDS.

InterSystem Coupling Facility-3 (ISC-3) channels provide the connectivity required for data

sharing between the Coupling Facility and the CPCs directly attached to it. ISC-3 channels

are point-to-point connections that require a unique channel definition at each end of the

channel. ISC-3 channels operating in peer mode provide connections between z990, z890,

and z900 general purpose models and z900-based Coupling Facility images. ISC-3 channels

operating in compatibility mode provide connections between z990 models and ISC HiperLink

channels on 9672 G5/G6 models.

ICB-2 (Integrated Cluster Bus 2)

The Integrated Cluster Bus-2 (ICB-2) link is a member of the family of Coupling Link options

available on z990. Like the ISC-3 link, it is used by coupled systems to pass information back

and forth over high speed links in a Parallel Sysplex environment. ICB-2 or ISC-3 links are

used to connect 9672 G5/G6 to z990 servers.

An STI-2 resides in the I/O cage and provides two output ports to support the ICB-2

connections. The STI-2 card converts the 2 GBps input into two 333 MBps ICBs. The ICB-2 is

defined in compatibility mode and the link speed is 333 MBps.

One feature is required for each end of the link. Ports are ordered in increments of one.

Note: To enable the function of the PCICA feature, the CP Assist feature (feature code

3863) must be installed.

Note: To enable the function of the PCIXCC feature, the CP Assist feature (feature code

3863) must be installed.