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Chapter 6. FICON attachment of IBM tapes
The Fibre Channel protocol is unique because the two upper layers can carry other protocols.
Protocols such as Small Computer Systems Interface (SCSI) and Internet Protocol (IP) can
be mapped to the Fibre Channel transport service level. Therefore, the SCSI protocol, and
thus SCSI commands, can be transported across the Fibre Channel infrastructure. A newer
SCSI-3 protocol has been developed to allow for some of the special functions available with
the Fibre Channel standard.
IBM has used the physical transport layers of Fibre Channel together with a new protocol
known as FICON (Fiber Connection) as a replacement for Enterprise System Connection
(ESCON) connections between S/390 servers and control units. This chapter compares
FICON and ESCON. It looks at the elements of a FICON infrastructure. It specifically looks at
using FICON to attach 3590 tape drives to a S/390 server.
You can find more details about FICON in the following books:
FICON (FCV Mode) Planning Guide, SG24-5445
Introduction to IBM System/390 FICON, SG24-5176
IBM S/390 FICON Implementation Guide, SG24-5169
Fiber Optic Link Planning (ESCON, FICON, Coupling Links, and Open System Adapters),
GA23-0367
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