IBM Z Connectivity Handbook

IBM Z Connectivity Handbook

by Octavian Lascu
Released January 2019
Publisher(s): IBM Redbooks
ISBN: 9780738457208

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Book description

This IBM® Redbooks® publication describes the connectivity options that are available for use within and beyond the data center for the IBM Z family of mainframes, which includes these systems:


  • IBM z14®
  • IBM z14 Model ZR1
  • IBM z13®
  • IBM z13s™
  • IBM zEnterprise® EC12 (zEC12)
  • IBM zEnterprise BC12 (zBC12)

This book highlights the hardware and software components, functions, typical uses, coexistence, and relative merits of these connectivity features. It helps readers understand the connectivity alternatives that are available when planning and designing their data center infrastructures.

The changes to this edition are based on the IBM Z hardware announcement dated April 10, 2018.

This book is intended for data center planners, IT professionals, systems engineers, and network planners who are involved in the planning of connectivity solutions for IBM mainframes.

Table of contents

  1. Front cover
  2. Notices
    1. Trademarks
  3. Preface
    1. Authors
    2. Now you can become a published author, too!
    3. Comments welcome
    4. Stay connected to IBM Redbooks
  4. Chapter 1. Introduction
    1. 1.1 I/O channel overview
      1. 1.1.1 I/O hardware infrastructure
      2. 1.1.2 I/O connectivity features
    2. 1.2 FICON Express
    3. 1.3 zHyperLink Express
    4. 1.4 Open Systems Adapter-Express
    5. 1.5 HiperSockets
    6. 1.6 Parallel Sysplex and coupling links
    7. 1.7 Shared Memory Communications
    8. 1.8 I/O feature support
    9. 1.9 Special-purpose feature support
      1. 1.9.1 Crypto Express features
      2. 1.9.2 Flash Express feature
      3. 1.9.3 zEDC Express feature
  5. Chapter 2. Channel subsystem overview
    1. 2.1 CSS description
      1. 2.1.1 CSS elements
      2. 2.1.2 Multiple CSS concept
      3. 2.1.3 Multiple CSS structure
      4. 2.1.4 Multiple image facility
      5. 2.1.5 Physical channel ID
      6. 2.1.6 Adapter ID
      7. 2.1.7 Multiple CSS construct example
      8. 2.1.8 Channel spanning
      9. 2.1.9 Multiple subchannel sets
      10. 2.1.10 Summary
    2. 2.2 I/O configuration management
      1. 2.2.1 Hardware configuration definition
      2. 2.2.2 CHPID Mapping Tool
    3. 2.3 I/O configuration planning
      1. 2.3.1 I/O configuration rules
    4. 2.4 References
  6. Chapter 3. zHyperLink Express
    1. 3.1 Description
    2. 3.2 zHyperLink elements
    3. 3.3 Connectivity
    4. 3.4 References
  7. Chapter 4. Fibre Connection Express
    1. 4.1 FICON Express description
      1. 4.1.1 FICON modes and topologies
      2. 4.1.2 FCP Channel
      3. 4.1.3 FCP and FICON mode characteristics
    2. 4.2 FICON elements
      1. 4.2.1 FICON channel
      2. 4.2.2 High Performance FICON for IBM Z
      3. 4.2.3 Platform and name server registration in FICON channel
      4. 4.2.4 Open exchanges
      5. 4.2.5 Spanned channels
      6. 4.2.6 Control unit port
      7. 4.2.7 z/OS discovery and auto-configuration
    3. 4.3 Connectivity
      1. 4.3.1 FICON Express16S+
      2. 4.3.2 FICON Express16S
      3. 4.3.3 FICON Express8S
      4. 4.3.4 FICON Express8
      5. 4.3.5 FICON Express4
      6. 4.3.6 Qualified FICON and FCP products
      7. 4.3.7 Software support
      8. 4.3.8 Resource Measurement Facility
    4. 4.4 References
  8. Chapter 5. Open Systems Adapter-Express
    1. 5.1 Functional description
      1. 5.1.1 Operating modes
      2. 5.1.2 QDIO mode
      3. 5.1.3 Non-QDIO mode
      4. 5.1.4 OSA addressing support
      5. 5.1.5 OSA/SF support
    2. 5.2 OSA capabilities
      1. 5.2.1 Virtual IP address
      2. 5.2.2 Primary/secondary router function
      3. 5.2.3 IPv6 support
      4. 5.2.4 Large send for IP network traffic
      5. 5.2.5 VLAN support
      6. 5.2.6 SNMP support for z/OS and Linux on IBM Z
      7. 5.2.7 IP network multicast and broadcast support
      8. 5.2.8 Address Resolution Protocol cache management
      9. 5.2.9 IP network availability
      10. 5.2.10 Checksum offload support for z/OS and Linux on IBM Z
      11. 5.2.11 Dynamic LAN idle for z/OS
      12. 5.2.12 QDIO optimized latency mode
      13. 5.2.13 Layer 2 support
      14. 5.2.14 QDIO data connection isolation for z/VM
      15. 5.2.15 QDIO interface isolation for z/OS
      16. 5.2.16 Layer 3 VMAC for z/OS
      17. 5.2.17 Enterprise Extender
      18. 5.2.18 TN3270E Server
      19. 5.2.19 Adapter interruptions for QDIO
      20. 5.2.20 Inbound workload queuing
      21. 5.2.21 Network management: Query and display OSA configuration
    3. 5.3 Connectivity
      1. 5.3.1 OSA features
      2. 5.3.2 OSA function support
      3. 5.3.3 Software support
      4. 5.3.4 Resource Measurement Facility
    4. 5.4 Summary
    5. 5.5 References
  9. Chapter 6. OSA-Express Console support
    1. 6.1 Description
    2. 6.2 Connectivity
    3. 6.3 Software support
      1. 6.3.1 TN3270E emulation
    4. 6.4 Summary
    5. 6.5 References
  10. Chapter 7. Shared Memory Communications
    1. 7.1 SMC overview
      1. 7.1.1 Remote Direct Memory Access
      2. 7.1.2 Direct Memory Access
    2. 7.2 SMC over Remote Direct Memory Access
      1. 7.2.1 SMC-R connectivity
    3. 7.3 SMC over Direct Memory Access
    4. 7.4 Software support
      1. 7.4.1 SMC-R
      2. 7.4.2 SMC-D
    5. 7.5 Reference material
  11. Chapter 8. HiperSockets technology
    1. 8.1 Description
      1. 8.1.1 HiperSockets benefits
      2. 8.1.2 Server integration with HiperSockets
      3. 8.1.3 HiperSockets function
      4. 8.1.4 Supported functions
    2. 8.2 Connectivity
    3. 8.3 Summary
    4. 8.4 References
  12. Chapter 9. Coupling links and common time
    1. 9.1 IBM Z cluster technology
      1. 9.1.1 Coupling links and STP
      2. 9.1.2 Multi-site sysplex considerations
    2. 9.2 Connectivity options
      1. 9.2.1 Coupling link options
      2. 9.2.2 Internal Coupling link
      3. 9.2.3 InterSystem Channel-3 (ISC-3)
      4. 9.2.4 Integrated Coupling Adapter Short Range
      5. 9.2.5 Coupling Express Long Reach
      6. 9.2.6 InfiniBand coupling links
    3. 9.3 Time functions
      1. 9.3.1 Dynamic Split and Merge for Coordinated Timing Network
      2. 9.3.2 Dynamic I/O reconfiguration for standalone CF CPCs
      3. 9.3.3 NTP server with PPS support
      4. 9.3.4 Operating system support
    4. 9.4 References
  13. Chapter 10. Extended distance solutions
    1. 10.1 Unrepeated distances
    2. 10.2 Fibre Connection
      1. 10.2.1 FICON unrepeated distance
      2. 10.2.2 FICON repeated distance solutions
    3. 10.3 Coupling links
    4. 10.4 Wavelength-division multiplexing
      1. 10.4.1 GDPS qualification
      2. 10.4.2 IBM Z qualified WDM vendor products
    5. 10.5 References
  14. Appendix A. Cryptographic features
    1. Overview
    2. Crypto Express6S
    3. Crypto Express5S
    4. Crypto Express4S
    5. Crypto Express3
    6. References
  15. Appendix B. zEDC Express feature
    1. Benefits of using the zEDC Express feature
    2. zEDC Express operation
    3. Software support
  16. Appendix C. Flash Express feature
    1. Overview
    2. Flash Express
  17. Appendix D. Channel conversion solutions
    1. Conversion solutions
  18. Appendix E. Channel feature attributes
    1. Cable types and attributes
  19. Appendix F. Fiber optic cables
    1. Description
    2. Connector types for fiber cables
    3. Mode-conditioning patch cables
    4. InfiniBand cables
    5. zHyperLink Express and ICA SR cables
    6. Conversion kits
      1. References
  20. Related publications
    1. IBM Redbooks publications
    2. Other publications
    3. Online resources
    4. How to get IBM Redbooks publications
    5. Help from IBM
  21. Back cover

Product information

  • Title: IBM Z Connectivity Handbook
  • Author(s): Octavian Lascu
  • Release date: January 2019
  • Publisher(s): IBM Redbooks
  • ISBN: 9780738457208