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Overview
| Course code | ES326 | Skill level | Intermediate |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | 3.0 days | Delivery type | Classroom
(Hands-on labs) |
| Course type | Public or Private on-site | ||
| Public price | USD $2,540.00 plus tax | ||
Learn the capabilities of the new Fiber Connector (FICON) channel for the zSeries processors and how it is used in z/OS, z/VM, and the Linux operating environments. Learn why a new channel type was introduced and the role that it plays in the evolving Storage Area Network (SAN) environment. Discuss FICON operational modes (native, bridge and fibre channel protocol), and FICON architecture in detail and compare them with the Enterprise System Connection (ESCON) environment.
Learn about the new channel support added for the z990/z890 servers, multiple logical subsystems, spanned channels and its relationship to FICON. Get an introduction to SAN concepts and make comparisons between the open system and the zSeries (z/OS and Linux) system environments. Explore the potential of these environments to share more resources due to SAN and the FICON channel and the possible impacts that the merging of these environments may cause. Use configuration examples to discuss FICON path problems, associated operator indications and available system, Hardware Management Console/Support Element (HMC/SE), FICON director panels available for problem determination. Examine the physical infrastructure, cabling support, architecture, such as FICON frame process, distance support, FICON Channel-To-Channel (CTC), FICON cascaded switch support, and future trends.
Learn in detail FICON channel implementation on the zSeries and 9672 servers and how multiple ESCON channels can be aggregated into one FICON channel. Discuss FICON native, bridge, and Fiber Channel Protocol for Small Computer System Interface (SCSI) (FCP) mode, FICON native switches, and FICON native control units and their characteristics in detail.
Learn how the Linux operating system on zSeries can exploit the FICON channel to communicate to SCSI attached Input/Output (I/O), what Hardware Configuration Definition (HCD) / Input/Output Control Program (IOCP) coding is required and how it is used compared to the z/OS operating environment. Get the detailed planning information to understand the security requirements of Logical Unit Number (LUN) masking, zoning, FICON channel sharing and multipathing as they apply to Linux on the zSeries
FICON configurations and migration examples are used throughout the course and any HCD and IOCP changes are identified.
Hands-On Labs
Hands on labs are included to use HCD to configure FICON channels (shared or spanned) for z/OS and Linux environments, FICON directors and cascaded FICON director configurations.
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Training Paths that reference this course are:
Audience
This is a basic course for hardware planners, technical support, and system programmers who plan, implement, and maintain FICON configurations.
Skills taught
- Define the FICON channel and the reason why FICON is necessary
- Identify the benefits of the FICON channel over other channel types
- Identify the Fibre channel relationship in the SAN environment
- Define FICON terminology and relationships in the enterprise environment
- List the Fibre standard architecture components
- Identify FICON SB-2 / SB-3 architecture and its use
- Identify frame layout and data packaging within the architecture
- Compare, identify and determine valid and invalid configurations with FICON native and bridge
- Define and list FICON CTC configuration and requirements
- Identify FICON cascaded director configurations and requirements
- Define the FICON bridge card and requirements
- Identify requirements of the ESCON director Mod-5 for the FICON bridge card
- Describe and identify available native FICON directors / switches, terminology, operational details and configurations
- Determine channel configuration impacts when FICON or OSA-E channel cards are added to zSeries and 9672 G5/G6 CPCs
- Identify FICON cabling requirements
- Define mode conditioning cables and use on G5/G6 and zSeries CPCs
- Define where and how existing cable infrastructure can be reused for FICON
- Identify how multiple ESCON channels can be consolidated onto one FICON channel
- Identify performance considerations and characteristics of FICON and other channels
- Compare performance characteristics such as: I/O System Queue (IOSQ), Pending (PEND), Connect (CONN), and Disconnect (DISC) time between ESCON and FICON channels
- Identify potential performance problem areas (IOSQ, PEND, CONN, DISC) of an I/O operation and potential corrective actions
- Identify functions in HCD to support FICON
- Define FICON fibre channel protocol - FCP
- Identify FCP HCD coding and usage
- Identify the various mapping elements required when using FICON FCP for Linux on zSeries
- Define the various functions, LUN masking, zoning, channel sharing, multipathing and how they apply in a LINUX on zSeries SAN configuration
- Identify optional FCP (SCSI) IPL feature on zSeries
- Identify functions in HCD/IOCP to support FICON FCP
- Identify FICON to ESC migration scenario
- Identify zSeries multiple logical channel subsystem support
- Define zSeries spanned channel concept and how FICON channels participate
- Use HCD to code a FICON director
- Use HCD to code FICON native CTC support for a Spanned FICON channel
- Use HCD to code a cascaded switch configuration
- Identify problem determination approaches for ESCON and FICON channels
- Use z/OS commands to identify problems in FICON configurations
- Use Central Processing Complex (CPC) H/W panels to identify FICON configuration problems
- Use FICON director panels to identify FICON configuration problems
Course outline
- Introduction to FICON and SAN
- Fibre Channel architecture (supporting FICON SB-2 / SB-3 protocols)
- FICON operation and planning
- FICON processor and control unit support
- FICON definition and configuration design
- FICON FCP for Linux on zSeries, planning and implementation
- z990/z890 new channel support, spanned channels, and FICON problem determination
- FICON performance characteristics
Introduction to FICON and SAN
This unit describes the reasons why a new FICON channel was necessary in the large system environment, introduces the SAN environment, and describes how FICON enables the participation in SAN.
- describe the FICON channel
- describe FICON channel operating modes (native, bridge, and FCP)
- identify FICON native configurations
- identify FICON bridge configurations
- list current FICON implementation limits
- introduce SAN
- describe the emerging relationship between FICON and SAN
Fibre Channel architecture (supporting FICON SB-2 / SB-3 protocols)
The purpose of this unit is to provide an overview of the Fibre Channel and introduce where the FICON SB-2 / SB-3 architecture is mapped, describe its concepts, and most important, define the numerous Fibre Channel terms used in the vocabulary of architecture.
- define the following terms: nodes, links, ports, fabric, switches, hubs, Gigabit Interface Converters (GBIC), node World Wide Name (WWN), port WWN and port addresses
- list distance and speed options associated with copper and fiber optics media
- define non-cascaded and cascaded switch configurations and how they relate to ESCON
- describe data framing and classes of service for data delivery
- identify characteristics unique to the fiber channel point to point and switched point-to-point topologies
FICON operation and planning
This unit describes the FICON architecture, how it is implemented for a FICON I/O request and design considerations for a FICON I/O configuration.
- compare and explain the major differences between parallel, ESCON, and FICON architecture for an I/O operation
- identify frame structure, addressing, and usage between ESCON and FICON
- describe the two approaches for port addressing z/Architecture definition approach (and why it is necessary) FCP host bus adapter (HBA) discovery approach
- list FICON (LX and SX) cabling requirements
- identify FICON (FC and FCV) Channel Path Identifier (CHPID) to CU valid and invalid configurations
- identify FICON Cascaded Switch configurations
- define what is a High integrity fabric and why it is necessary for cascaded switch configurations
- identify valid FICON (FC and FCV) Channel-To-Channel (CTC) configurations
FICON Processor and Control Unit Support
This unit describes the FICON processor and control unit support. It identifies the available FICON director and native control units that are currently available and the definition support for HCD and IOCP.
- describe FICON implementation on the 9672 G5/G6 CPC
- describe FICON implementation on the zSeries CPCs
- list the three functions available via Intelligent Resource director
- describe dynamic CHPID management and how it applies to FICON
- identify FICON bridge ESCON director support
- list bridge plugging rules and recommendation
- Identify FICON native switches
- describe FICON director configuration and support
- identify FICON native control units and comparison to ESCON where applicable
FICON definition and configuration design
This unit describes the IOCP/HCD definition process to support FICON configurations, the architectural rules, I/O concurrency, and configuration guidelines needed when designing a FICON configuration.
- identify new keyword or entries added to IOCP/HCD to support new FICON channels and FICON configurations
- be able to use IOCP/HCD to define a FICON cascaded switch configuration
- identify basic architectural rules and how they are used when planning and designing I/O configurations
- compare and identify the differences between ESCON and FICON architecture and actual implementation numbers
- identify I/O concurrency between ESCON and FICON and how they apply when designing a configuration
- identify a planning approach when designing a FICON configuration
FICON FCP for Linux on zSeries, planning, and implementation
This unit provides the necessary information that is needed in planning and implementing zSeries FICON FCP channels in a SAN FC fabric with SCSI-FC attached storage.
- define FICON FCP
- identify HCD/IOCP FCP coding and usage
- list the various mapping elements that are required for zSeries Linux FCP usage
- identify the following components and how they apply in a zSeries FCP SAN environment
- multipathing
- channel sharing
- zoning
- LUN masking
- define how FCP LUN access control applies in a SAN and what zSeries servers support it
- identify the optional load and dump SCSI feature on zSeries servers
z990/z890 new channel support, spanned channels, and FICON problem determination
This unit describes several new features on the z990/z890 servers and the new channel subsystem support introduced on the z990 and continued with the z890 server. It identifies spanned FICON channels and uses problem determination examples to show FICON path related problems.
- identify features new and unique to the z890 and z990 CPCs
- describe new channel subsystem support for z890 and z990
- multiple logical channel subsystem support
- channel operation support (spanned)
- Physical Channel Identifiers (PCHID) and Input/Output Configuration Data Set (IOCDS) support
- CHPID mapping tool
- identify new HCD requirements and support for z890 and z990
- Hardware System Area (HSA) percent expansion factor
- maximum number of devices and subchannels as compared to z900
- Logical Partition (LP) numbers, identifiers, and Multiple Image Facility (MIF) Ids
- definition sequence
- spanned definition example
- identify external indications that may surface due to a FICON path problem
- identify operator commands, HMC/SE and FICON panels available to help problem determination of FICON path problems
FICON performance characteristics
This unit describes the operation and performance factors of the FICON adapters at the channel and control unit port
- identify and define ESCON / FICON channel paradigms
- identify FICON (FCV) and (FC) benefits
- list and compare the various phases of an I/O operation between FICON and ESCON
- describe the components of the FICON adapter and where they are reported in Resource Measurement Facility (RMF)
- List general guidelines for ESCON channel utilization consolidation on FICON adapters
- Identify FICON CTC performance characteristics as compared to ESCON
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