FICON

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FICON is the abbreviation for Fiber Connection.

FICON was developed by IBM and is now standardized according to ANSI as FC-SB-3 Single-Byte Command Code Sets-3 Mapping Protocol for Fiber Channel (FC). It is a host channel system for connecting disk arrays , tape drives and printers (devices) to mainframes . FICON maps the ESCON protocol to Fiber Channel in its FC-4 layer. This means that the higher data rates of Fiber Channel (compared to ESCON) can be used by mainframes. FICON also made it possible to set up storage area networks based on Fiber Channel in which mainframe computers and UNIX / Windows servers share the resources. The data transfer rate of FICON is between 2 and 8 Gb / s per FICON channel. Large mainframe systems have over 300 FICON channels.

Only very few manufacturers of IT peripherals such as disk arrays, tape systems and printers have developed the FICON connection options for their products. Due to the relatively small number of mainframe customers, this development is not worthwhile for many providers. Therefore there are only a few manufacturers besides IBM whose products can be connected to mainframes via FICON . In the meantime, however, FICON adapter cards are being offered by various manufacturers, so that in future the alternative connections via FICON will also improve for mainframe customers.

Systems with FICON connection

Selection of hard drive-based storage systems that can be addressed via FICON:

  • Dell EMC VMAX and PowerMax
  • EMC DMX and Symmetrix
  • Hewlett Packard XP24000 / XP20000 Disk Array
  • Hitachi Data Systems Lightning
  • Hitachi Data Systems Universal Storage Platform
  • Hitachi Virtual Storage Platform
  • IBM System Storage - IBM Enterprise Storage Server (Shark)
  • IBM System Storage DS6000
  • IBM System Storage DS8000
  • INFINIDAT InfiniBox
  • Sun StorageTek V2X4f
Selection of tape systems (tape storage) with FICON:
  • IBM Virtual Tape Server (VTS)
  • IBM UltraScalable Tape Library
  • Sun StorageTek Virtual Storage Manager (VSM)
  • Bus-Tech MAS and MDL Virtual Tape Library
  • Dell EMC DLm Virtual Tape Library
  • Optica z / VT Virtual Tape Library
  • Luminex MVT Virtual Tape Library
Selection of switches with FICON connection:
  • Cisco MDS 9000 Series

Other manufacturers that offer devices with FICON interface are Brocade, Optica Technologies and Luminex and others. The InfoPrint Solutions Company also offers its high-performance printing systems connectivity with FICON.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ IBM: System z I / O Connectivity.Retrieved August 4, 2009