HP 4400 HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.4.1 Release Notes (5697-0760, November 201 - Page 34

Additional considerations for FICON environments This section provides supplemental information for users deploying Fabric OS-based platforms in FICON environments: • The HP StorageWorks DC04 SAN Director is supported for FICON only in Brocade Native Mode (interopmode 0), and therefore is not supported for interoperability with M-EOS platforms. • Multiple 10 Gb/s ISLs and FCIP links can load-share between cascaded FICON directors/switches but do not load balance in a FICON configuration. • For HP StorageWorks 8/40 or 8/80 SAN Switches with factory installed Fabric OS 6.3.1a that will be configured in FICON environments, there is an issue with PID assignment. See "Miscellaneous" on page 39 for further details on this issue and how to avoid it. Table 6 provides additional FICON information. Table 6 Information for FICON environments Area Firmware Downloads Comments Non-disruptive Hot Code Load is supported only on director class switches (4/256, DC SAN Backbone, and DC04 SAN Directors). Non-disruptive Hot Code Load is not supported on the 8/40, 8/80, 400 MP Router, and 1606 SAN Extension switches. IFCCs may result if traffic is not stopped while downloading firmware. Firmware Downloads Replacement of a CP card in the 4/256 Director may cause disruption of I/O traffic. HP recommends that the CP be replaced during a scheduled downtime to prevent disruption in FICON environments. Firmware Downloads The CUP device must be varied offline to all MVS partitions before starting a code load. The CUP device can be varied back online after the code load completes. Failure to vary off the CUP devices may result in a CP panic. Manageability In a mixed fabric environment, an M-EOS switch must be the principal switch if the fabric is in Interopmode 2 (McDATA Fabric Mode) . Manageability Port Fencing should be used to avoid taking ports down for normal fabric events. The recommended fencing criteria and settings are listed in Table 7. Manageability Firmware download is executed sequentially if DCFM is used for downloading code to Fabric OS switches. Manageability As a best practice for deploying Fabric OS switches and directors into a FICON environment, verify the Fabric OS version shipped with the most current Fabric OS recommendation. HP recommends that you update all Fabric OS switches and directors to the same Fabric OS levels for production. Manageability The remote CUP may not work when the channel is connected to an 8Gb blade on a 4/256 director cascaded to a remote switch. Manageability FMS must be enabled on the local switch for the remote CUP to work. Optics HP recommends using 50 micron multimode fiber optic cabling rated at 2000 MHz-km (OM3 fiber) for connecting to 8 Gb/s short wavelength (SX) small form factor pluggable optics (SFPs). Other 50 micron and 62.5 micron multimode fiber may be used as an alternative, but distance limitations may exist. 34