HP StorageWorks 8/80 HP StorageWorks Fabric OS 6.2 administrator guide (5697-0 - Page 517

23 Configuring and monitoring FICON Extension Services This chapter describes the FICON extension concepts, configuration procedures, and tools and procedures for monitoring network performance. Commands described in this chapter require Admin or root user access. See the Fabric OS Command Reference for detailed information on command syntax. FICON extension products licensing Several specific licensed features are available for FICON extension. These include the following. • XRC emulation. • Tape write pipelining. • Tape read pipelining. Use the licenseShow command to verify that the licenses present on the hardware used on both ends the FCIP tunnel. For details on obtaining and installing licensed features, see "Licensed features" on page 43. These features are described later in this chapter under "FICON emulation concepts and features" on page 514. Platforms that support FICON extension over IP Fabric OS supports SAN extension between 400 MP Router, or between B-Series Multi-Protocol Router Blades. The 400 MP Router and the B-Series Multi-Protocol Router Blade both have 16 physical Fibre Channel ports and 2 physical GbE ports. FCIP Configuration requirements for FICON extension FICON extension uses FCIP for transport. FCIP interfaces and tunnels used for FICON extension must be defined prior to configuring FICON emulation. Ports should remain persistently disabled until after FICON emulation is configured. See "Administering ISL trunking" on page 435 for information about configuring FCIP interfaces and tunnels. Configuration requirements for switches and directors There are three configuration issues to consider when a SAN router is connected to a switch in a FICON configuration. • Ensure enough buffer credits are configured to support extending the FICON channel over distance. • If you are creating a cascaded configuration (connecting two switches or directors with different domain IDs), be aware of IBM requirements for high integrity fabrics. • In configurations with ISLs, ensure that ISL paths are properly configured to meet FICON emulation requirements for a determinate path for FICON commands and responses. Configuration of sufficient buffer credits Many switches may have default values that are not sufficient for extending a FICON channel over distance. Having the buffer credits too low may result in device paths not coming online and Fibre Channel aborts. FICON hosts and devices commonly have in excess of 60 credits. HP recommends a minimum of 60 buffer credits available to all Fibre Channel ports in the path. High integrity fabric requirements for cascaded configurations Extended FICON connections between or through 400 MP Router models or B-Series Multi-Protocol Router Blade Ethernet interfaces create a cascaded FICON switched configuration. The fabric must be set up to provide a secure, or high integrity fabric to enable this configuration to operate in an IBM environment. See "Configuring and monitoring FCIP extension services" on page 457 for an explanation of these requirements. Fabric OS 6.2 administrator guide 513