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A new generation of zSeries LAN adapters is being deliv-
ered, as well as a 10 Gigabit Ethernet feature. This update of
technology, referred to as OSA-Express2, can help to satisfy
the bandwidth demands of your applications. Like their pre-
decessors, the OSA-Express2 features continue to be hot-
pluggable, support the Multiple Image Facility (MIF) – sharing
of channels across logical partitions (LPARs), and can be
defi ned as a spanned channel to be shared among LPARs
within and across LCSSs. The maximum combined number
of OSA-Express and OSA-Express2 features supported per
server is 20 on the z890 and 24 features on the z990.
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Both OSA-Express2 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) and 10 Gigabit
Ethernet (10 GbE) support the Queued Direct Input/Out
(QDIO) mode, carrying TCP/IP traffi c only. QDIO continues
to be the preferred architecture on zSeries for high-speed
communication, helping to reduce host interruptions and
improve response time.
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Also like the predecessor features, OSA-Express2 GbE and
10 GbE support the direct SNMP subagent, all of the SNMP
enhancements previously announced, Virtual Local Area Net-
works
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(VLANs), Internet Protocol Version 4 (IPv4), IPv6 and
all of the functions previously announced for QDIO mode.
The OSA-Express2 GbE and 10 GbE features support
Checksum Offl oad and have the connector type, LC Duplex,
like the current OSA-Express Gigabit Ethernet features.
OSA-Express2 Gigabit Ethernet
The third generation of Gigabit Ethernet features is
designed to deliver improved latency and throughput up
to line speed – 1 Gbps in each direction or 2 Gbps full
duplex and support the following functions:
• 640 TCP/IP stacks per CHPID
• Large send, for TCP/IP traffi c and CPU effi ciency,
offl oading the TCP segmentation processing from the
host TCP/IP stack
• Concurrent LIC update
• Layer 2
OSA-Express2 Gigabit Ethernet (GbE) operates in QDIO
mode only, supports full duplex operation, and jumbo
frames (8992 byte frame size).
The improved latency is expected to support additional
Ethernet connections per second compared to the OSA-
Express GbE features and the improved throughput is
designed to support line speed in each direction up to 2
Gbps full duplex.
The new OSA-Express2 GbE features continue to be dual-
port features occupying a single I/O slot and utilize one
CHPID per port; two CHPIDs per feature. The new OSA-
Express2 Gigabit Ethernet SX and LX features are offered
on new builds and replace the current OSA-Express Giga-
bit Ethernet features currently offered on z890 and z990.
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The OSA-Express2 GbE features are exclusive to z890 and
z990, require the October 2004 level of Licensed Internal
Code.
OSA-Express2 10 Gigabit Ethernet LR
The newest member of the OSA-Express2 family is the
OSA-Express2 10 Gigabit Ethernet long reach (LR).
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It can
be use in an enterprise backbone, between campuses, to
consolidate fi le servers and to connect server farms with
zSeries 890 and 990 servers. The OSA-Express2 10 GbE
LR supports:
• Queued Direct Input/Output (QDIO)
• One port per feature
• A link data rate of 10 Gbps
• Full duplex mode
• Jumbo frames (8992 byte frame size)
• Checksum offl oad
• Layer 2 support
A New Generation of zSeries LAN Adapters
Open Systems Adapter-Express2