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96257 Sun Confidential: Internal Only 2-35
Revision A
VTSS Configuration Planning
Prerequisites for FICON Connectivity
Note: VTCS 5.1 code or later and VTSS code D01.01.00.17 or higher are required pre-
requisites for enabling front-end FICON connectivity between a VTSS and main-
frame (host) CPU or FICON director. VTCS 6.0 code or higher and VTSS code
D01.02.00.00 or higher are required prerequisites for enabling back-end FICON
connectivity between a VTSS and RTDs or cluster-links (Clinks).
In a VSM5-VTSS, front-end channel transfers are never synchronized with back-end array
transfers. As such, timing problems associated with channel extenders for traditional disk
storage systems do not apply to the VSM5-VTSS.
A VTSS must be ordered with minimum of 4 VCF3 cards for front-end FICON connections.
The field upgrade procedure is disruptive, i.e., the VTSS must be powered down and host
interfaces must be reconfigured after installing the VCF3 cards and 32-Port FICON option.
Whether FICON connectivity is provided through a factory-ordered unit or a field upgrade,
the 32-Port FICON option must be installed.
Prerequisites for front-end FICON connectivity to hosts and FICON directors are:
• Two VCF3 card pairs (four cards total)
• VTCS code level 5.1 or higher
• VTSS code level D01.01.00.17 or higher.
Prerequisites for back-end FICON connectivity to real tape drives (RTDs) and cluster-links
(Clinks) are:
• One or more VCF2 card pairs in place of a like number of ICE3 card pairs
• VTCS code level 6.0 or higher
• VTSS code level D01.02.00 or higher.
Additional Prerequisites for FICON RTDs
Additional prerequisites applicable only for back-end FICON connectivity to RTDs are:
• Minimum tape drive microcode levels
- 9840B tape drives = 1.35.304 or higher
- 9940B tape drives = 1.35.404 or higher
- 9940C tape drives = 1.35.504 or higher
- T10000 tape drives = 1.35.604 or higher
• 3490 Emulation Mode
– All RTDs must use 3490 Emulation Mode, which is selected at
the T9X40 Emulation Mode
submenu.
• Receive Buffer Frame Size
– All RTDs must have their receive buffer frame size set to
2048 MB, which is selected at the T9X40 Port A/B Maximum Data Size
submenu.
See Chapter 5
of the T9X40 Service Reference Manual, P/N 95740, for details on how to
verify code levels and set the parameters listed above.