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Mcdata/cnt channel extension interoperability – Sun Microsystems StorageTek 96257 User Manual

Page 81

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96257

Sun Confidential: Internal Only

B-81

Revision A

McData/CNT Channel Extension Interoperability

McData/CNT Channel Extension Interoperability

The following interoperability and configuration information and guidelines apply when us-
ing McData/CNT USD-X and Edge3000 channel extenders with a VSM-VTSS.

Set Buffer-to-Buffer Credits at Director Ports

In FICON fabric topology, configure buffer-to-buffer (BB) credits on all director ports that
are part of all channel-extended end-to-end paths to ‘extended distance’, i.e.,

60 BB

credits. This includes host ports, CU ports, and ISL

1

ports that carry I/O on a channel-ex-

tended path, regardless of which link is physically extended. For example, consider a sin-
gle director configuration with three CHPIDs configured to perform I/O with two CU ports,
where one CU port is channel-extended. In this case, four director ports should have their
BB credits set to ‘extended distance’: Each of the three F_Ports attached to the three
hosts, and the F_Port attached to the extension equipment that extends to the CU port.

Set Extension-Attached Director Ports to Fixed Speeds

When channel extension is added to a FICON link, the result is two FICON links which are
coupled by the two channel extension chassis through a WAN. The link speed setting on
at least one side of the pair of FICON links must be set to a fixed speed to avoid exposure
to an issue where the link may not initialize once a fibre/SFP

2

cable is attached, or where

the link may not reinitialize after a loss of synchronization during operations.

Figure B-6. VTSS-to-VTSS Channel Extension – Between Cascaded FICON Switches / Directors

Channel

Extender

CLINKs

CLINKs

Channel

Extender

A502_053

z/OS
Host

Local

Clustered

VTSS

Remote

Clustered

VTSS

Local

Tape Silo

Remote

Tape Silo

with RTDs

Channel

Extender

FICON

Director/Switch

FICON

Director/Switch

1. Inter-switch link; the fibre channel link providing connectivity between two switches

2. Short form factor pluggable connectors