FICON

Fibre Channel
Layer 4. Protocol mapping
LUN masking
Layer 3. Common services
Layer 2. Network
Fibre Channel fabric
Fibre Channel zoning
Registered state change notification
Layer 1. Data link
Fibre Channel 8b/10b encoding
Layer 0. Physical

FICON (Fibre Connection) is the IBM proprietary name for the ANSI FC-SB-3 Single-Byte Command Code Sets-3 Mapping Protocol for Fibre Channel (FC) protocol. It is a FC layer 4 protocol used to map both IBM's antecedent (either ESCON or parallel Bus and Tag) channel-to-control-unit cabling infrastructure and protocol onto standard FC services and infrastructure. The topology is fabric utilizing FC switches or directors. Valid rates include 1, 2, 4, 8, 16,[1] and 32 Gigabit per second data rates at distances up to 100 km.

FICON was introduced in 1998 as part of System/390 G5 IBM mainframe.[2] In July 2013, FICON replaced ESCON in new zEnterprise BC12/EC12, and later models,[3] [4] because of FICON's technical superiority (especially its higher performance) and lower cost.

  1. ^ "Faster data access with FICON Express8 for System z10".
  2. ^ New IBM S/390 Parallel Enterprise Servers -- Generation 5 Models, Announcement Letter: 198-115. IBM. May 7, 1998.
  3. ^ IBM zEnterprise BC12 (zBC12) extends modern mainframe capabilities for enterprises of all sizes to help cut costs, improve service, and fuel innovation for business growth. IBM US Announcement Letter 113-121. July 23, 2013.
  4. ^ IBM zEnterprise 114 - Freedom by design. IBM US Announcement Letter 111-136. IBM. July 12, 2011.