I doubt if the new channels will be significantly more expensive if you buy
them with a new machine. If you just took delivery of your machine 2 months
ago, and then realize these chanells could help because you have a huge DASD
farm, you might be talking significant dollars, although if you have the
processing for a significant DASD farm, the added cost might not seem so
high. Since I'm not working now, I can't really ask IBM how much these
channels cost, and I'm sure if someone else found out, they wouldn't be
allowed to say how much they cost.
Radoslaw - I suspect your right about these new channels not helping the I/O
load much for the average shop. I know when I worked at P&H Mining, the
only time I ever saw channels above 50% where when backups were running, and
all 16 of our 3490E tape drives were running. I believe that caused
significant delays backing up through the 4 Escon channels attached to the 2
controllers, but then in the manufacturing environment they had, it wasn't
that critical to get the batch done that fast. Actually, Australia and a
few other parts of the world that used our mainframe did experience delays
during their prime shifts, but I guess they learned to live with it.
I suspect the real benefit will come when all the devices made include
support for the new channels, and that probably will be awhile.
Eric Bielefeld
Sr. Systems Programmer
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
414-475-7434
----- Original Message -----
From: "R.S." <r.skoru...@bremultibank.com.pl>
Eric,
I don't think the new channels will be significantly more expensive. Of
course the change will be paid.
Last but not least:
- you don't need the channels if you don't have 8Gbps on the other end of
cable. I mean CU or switch for shared channels (rather theoretical
scenario - fully loade channel and multiple CUs connected).
- you don't need the channels if your current utilization is reasonably
low. From my limited experience - I have never observed >50% utilization
on my FiconEx4 channels connected to 4Gbps capable DASD CU. I use 4
channels, more port are available at both ends.
So, in my case I don't expect Ficon Express8 channels before z11 arrives
here. Good for current economy <g>
--
Radoslaw Skorupka
Lodz, Poland
--
BRE Bank SA
ul. Senatorska 18
00-950 Warszawa
www.brebank.pl
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