Dana Mitchell wrote: >We are currently on z114's and will probably migrate to z14 >zr1's, and the coupling link situation is our biggest stumbling >block. Since there is no common coupling link available between >z114-z14, it will require us to move the entire plex at once, >not rolling onto new hardware, one LPAR at a time as we have in >the past.
There is a possible workaround for that. It involves using a z13s machine as a "bridge." It's basically the same process as migrating a Parallel Sysplex to the z13s, followed by a migration to the z14 ZR1 -- two back-to-back jumps. To do that you'd simply need a suitably configured z13s machine on a temporary basis, and assuming you've got the correct attachments and features on your z114. There's a cost involved since you need the z13s machine inserted into the overall migration for a short period of time, but it's available. IBM is still building z13s machines and will for several more months, and the z114 to z13s MES is still available -- that's one way to get your temporary z13s. I have worked with shops that have taken this "double hop" approach, and it works. It's not how you'd prefer to do things, but it can be done. ....Or you can take the "big jump" approach if a planned outage is tolerable, and there are usually ways to mitigate the effects of that planned outage and/or to make that service interruption very short for your most critical services. Tom Brennan wrote: >- FICON 16S cards can only negotiate down to 4G. If you have older 2G >peripherals, that could be an issue. If this is an absolute showstopper then "talk to your friendly IBM representative" about whether it'd make sense to MES to a z13s then upgrade to a z14 ZR1. FICON8 adapters barely survive that double transition, from what I recall. But there would be a cost to that longer path, so I really don't recommend it unless you've absolutely got to live with the 2 Gb/s equipment. >- Brocade Gen 4 switches are not supported for ZR1 and need to move to >at least Gen 5. You can *ask* for a RPQ; no guarantees. As I understand it, the fundamental problem is that the Generation 4 equipment is soon falling out of support for everybody, and Brocade understandably doesn't want you to slam into an unsupported configuration almost immediately after you migrate. >- Power for a ZR1 is single phase, basically meaning the old 3PH cords >on the z114 can't be reused. Yes, also the IBF (Internal Battery Feature) is not available for the z14 ZR1, so you'll want to make sure you're properly protected and configured in your data center power systems if you're currently relying on the IBF. Another thing that comes to mind is that you probably ought to take this opportunity to shift to the 1U rack mount Hardware Management Console (HMC) and, if you have it, TKE Workstation. And, if you wish, you can combine these 1U rack mount features with Feature Code #0617, the 16U Reserved feature, which allows you to mount up to 16U worth of equipment (HMCs, TKE Workstations, and other items) into the IBM z14 ZR1 frame itself. If you order FC0617 just make sure you're OK with the amount of remaining expansion capacity you have for I/O and other adapters, but it's one of my favorite new features in the new machine. This is also a great time to review and improve the security practices and deployment configuration for your HMC. The z14 ZR1 does not support ESA/390 IPLs, so please check your inventory of IPL'able items such as DFSMS recovery utilities, z/VM installation DVDs, ZZSA, and old Linux distributions, as applicable, to make sure they're modern enough. There's one available workaround for z/VSE 4.x: running z/VSE 4.x under z/VM. And it's an unsupported but "as-is/known to work" workaround. Otherwise, you've got to be "64-bit clean" from IPL. You don't want to find yourself in a DR situation and unable to IPL some critical tool associated with the recovery process. Interrogate your IBM person to see if there are any free or nearly free feature codes that look interesting, and grab them. For example, if you're still missing the feature code for CPACF, and if it's orderable in your country, grab it. (Why not?) -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timothy Sipples IT Architect Executive, Industry Solutions, IBM Z & LinuxONE, Multi-Geography E-Mail: sipp...@sg.ibm.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@listserv.ua.edu with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
