IBM DS8800, Introduction And Planning Manual, Page: 40 / 256

Four-port 8 Gbps device adapters
The DS8800 includes high-function PCIe-attached 4-port, 8 Gbps FC-AL
adapter. The device adapters attach the storage enclosure to the DS8800.
Four- and eight-port Fibre-Channel/FICON adapters
DS8700
The DS8700 supports high-function PCIe-attached four-port, 4 and
8 Gbps Fibre Channel/FICON host adapters
The DS8700 model with a 2-way configuration offers up to 16 host
adapters (64 Fibre Channel Protocol/FICON ports) and the DS8700
model with a 4-way configuration offers up to 32 host adapters
(128 FCP/FICON ports).
DS8800
The DS8800 supports four- and eight-port Fibre Channel/FICON
host adapters. These 8 Gbps host adapters are offered in longwave
and shortwave. These adapters are designed to offer up to 100%
improvement in single-port MBps throughput performance. This
improved performance helps contribute to cost savings by reducing
the number of required host ports.
The DS8800 supports up to 16 host adapters maximum (up to 128
Fibre Channel Protocol/FICON ports) on a 4-way configuration.
Note: The DS8700 and DS8800 supports connections from adapters
and switches that are 8 Gbps, but auto-negotiates them to 4
Gbps or 2 Gbps, as needed.
High performance FICON
A high performance FICON feature is available that allows FICON
extension (FCX) protocols to be used on fibre channel I/O ports that are
enabled for the use of the FICON upper layer protocol. The use of FCX
protocols provides a significant reduction in channel utilization. This
reduction can allow more I/O input on a single channel and also for a
reduction in the number of FICON channels required to support a given
workload.
IBM Standby Capacity on Demand
Using the IBM Standby Capacity on Demand (Standby CoD) offering, you
can install inactive disk drives that can be easily activated as business
needs require. To activate, you logically configure the disk drives for use,
nondisruptive activity that does not require intervention from IBM. Upon
activation of any portion of the Standby CoD disk drive set, you must
place an order with IBM to initiate billing for the activated set. At that
time, you can also order replacement Standby CoD disk drive sets.
DS8700
The DS8700 offers up to four Standby CoD disk drive sets (64 disk
drives) that can be factory- or field-installed into your system.
DS8800
The DS8800 offers up to six Standby CoD disk drive sets (96 disk
drives) can be factory- or field-installed into your system.
Note: Solid-state disk drives are unavailable as Standby Capacity on
Demand disk drives.
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Introduction and Planning Guide