Replaced by IBM 9033-004

The IBM 9033 ESCON* Director provides channel connectivity using fiber optics and the Enterprise Systems* Connection Architecture for selected models of the ES/3090J, the ES/3090 9000T, and the ES/9000* processors. It provides for connection and switching among ES Connection channels and control units. The ESCON Director ranges in size from 8 to 16 connection ports, in increments of four, that may attach to either channels or control units. The ESCON Director supports attachment of the 9034 ESCON Converter Model 1, which allows attachment of control units with parallel interfaces, thus easing the migration to the Enterprise Systems Connection Architecture. The ESCON Director also supports attachment of the 9035 ESCON Converter Model 2 that allows 3990 Storage Control Units with ESCON adapters to attach to parallel channels on selected ES/3090 and ES/4381 processors. For all models of the ESCON Director, new cables or conversion kits are required for attaching XDF port cards.

Model Abstract 9033-001

The Model 9033-001 offers 8 Ports as a minimum, upgradable to 16 ports maximum. The ESCON Director provides channel connectivity using fiber optics and the Enterprise Systems Connection Architecture for selected models of the ES/3090J, the ES/3090 9000T, and the ES/9000 processors. It is a connection and switching mechanism among ES Connection channels and control units. Both channel-to-control unit and channel-to-channel connectivity are supported. It provides dynamic connectivity for up to 16 serial channels or control units. Channel and control unit attachment is via fiber optic links attached to fiber optic ports.

Highlights

• 16 port capability
• Dynamic addition of ports (hot plugging)
• Ability to support consoles at extended distances
• Compact, tabletop design
• Concurrent Maintenance capability for port cards and token ring card

Model Highlights 9033-001

• Systems management is improved with enhanced connectivity capability, configuration adaptability, and change management capability.
• Less disruptive installation, and reconfiguration, and support of up to 9 kilometer distances make possible improved business solutions. This distance can extend to up to 60 kilometers with the Extended Distance Feature (XDF) and ESCON XDF* channels, for channel-to-channel communications.
• Growth is enabled through the ESCON Director's size granularity and through its ability to adapt to installation growth.
• Investment protection is provided through attachment support of the ESCON Converter Model 1 and the ESCON Converter Model 2.
• User productivity is enhanced through the ESCON Director's connectivity capability as well as its less disruptive change management capability

Technical Description

The ESCON Director is a dynamic router which accepts data streams through its fiber-optic ports, decodes destination port addresses contained in the data stream, makes internal routing connections, and passes the data streams to the addressed ports. A destination or source may be either a channel or a control unit. Up to eight-port pairs may be simultaneously connected and actively passing data.
ESCON Director is available in sizes of 8, 12, and 16 ports. If initially ordered with less than 16 ports, it can be field upgraded in increments of four ports, to a maximum of 16 ports.

The ESCON Director is designed for table-top placement. It requires a user-supplied PC to be used as the ESCD Console. The ESCD Console may be shared by up to eight clustered Directors. Refer to the "Operator/Service Console" section for detailed PC machine requirements. This console may be placed on top of the ESCON Director. It is required to:

• Install and service the ESCON Director
• Initialize the ESCON Director
• Make configuration changes locally
• Save configuration on a diskette
• Maintain a local audit trail on a diskette
• Store error information on a diskette

Although the initial state of the ESCON Director allows any port to communicate with any other port, communication among ports may be configured, within device limitations, to satisfy application requirements. This configuration capability can be accomplished using a menu-driven interface at the ESCD Console; or if host configuration control is desired, by using the ES Connection Manager licensed program. If the ES Connection Manager is to be used, there must be at least one ES channel connection between the host and the ESCON Director. Pre-stored configurations at the local console are also allowed, and can be transferred to and from the host. The configuration can be changed by:

1. Defining a dedicated connection. A dedicated connection connects two ports together continuously, to the exclusion of all other ports.
2. Blocking a port such that it cannot communicate with any other port. It can be unblocked as required.
3. Partitioning resources by prohibiting a port or groups of ports from communicating with other ports. This partitioning capability allows the ESCON Director to be logically configured into multiple independent partitions.

An ESCON Director may be chained to another ESCON Director provided that the connection ports in one or both are defined as dedicated connections. A maximum of two Directors can be chained.
Point-to-point distances of up to 3 km cable length are supported. Using properly positioned ESCON Directors, channel-to-control unit or channel-to-channel distances of up to 6 km can be achieved. A maximum of 9 km can be achieved using two chained ESCON Director Model 1s/ESCON Director Model 2s.

With the Extended Distance Features, point-to-point distances of up to 20 km cable length are supported. Using properly positioned, chained ESCON Director, channel-to-control unit distances, for selected control units, of up to 43 km and channel-to-channel distances of up to 60 km can be achieved. The maximum achievable distances are control-unit dependent.

The ESCON Director maintains a local audit trail on a console diskette. This audit trail records the time, date, and password for certain changes made from the console.

The ESCON Director provides a password facility that protects against unauthorized use of selected functions. This password facility is controlled at the ESCON Director local operator/service console and is independent of other system security mechanisms. Three levels of passwords are implemented:

• Level 1 - This level allows a user to control the passwords of other users who have access to the ESCON Director.
• Level 2 - This level allows the service representative to perform maintenance procedures.
• Level 3 - This level allows the user to change connectivity attributes and to access certain utilities.