Christian, Visara's Vi-8810L and IBM's DS8882F are, to my knowledge, the two currently available choices that fit your parameters (FICON-attached storage that mounts/fits within the 16U Reserved feature on the IBM z14 ZR1 or LinuxONE Rockhopper II).
The Vi-8810L could win your affections if physical size (the smallest) is important -- it's the smallest FICON-attached storage unit (as small as 2U), allowing up to 14U of other gear to be installed in the same ZR1 or Rockhopper II frame -- or if availability of hard disk-based configurations matters. The flash only IBM DS8882F is likely attractive if you're willing to trade physical space for performance (still within 16U), and for its operational and functional commonality with other members of the IBM DS8880 series (except for zHyperLinks, all the same advanced functions including support for all GDPS variations). Operational and functional commonality can be helpful if, for example, you're placing a machine in a "satellite" country or location that ought to resemble "big sibling" installations (IBM Z machines with IBM DS8880 storage) as closely as possible. One of the interesting potential, quirky features of the Vi-8810L is that you could conceivably use it as transportable (luggable) FICON-attached storage. You'd have to get a suitable, well padded case for it (at least if it's going to move beyond one data center), and it's not exactly featherweight. However, since it is physically relatively small, it could be plugged into arbitrary IBM Z and LinuxONE machines for startup, recovery, and other such purposes, including into machines equipped with any other vendors' storage -- the storage equivalent of a charged starter battery with jumper cables, or of a defibrillator. In other words, I don't view these choices as mutually exclusive. Obviously ask Visara for advice if you try something like that, and be careful about security. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Timothy Sipples IT Architect Executive, Industry Solutions, IBM Z & LinuxONE -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- E-Mail: [email protected] ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For IBM-MAIN subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to [email protected] with the message: INFO IBM-MAIN
