> Apparently, with the B18, we can also share it with Win/2000, Win/XP > and the like. Just need another card for the scsi connection. > > Now, is this the same kind of connection that a FCP connection would > use? > i.e. by adding FCP channels on our z/890, can I share the FCP > connection with whatever open systems connection is used?
If you are connecting the Windows boxes via FCP, then yes, it's the same card. There is a UltraSCSI option still available that uses classic copper SCSI cables; don't confuse the two. Your smart option would be to connect the FCP adapter in the B18 to a SAN switch, and then connect the hosts to that SAN switch. > One other option proposed (in which I'm not fond of at this time), is > to have Linux, Oracle and DB2 backup agents running on the IFL side, > that backup over the network to a "NETBACKUP" server that then writes to > the VTS. > > I'm not fond of sending 3 TB of data over the lan, even with GB OSA > adapters. It seems like there is more than one pass of the data over > the lan, perhaps many passes. My gut at this time, says going directly > via FCP would be much faster. The problem is going to be coordinating access to the drives between the platforms. I don't know of a 'CA-MIM'-like product for the FCP world.
