Announcements

A large financial services company with a clear strategy to invest in FICON® channels on System z® was grappling with a compliance challenge that required them to support ESCON® tape at a remote datacenter for archived data access. Available ESCON channel extension solutions proved to be complex, expensive and nearing end-of-support.

The company deployed Optica’s Prizm FICON to ESCON converter while leveraging the distance capability of their FICON infrastructure to address the compliance issue in a simple, cost effective manner. The end to end solution is IBM SAK qualified and will be supported well into the future.

IBM is phasing out ESCON channels on System z as referenced in their Hardware Announcement Letter (#109-230) dated April 2009 as part of the Statement of General Direction. The System z recommended best practice is to leverage 100% FICON channel connectivity on the host and to utilize the Optica Prizm solution for connectivity to all remaining ESCON and/or Bus and Tag (i.e. Parallel) devices. This solution is available from IBM GTS via their ESCON to FICON Migration offering (#6948-97D).

Learn more about Managed Evolution for System z

IBM STATEMENT OF DIRECTION FOR ESCON HEIGHTENS REQUIREMENT FOR I/O PLANNING

Optica Technologies (“Optica”) announces that it is collaborating with IBM to promote an infrastructure simplification and planning approach known as Managed Evolution for System z. Managed Evolution enables customers to invest in the latest System z technology, FICON®, while preserving the ability to connect their mainframes to existing, mature storage and communications devices that require the older ESCON® and bus/tag channel protocols. By leveraging the principles of Managed Evolution, System z users can create a cost-effective and flexible infrastructure and maintain the mature devices essential for driving stable, cash-generating business applications.

IBM announced on April 28, 2009 its intent to phase out the availability of the older ESCON channels on System z. System z10 EC and System z10 BC will be the last servers to support greater than 240 ESCON channels. This announcement elevates the importance of System z infrastructure planning to ensure a smooth transition from the older to the newer technology for host to device connectivity.

Optica’s exclusive Prizm FICON to ESCON Converter (“Prizm”) is the implementation platform for Managed Evolution. Prizm is an inline appliance that provides the physical and logical connection of the older ESCON and bus/tag-based devices to FICON channel infrastructures. Optica recently completed rigorous interoperability testing in IBM’s Poughkeepsie solutions lab with Prizm receiving a comprehensive qualification for attachment to all ESCON device types.

Michael Dailey, Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Optica, said,

“Optica has enjoyed a long-term strategic relationship with IBM. We’re delighted to collaborate with the System z brand to help customers design and deploy current-generation dynamic infrastructures. Now that Optica has received the most extensive IBM qualification available for third-party solutions, customers can confidently leverage Prizm to support a wide variety of mature devices that remain crucial to their unique business requirements.”

Mark Anzani, VP and Chief Technology Officer, System z, made the following comments:

“As customer infrastructures evolve, conditioning the environment to support the deployment of new technology in a seamless manner is critical. Customers need to evaluate a variety of variables including physical infrastructure, data models, application placement, structure and workload trends to manage this transition effectively. Our strategic cooperation with Optica allows our mainframe customers to leverage all of the benefits of FICON on System z while maintaining access to ESCON devices that are required to support key applications. Working closely with Optica, we’re helping customers simplify the transition to new System z platforms, while maximizing the value of their investment in peripheral devices.”

Today IBM sent out an announcement letter detailing a number of enhancements as well as a statement of direction for System z.

Statement of general direction

The System z10 will be the last server to support connections to the Sysplex Timer® (9037). Servers that require time synchronization, such as to support a base or Parallel Sysplex, will require Server Time Protocol (STP). STP has been available since January 2007 and is offered on the System z10, System z9, and zSeries® 990 and 890 servers.

The System z10 will be the last server to support Dynamic ICF expansion. This is consistent with the Statement of Direction in Hardware Announcement 107-190, dated April 18, 2007: “IBM intends to remove the Dynamic ICF expansion function from future System z servers.”

The System z10 will be the last server to support ICB-4 links. IBM intends to not offer Integrated Cluster Bus-4 (ICB-4) links on future servers. IBM intends for System z10 to be the last server to support ICB-4 links as originally stated in Hardware Announcement 108-154, dated February 26, 2008.

ESCON® channels will be phased out. It is IBM’s intent for ESCON channels to be phased out. System z10 EC and System z10 BC will be the last servers to support greater than 240 ESCON channels.

IBM intends to support optional water cooling on future high-end System z servers. This cooling technology will tap into building chilled water that typically exists within the data center for computer room air conditioning systems. External chillers or special water conditioning will typically not be required. Water cooling technology for high-end System z servers will be designed to deliver improved energy efficiency.

IBM intends to support the ability to operate from High Voltage DC power on future System z servers. This will be in addition to the wide range of AC power already supported. A direct HV DC data center power design can improve data center energy efficiency by removing the need for an additional DC to AC inversion step.

All statements regarding IBM’s plans, directions, and intent are subject to change or withdrawal without notice. Any reliance on these statements of general direction is at the relying party’s sole risk and will not create liability or obligation for IBM.

The complete announcement can be found here.

Agreement expands the companies’ relationship to promote Managed Evolution for System z.

Boulder, Colo. — December 16, 2008 — Optica Technologies (“Optica”) announced today that it has executed a sales referral agreement with Brocade Communications Systems (“Brocade”). This agreement formalizes an existing marketing alliance between the companies under which they are collaborating with IBM to promote the industry’s first infrastructure-centric investment protection methodology, Managed Evolution for System z (“Managed Evolution”). The Managed Evolution solution aligns with IBM’s New Enterprise Data Center and Green IT Leadership initiatives, and aims to promote long-term economic value via System z migrations and streamlining operations.

To implement Managed Evolution, Optica’s exclusive FICON to ESCON Converter (“Prizm”) is installed in combination with Brocade DCX Backbone, which enables customers to deploy a single, unified FICON infrastructure on System z while maintaining attachment of select ESCON devices required to support mission-critical applications. The combined solution is equally effective when deployed locally or over extended distances via a cascaded fabric using FICON inter-switch links, or a Brocade IP-based FICON channel extension platform.

Managed Evolution brings the mainframe community its first structured methodology to facilitate an orderly protocol migration (from ESCON to FICON) across the customer’s chosen time horizon. This ability to migrate gracefully is growing in importance as ESCON-based infrastructures are increasingly expensive to maintain and manage, and are approaching End-of-Life and/or End-of-Support status.

Following Managed Evolution practices, System z customers are able to eliminate the costs and inefficiencies of managing dual host infrastructures and leverage all of the inherent advantages of FICON. A single, unified FICON host infrastructure provides a simplified cabling infrastructure, streamlined host configuration management, and superior flexibility relative to performance, distance support and new workload readiness.

The modest number of worldwide mainframe sites belies the relative importance of this platform where over 70% of mission-critical data resides. For example, the top 50 worldwide banks¹ and 22 of the top 25 U.S. retailers² run IBM System z. Today, the mainframe market is vibrant and growing, and demand for the cost-effective, secure and energy-efficient computing provided by the mainframe has driven recent double-digit sales growth. While the majority of new mainframe-based workload is deployed on FICON technology, the installed base includes several million ESCON connections that support stable, mission-critical business applications.

“With decades of experience in designing, deploying and managing mainframe infrastructure solutions, Brocade continues to deliver industry-leading technologies such as the Brocade DCX Backbone, directors, switches and channel extension platforms to help System z customers build flexible, scalable and high performance solutions for improved data access and protection,” said Brian Larsen, Worldwide Business Manager for System z Infrastructure, Brocade. ” By teaming with Optica, and qualifying the Prizm solutions for local and remote FICON-to-ESCON conversion, we can help customers protect their investments while providing a path to a high-performance FICON infrastructure.”

Michael Dailey, Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Optica, said, “Brocade’s footprint in mainframe data centers is extensive. When you combine their market leadership and enthusiastic commitment to Managed Evolution for System z, Brocade is ideally positioned to help customers optimize System z investments. We look forward to taking our relationship to the next level.”

About Optica Technologies
Optica is headquartered in Louisville, Colorado with sales and support offices in Ohio, Minnesota, Texas, New York and London. The company has been developing, producing and marketing high-quality computer connectivity and security solutions since 1967 and is a recognized leader in the mainframe market. For more information, please visit us at www.opticatech.com.

Optica Media Contact:
Zac Fisher
Zac.Fisher@opticatech.com (800) 953-4773

Optica is a trademark of Optica Technologies Incorporated. FICON® and ESCON® are registered trademarks of IBM Corporation.

¹ source: top WW Banks as identified by the Fortune Global 500 in 2006, IBM client list cross-referenced.
² source: top U.S. Retailers as identified by National Retail Federation, IBM client list cross-referenced.

Optica Technologies Incorporated (“Optica”) and SYSTEX Corporation. (“SYSTEX”) announce the appointment of SYSTEX as Distributor of Optica’s solutions in Taiwan, ROC. Operating under a renewable agreement, SYSTEX will market and support Optica’s mainframe infrastructure and tape encryption solutions.

SYSTEX is a recognized leader in the Taiwan and Asian-Pacific IT Systems Solutions market. SYSTEX has invested heavily in mainframe based Systems Integration Services and Solutions, and delivers high quality service and support while enjoying long-term relationships with customers in all major industry segments. Adding Optica’s unique products to its solutions portfolio enables SYSTEX to better meet the needs of the Taiwan mainframe market.

For over 40 years, Optica has thrived in the mainframe market by delivering high-quality solutions backed by unparalleled customer support. Using these solutions, customers can better manage the evolution of their technology investments by implementing newer mainframe technologies while protecting investments in mature assets that support stable, cash generating applications critical to their core business. Optica’s solutions are cost effective, require no host software, and allow customers to efficiently plan, manage and control mainframe technology migration. SYSTEX will provide customers these advantages by offering ESCON to FICON migration, design, planning and implementation services. SYSTEX will also deliver Optica’s “Simple as 1, 2, 3” approach to mainframe tape encryption using industry approved “Best Practices.”

Michael Dailey, Vice President of Worldwide Sales for Optica, said, “SYSTEX’s commitment to customer satisfaction and integration testing is unequalled. When you combine this with their long-standing relationships with the leading companies serving the mainframe market in Taiwan, SYSTEX is a perfect partner for Optica. We look forward to building a meaningful, long-term relationship.”

Rich Yang, vice President of Business Continuity Service BU for SYSTEX, made the following comments: “Optica has installations in the world’s top data centers, and SYSTEX will add value by providing sales and systems integration capabilities. This combination will drive success for both companies in the Taiwan market, and we are already working our customers and partners to accomplish this.”

About Optica

Optica is headquartered in Louisville, Colorado with sales and support offices in Ohio, Minnesota, Texas, New York and London. The company has been developing, producing and marketing high-quality computer connectivity and security solutions since 1967 and is a recognized leader in the mainframe market. For more information, visit us at www.opticatech.com.
Optica Media Contact: Zac Fisher (800) 953-4773

About SYSTEX

SYSTEX Corporation was founded in 1997 and is now the No.1 Taiwan-based Asia-Pacific regional IT service provider. SYSTEX consolidated revenue for year 2007 reached US$ 400 million, with 2,900 employees worldwide and 48 overseas branch offices located in Taiwan, China and Asia Pacific. According to IDC survey for year 2007, SYSTEX ranked No. 3 as an IT Service provider in Taiwan market, and also the only Taiwan-based enterprise on top-3 list. For more information about SYSTEX visit www.systex.com.tw.