“TCS is very excited about the new strategic relationship with Optica. We are looking to continue our rapid growth and this investment allows us to offer additional capabilities to all of our current and future customers,” said Charles Hoskins, Owner and Director of Operations at TCS.

Michael Dailey, COO and VP of Worldwide Sales at Optica Technologies, said: “The TCS partnership ensures that our partners’ and customers’ fiber services needs are fully met while we increase our focus on being the leading provider of mainframe connectivity solutions for IBM System z customers”.

For editorial information regarding this press release, contact Brandon Kennison, TCS Director of Marketing, Tel: (937) 470-5191; email: brandon@totalcablesolutions.com. For sales information, contact Tom Hodson, TCS Director of Sales, Tel: (937) 361-6800; Fax: (928) 833-0999; email: tom@totalcablesolutions.com.

Statement of General Direction

The IBM zEnterprise 196 and IBM zEnterprise 114 are the last System z servers to support ESCON channels.
IBM plans to not offer ESCON channels as an orderable feature on System z servers that follow the z196 (machine type 2817) and z114 (machine type 2818). In addition, ESCON channels cannot be carried forward on an upgrade to such follow-on servers. This plan applies to channel path identifier (CHPID) types CNC, CTC, CVC, and CBY and to feature #2323 and #2324.

System z customers should continue to eliminate ESCON channels from the mainframe wherever possible. Alternate solutions are available for connectivity to ESCON devices. IBM Global Technology Services offers an ESCON to FICON Migration solution, Offering ID #6948-97D, to help facilitate migration from ESCON to FICON. This offering is designed to help you to simplify and manage a single physical and operational environment – FICON channels on the mainframe with continued connectivity to ESCON devices.

The complete announcement can be found here.

Statement of General Direction

The IBM zEnterprise 196 (z196) will be the last high-end server to support ESCON® channels.

IBM plans not to offer ESCON channels as an orderable feature on high-end System z servers that follow the z196 (machine type 2817). In addition, ESCON channels cannot be carried forward on an upgrade to such a follow-on server. This plan applies to channel path identifier (CHPID) types CNC, CTC, CVC, and CBY and to feature numbers 2323 and 2324. System z customers should continue migrating from ESCON to FICON®. Alternate solutions are available for connectivity to ESCON devices. IBM Global Technology Services offers an ESCON to FICON Migration solution, Offering ID #6948-97D, to help facilitate migration from ESCON to FICON. This offering should help customers to simplify and manage a single physical and operational environment.

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.

Statement of General Direction

In the first half of 2011, IBM intends to offer a System x® blade running Linux on System x in the IBM zEnterprise System on zBX Model 002.

In the first half of 2011, IBM intends to offer a WebSphere® DataPower® Appliance for IBM zEnterprise System on zBX Model 002.

The IBM zEnterprise 196 will be the last high-end server to offer ordering of ISC-3. Enterprises should begin migrating from ISC-3 features (#0217, #0218, #0219), to 12x InfiniBand (#0163 – HCA2-O fanout) or 1x InfiniBand (#0168 – HCA2-O LR fanout) coupling links.

The IBM zEnterprise 196 will be last high-end server to offer ordering of the PSC feature. IBM intends to not offer the Power Sequence Controller (PSC feature #6501) on future servers. The PSC feature is used to turn on/off specific control units from the central processor complex (CPC).

The IBM zEnterprise 196 will be the last high-end server to offer ordering of ESCON channels. This applies to channel path identifier (CHPID) types CNC, CTC, CVC, and CBY. Enterprises should begin migrating from ESCON to FICON. Alternate solutions are available for connectivity to ESCON and parallel devices. IBM Global Technology Services offers an ESCON to FICON Migration solution, Offering ID #6948-97D, to help facilitate migration from ESCON to simplify and manage a single physical and operational environment while maximizing green-related savings.

The IBM zEnterprise 196 will be the last high-end server to support FICON Express4 channels: Enterprises should begin migrating from FICON Express4 channel features (#3321, #3322, #3324) to FICON Express8 channels.

The IBM zEnterprise 196 will be the last high-end server to support OSA-Express2 features: Enterprises should begin migrating from OSA-Express2 features (#3364, #3365, #3366) to OSA-Express3 features.

The IBM zEnterprise 196 is planned to be the last high-end server to support dial-up modems for use with the Remote Support Facility (RSF), and the External Time Source (ETS) option of Server Time Protocol (STP). The currently available Network Time Protocol (NTP) server option for ETS as well as Internet time services available using broadband connections can be used to provide the same degree of accuracy as dial-up time services. Enterprises should begin migrating from dial-up modems to Broadband for RSF connections.

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.

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

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.”

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.

Optica’s Peter Dixon and special guest speaker Iian Neville from IBM are hosting a presentation on Managed Evolution for System z – a jointly developed and recommended infrastructure planning process by IBM and Optica.

The session (number zP001) will be held Tuesday, May 5th from 16:45-18:00 in room H

Partners of Optica Technologies – Europe

Germany, Austria, Switzerland

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Benelux, Belgium, Netherlands, Luxembourg

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You’ll learn how to:

• Prepare your z10 infrastructure to become workload-ready within a full FICON Fabric
• Consolidate and simplify IT for maximum operational efficiency
• Fully leverage the management, performance, and distance capabilities of FICON

Learn how to maximize your FICON investment when you visit Optica and Brocade at SHARE.

Moving to IBM System z10? IBM recommends that you leverage FICON I/O channels to service your applications, and that doing so can improve your operational processes, performance, and capacity. How can you accomplish this without writing off your investment in ESCON?

You’ll find the answers at Booth 213 at SHARE in Austin, March 1 – 6, 2009. Stop by and learn how Optica in partnership with Brocade can demonstrate how the Managed Infrastructure Evolution for IBM System z can help you migrate to an all-FICON z10 while protecting your investment in legacy ESCON devices.

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.