What Does Fiber Connection Mean?
A fiber connection (FICON) is a fiber optic channel technology that increases capacity and lowers the cost of enterprise system connection (ESCON). FICON is a proprietary IBM fiber channel (FC), layer-4 protocol with a channel to control unit cabling infrastructure.
FICON is often used with IBM 64-bit mainframe z/Architecture and Geographically Dispersed Parallel Sysplex (GDPS), as well as a number of mainframes supporting fiber channel protocol (FCP) via a small computer system interface (SCSI) command set over fiber channel.
Techopedia Explains Fiber Connection
FICON increases input/output (I/O) aptitudes through faster physical link rates and innovative architecture – making it eight times faster ESCON. FICON also supports older technology like ESCON and parallel topology.
FICON’s features include:
- FC switches or directors
- Only one required channel address
- Network layout flexibility with larger distances
- Supports ESCON control units with a bridge feature
- Compatible with S/390 G5 server installed channels
- Supports 100 Mbps bidirectional transmissions up to 12 miles
- Multiplexing support of small bits of data with large data transfers.
- Full-duplex data transmission )FDDT) with simultaneous data reading/writing over a single link
- American National Standards Institute (ANSI) standard FC physical and signaling interface (FC-PH) for cabling, signal and transmission speed
