IBM z Systems running the IBM z/VSE operating system

You can attach IBM® z Systems® servers (hosts) that are running the IBM z/VSE® operating system. The z/VSE operating system can operate in a logical partition (LPAR) and in an IBM z/VM® guest environment.

For more information about host compatibility, see IBM System Storage Interoperation Center (SSIC).

The following IBM website provides general z/VSE information about supported z/VSE releases, and supported IBM z Systems servers: www-03.ibm.com/systems/z/os/zvse/about/status.html.

You need a FICON® Express (FICON Express, FICON Express2 or higher) adapter (also named host bus adapter (HBA)) on your z Systems server.

You must configure the FICON® Express adapter or HBA in FCP mode. FCP mode means that the HBA is configured with channel path ID (CHPID) type FCP in the input/output control data set (IOCDS) of your z Systems server.
Note: With N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV), multiple virtual FCP adapters can be defined. Each virtual FCP adapter can have its own unique WWPN. You can use the WWPN of a virtual FCP adapter to map volumes to the host. This action can be used to define multiple hosts that share the same physical FCP adapter. The NPIV support was introduced with System z9®.

Configure your z/VSE system to use FCP-attached SCSI disks. After you configure a path to the SCSI disk, the SCSI disks are recognized by z/VSE user programs and system programs as fixed block architecture (FBA) disks only. You can use the SCSI disks with existing FBA interfaces. The z/VSE operating system does not provide SCSI command support for applications. See the IBM z/VSE Administration publication for additional information.

SAN boot support for IBM z Systems servers running the z/VSE operating system

If you have installed the z/VSE operating system on SCSI disks, you can complete the initial program load (IPL) process from the SCSI disks.

See the IBM z/VSE Administration publication for information regarding what specifications are required to initiate the IPL process in an LPAR environment and in a z/VM guest environment.