New IBM System Storage Tape Controller 3592

IBM System Storage Tape Controller Model C07 is a tape controller offering increased performance and connectivity.

The new IBM System Storage Tape Controller Model C07 delivers performance and reliability for IBM System z customers. Tape Controller Model C07 has up to four 4-Gbps FICON attachments. The Tape Controller Model C07 offers four 8-Gbps Fibre Channel adapters for attaching 3592 Tape Drives, and up to 16 of the IBM 3592 Tape Drives can be attached to a single Tape Controller Model C07. The controller can be installed in an IBM 3952 Tape Frame Model F05, IBM TS3500 (3584) Tape Library frames, and stand-alone racks.

The Tape Controller Model C07 can be ordered with integrated library management functionality. This replaces the need for a separate 3953-L05 Library Manager. For high availability, the first two Model C07 controllers that are connected to a common TS3500 logical library will both have the library management feature. This will allow library activity to continue during code loads and outages on any single controller. To reduce the need for software updates, the library management interface to the System z server will remain unchanged for this functionality.

The Tape Controller Model C07 has many of the reliability and availability characteristics that the prior TS1120 Tape Controller Model C06 offered, such as redundant power supplies with automatic failover and hot swap capabilities, redundant cooling, and support for the IBM TS3000 System Console (TSSC) mandatory attachment, previously known as the IBM TotalStorage Service Console (TSSC).

The Tape Controller Model C07 also includes application performance and capacity enhancements that are available with the TS1120 Tape Controller Model C06, such as capacity scaling commands. The effect of capacity scaling is to potentially reduce the average locate time to a random record (from load point) to as little as 30% of the normal locate time.

Key prerequisites

• The new Tape Controller Model C07 can attach to FICON channels on selected System z servers with the appropriate levels of system software. An available fibre channel switch feature is required to attach more than four 3592 Tape Drives to the Tape Controller Model C07. Additional features may be required on the Tape Controller Model C07 or automation frames. Refer to the section for details.

Planned availability date

• November 11, 2011: 592 C07 features #0520, #5595, and #5891; 3592 F05 features #5891 and #5892
• September 9, 2011: All other features and machine type and models