z14 ZR1 servers support 32K devices per FICON channel for all FICON features. 

Each FICON Express16S+, FICON Express16S, and FICON Express8S channel can be defined independently for connectivity to servers, switches, directors, disks, tapes, and printers, by using the following CHPID types: 

GLYPH<SM590000> CHPID type FC: The FICON, zHPF, and FCTC protocols are supported simultaneously. 

GLYPH<SM590000> CHPID type FCP: Fibre Channel Protocol that supports attachment to SCSI devices directly or through Fibre Channel switches or directors. 

FICON channels (CHPID type FC or FCP) can be shared among LPARs and defined as spanned. All ports on a FICON feature must be of the same type (LX or SX). The features are connected to a FICON capable control unit (point-to-point or switched point-to-point) through a Fibre Channel switch. 

## FICON Express16S+ 

The FICON Express16S+ feature is installed in the PCIe+ I/O drawer. Each of the two independent ports is capable of 4 Gbps, 8 Gbps, or 16 Gbps. The link speed depends on the capability of the attached switch or device. The link speed is auto-negotiated, point-to-point, and is transparent to users and applications. 

The following types of FICON Express16S+ optical transceivers are supported (no mix on same card): 

GLYPH<SM590000> FICON Express16S+ LX feature, FC 0427, with two ports per feature, supporting LC Duplex connectors 

GLYPH<SM590000> FICON Express16S+ SX feature, FC 0428, with two ports per feature, supporting LC Duplex connectors 

Each port of the FICON Express16S+ LX feature uses an optical transceiver that supports an unrepeated distance of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) by using 9 µm single-mode fiber. 

Each port of the FICON Express16S+ SX feature uses an optical transceiver that supports to up to 125 meters (410 ft.) of distance variable with link data rate and fiber type. 

Consideration:  FICON Express16S+ features do not support auto-negotiation to a data link rate of 2 Gbps (only 4, 8, or 16 Gbps). 

## FICON Express16S 

The FICON Express16S feature is installed in the PCIe+ I/O drawer. Each of the two independent ports is capable of 4 Gbps, 8 Gbps, or 16 Gbps. The link speed depends on the capability of the attached switch or device. The link speed is auto-negotiated, point-to-point, and is transparent to users and applications. 

The following types of FICON Express16S optical transceivers are supported: 

GLYPH<SM590000> FICON Express16S LX feature, FC 0418, with two ports per feature, supporting LC Duplex connectors 

GLYPH<SM590000> FICON Express16S SX feature, FC 0419, with two ports per feature, supporting LC Duplex connectors 

Each port of the FICON Express16S LX feature uses an optical transceiver that supports an unrepeated distance of 10 kilometers (6.2 miles) by using 9 µm single-mode fiber. 

Each port of the FICON Express16S SX feature uses an optical transceiver that supports to up to 125 meters (410 ft.) of distance depending on the fiber that is used. 

