## 6.3.4 IBM i and FlashSystem 900 AE3 

This section covers the following topics pertaining to IBM i and FlashSystem 900 AE3: 

GLYPH<SM590000> Attachment methods 

GLYPH<SM590000> Zoning rules 

GLYPH<SM590000> Hardware and software requirements 

GLYPH<SM590000> Configuration and performance considerations 

## Attachment methods 

The IBM FlashSystem 900 AE3 can be attached to IBM i hosts by using one of the following Fibre Channel (FC) methods: 

GLYPH<SM590000> NPIV-attachment  through the IBM Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) using Node Port Identifier Virtualization (NPIV) in conjunction with the required NPIV-capable SAN switch. 

GLYPH<SM590000> Native-attachment , that is, without the IBM VIOS, either with a SAN switch or without one. The latter (without a SAN switch) is also known as direct-attachment . 

Note:  IBM i attachment to the IBM FlashSystem 900 through the IBM VIOS using virtual SCSI is not  supported. 

## Zoning rules 

The same rules apply for IBM i direct-attachment to an IBM FlashSystem 900 as for other host operating systems. However, different zoning rules apply for SAN switch-attached IBM i host Fibre Channel initiators. Unlike with other operating systems, these initiators must not be zoned to both FlashSystem canisters. 

For IBM FlashSystem 900 native or NPIV SAN switch attachment, a one-to-one zoning should be used such that one IBM i Fibre Channel initiator port is zoned with one FlashSystem target port from a single FlashSystem canister, as shown in Figure 6-3 on page 161 under Switch Attachment. Note that this is different also to IBM FlashSystem V9000, IBM Storwize series, or IBM SAN Volume Controller attachment where a single IBM i initiator should be zoned to both storage controller nodes to support the SCSI Asymmetrical Logical Unit Access (ALUA) LUN affinity concept of these controller nodes with preferred (active) and non-preferred (passive) paths. With IBM FlashSystem 900, all paths are active. 

