Customers should be aware that, according to IBM Hardware Announcement 111-012 (published February 15, 2011), the IBM zEnterprise 196 and IBM zEnterprise 114 are the last System z servers to support ESCON channels. You will not be able to order ESCON channels on System z servers that follow the z196 (machine type 2817) and z114 (machine type 2818) architectures. Furthermore, ESCON channels will not be supported on upgrades to such servers. This applies to channel path identifier types CNC, CTC, CVC, and CBY and to features 2323 and 2324.

Support for FICON channels, however, will continue. IBM encourages customers to eliminate the use of ESCON channels from the mainframe wherever possible. In addition, IBM offers an ESCON to FICON migration solution to assist you in your migration from ESCON to FICON. For more information, refer to the IBM web site or your IBM technical support representative.