IBM z14: Advancing the I/O storage and networking channel adapter

The IBM z14 system introduces a new input/output adapter that supports two storage protocols as well as a networking protocol. This is the first time three protocols have been supported on one application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The three protocols supported are Fibre Connection, Fibre Channel Protocol, and Ethernet. In addition to consolidation, enhancements included substantial performance improvements, reductions in power, and updates to both the technology and multiple intellectual property interface standards. Due to the increased complexity of this ASIC, new verification methodologies were introduced that also incorporated firmware running on programmable sequence engines. This enabled testing earlier in the development cycle, referred to as a shift-left transformation, so our firmware and software development teams could start coding even before the actual hardware was built.