The supported operating systems are listed in Table 7-6 on page 252 and Table 7-7 on  page 253. The FICON Express8S provides a link rate of 8 Gbps, with auto negotiation to 4 or 2 Gbps for  compatibility with previous devices and investment protection. Both 10 km (6.2 miles) LX and  SX connections are offered (in a feature, all connections must include the same type). Statement of Direction $^{a}$: IBM z14 is the last z Systems and IBM Z high-end server to  support FICON Express8S (#0409 and #0410) channels. Enterprises should begin  migrating from FICON Express8S channels to FICON Express16S+ channels (FC 0427  and FC 0428). FICON Express8S is supported on future high-end IBM Z servers as carry  forward on an upgrade. FICON Express8S introduced a hardware data router for more efficient zHPF data transfers.  It is the first channel with hardware that is designed to support zHPF, as compared to FICON  Express8, FICON Express4, and FICON Express2, which include a firmware-only zHPF  implementation. The supported operating systems are listed in Table 7-6 on page 252 and Table 7-7 on  page 253. An enhancement to the industry-standard FICON architecture (FC-SB-3) helps avoid  degradation of performance at extended distances by implementing a new protocol for  persistent IU pacing. Extended distance FICON is transparent to operating systems and  applies to all FICON Express16S+, FICON Express16S, and FICON Express8S features that  carry native FICON traffic (CHPID type FC). To use this enhancement, the control unit must support the new IU pacing protocol. IBM  System Storagefi DS8000 series supports extended distance FICON for IBM Z  environments. The channel defaults to current pacing values when it operates with control  units that cannot use extended distance FICON. The supported operating systems are listed in Table 7-6 on page 252 and Table 7-7 on  page 253. High-performance FICON (zHPF) was first provided on System z10, and is a FICON  architecture for protocol simplification and efficiency. It reduces the number of information  units (IUs) that are processed. Enhancements were made to the z/Architecture and the  FICON interface architecture to provide optimizations for online transaction processing  (OLTP) workloads. zHPF is available on z14, z13, z13s, zEC12, and zBC12 servers. The FICON Express16S+,  FICON Express16S, and FICON Express8S (CHPID type FC) concurrently support the  existing FICON protocol and the zHPF protocol in the server LIC. When used by the FICON channel, the z/OS operating system, and the DS8000 control unit  or other subsystems, the FICON channel processor usage can be reduced and performance  improved. Appropriate levels of Licensed Internal Code (LIC) are required.  High-performance FICON Extended distance FICON FICON Express8S a. All statements regarding IBM plans, directions, and intent are subject to change or withdrawal  without notice. Any reliance on these statements of general direction is at the relying party’s  sole risk and will not create liability or obligation for IBM. 280  IBM z14 (3906) Technical Guide