Controlling a tape library remotely over an IP network

Hi,

We have an IBM TS3500 tape library (and a Power 6 520 system). We are planning for some HA/DR scenarios at the moment and one of the possibilities is moving the Power System to a vendor data center. The tape library however will stay onsite (it's also used by a TSM server and that and the Windows servers are remaining onsite). The connection between our building and the vendor data center will be an MPLS network.

I was wondering if anyone has any experience doing this? Specifically,


1) Is it even possible? The tape controller is a 280D PCI-X Fibre Channel controller. Is it possible for this to work over an IP network?

2) Assuming it is possible, does anyone have any experience with the performance of such a set up?

Thanks

Adam Driver
IBM Certified Systems Administrator - System i
Consultant - Infrastructure Engineer
Exacta Corporation
(608) 661 6697 ext 2581
adriver@xxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:adriver@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
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