IBM has announced new enterprise storage products and enhancements -- including FICON support for IBM's TotalStorage Enterprise Storage Server (code named Shark) and two models of IBM's TotalStorage Virtual Tape Server (VTS) that for the first time incorporate IBM's patented copper chip technology. IBM becomes the first storage provider to offer mainframe customers a fibre channel-based connection (FICON) to their high-end disk systems. FICON provides peak data transfer rates almost six times faster than the current ESCON technology employed by competitors. It also relieves constraints that limit an increase in configurations, as it supports disk storage configurations up to six times larger than those supported by ESCON. Easier management capability is also enabled because FICON configurations typically use one-fourth the number of channels. The new B20 tape server provides up to a 100 percent increase in the peak write data rate when compared to older models. The B20 and the new B10 VTS model are also available for use in a peer-to-peer configuration. In addition to the disk and tape enhancements, IBM also announced: * IBM TotalStorage SAN Controller 160, a high-function serial disk controller, designed to provide fibre channel connectivity for UNIX servers from IBM, Sun and HP, in addition to Windows NT/2000 servers. * IBM Global Services support for IBM's disk and tape enhancements, helping customers implement reliable, integrated storage solutions. FICON will ship on Sept. 28 and the VTS models will ship on Aug. 31.