Using an alternative communication protocol between a first system and a second system that are otherwise configured to communicate using a FICON protocol includes the first system determining if the alternative communication protocol is handled by the second system, the first system providing encapsulated data by encapsulating FICON data if the alternative communication protocol is handled at the second system, and the first system transmitting the encapsulated data directly to the second system using the alternative communication protocol if the alternative communication protocol is handled at the second system. The alternative communication protocol may be TCP/IP. At least one of the systems is a host computing system, an array storage system, and/or a tape emulation system. At least one of the systems may be a simulation of a host computing system, an array storage system, and/or a tape emulation system.