Virtual Ethernet adapters

Virtual Ethernet adapters allow client logical partitions to send and receive network traffic without having a physical Ethernet adapter.

Virtual Ethernet adapters allow logical partitions within the same system to communicate without having to use physical Ethernet adapters. Within the system, virtual Ethernet adapters are connected to an IEEE 802.1q virtual Ethernet switch. Using this switch function, logical partitions can communicate with each other by using virtual Ethernet adapters and assigning VIDs. With VIDs, virtual Ethernet adapters can share a common logical network. The system transmits packets by copying the packet directly from the memory of the sender logical partition to the receive buffers of the receiver logical partition without any intermediate buffering of the packet.

Virtual Ethernet adapters can be used without using the Virtual I/O Server, but the logical partitions will not be able to communicate with external systems. However, in this situation, you can use another device, called a Host Ethernet Adapter (or Integrated Virtual Ethernet), to facilitate communication between logical partitions on the system and external networks.

You can create virtual Ethernet adapters using the Hardware Management Console (HMC) and configure them using the Virtual I/O Server command-line interface. You can also use the Integrated Virtualization Manager to create and manage virtual Ethernet adapters.

Consider using virtual Ethernet on the Virtual I/O Server in the following situations:

• When the capacity or the bandwidth requirement of the individual logical partition is inconsistent with, or is less than, the total bandwidth of a physical Ethernet adapter. Logical partitions that use the full bandwidth or capacity of a physical Ethernet adapter should use dedicated Ethernet adapters.
• When you need an Ethernet connection, but there is no slot available in which to install a dedicated adapter.