Creating a virtual Ethernet adapter using HMC version 7

You can create a virtual Ethernet adapter on a Virtual I/O Server so that client logical partitions can access the external network without having to own a physical Ethernet adapter.

If you plan to use a Shared Ethernet Adapter with a Host Ethernet Adapter (or Integrated Virtual Ethernet), ensure that the Logical Host Ethernet Adapter (LHEA) on the Virtual I/O Server is set to promiscuous mode. For instructions, see Setting the LHEA to promiscuous mode.
To create a virtual Ethernet adapter on the Virtual I/O Server using the Hardware Management Console (HMC), version 7 or later, complete the following steps:
  1. In the navigation area, expand Systems Management > Servers and select the server on which the Virtual I/O Server logical partition is located.
  2. In the contents are, select the Virtual I/O Server logical partition.
  3. Click Tasks and select Configuration > Manage Profiles. The Managed Profiles page is displayed.
  4. Select the profile in which you want to create the Shared Ethernet Adapter and click Actions > Edit. The Logical Partition Profile Properties page is displayed.
  5. Click the Virtual Adapters tab.
  6. Click Actions > Create > Ethernet adapter.
  7. Select IEEE 802.1Q-compatible adapter.
  8. If you are using multiple VLANs, add any additional VLAN IDs for the client logical partitions that must communicate with the external network using this virtual adapter.
  9. Select Access external network to use this adapter as a gateway between VLANs and an external network. This Ethernet adapter is configured as part of the Shared Ethernet Adapter.
  10. If you are not using Shared Ethernet Adapter failover, you can use the default trunk priority. If you are using Shared Ethernet Adapter failover, then set the trunk priority for the primary share Ethernet adapter to a lower number than that of the backup Shared Ethernet Adapter.
  11. When you are finished, click OK.
  12. Assign or create one of the following real adapters:
    • Assign a physical Ethernet adapter to the Virtual I/O Server.
    • If you plan to aggregate more than one physical Ethernet adapter into a Link Aggregation or EtherChannel device, then assign multiple physical Ethernet adapters to the Virtual I/O Server.
    • If you plan to use the Shared Ethernet Adapter with a Host Ethernet Adapter, then create an LHEA for the Virtual I/O Server logical partition.
  13. Click OK to exit the Logical Partition Profile Properties page.
  14. Click Close to exit the Managed Profiles page.
  15. Repeat this procedure for additional Shared Ethernet Adapters that you require.
When you are finished, configure the Shared Ethernet Adapter using the Virtual I/O Server command-line interface or the Hardware Management Console graphical interface, version 7 release 3.4.2 or later.