Verifying that the server supports single root I/O virtualization

Before you enable single root I/O virtualization (SR-IOV) shared mode for an SR-IOV capable adapter, verify that the server supports the SR-IOV feature by using the Hardware Management Console (HMC). SR-IOV is a Peripheral Component Interconnect Special Interest Group specification to allow multiple partitions that are running simultaneously within a single computer to share a Peripheral Component Interconnect-Express (PCIe) device.

To verify that the server supports SR-IOV, complete the following steps:

  1. In the navigation pane, open Systems Management and click Servers.
  2. Select the server in the work pane.
  3. From the Tasks menu, click Properties.
  4. Click the Capabilities tab.
    • If SR-IOV Capable is True, the SR-IOV adapter can be configured in the shared mode and can be shared by multiple logical partitions.
    • If SR-IOV Capable is False, the SR-IOV adapter can be configured in the shared mode but can be used by only one logical partition.
    • If SR-IOV Capable is not displayed, the server does not support the SR-IOV feature.

    The HMC Classic interface is not supported in Hardware Management Console (HMC) Version 8.7.0, or later. The functions that were previously available in the HMC Classic interface are now available in the HMC Enhanced+ interface.

    When the HMC is at version 8.7.0, or later, complete the following steps to verify that the server supports SR-IOV:
    1. In the navigation pane, click the Resources icon The icon represents the Resources function of the HMC.
    2. Click All Systems. The All Systems page is displayed.
    3. In the work pane, select the system and click Actions > View System Properties. The Properties page is displayed.
    4. Click Licensed Capabilities. The Licensed Capabilities page lists the features that are supported by the server.
    5. In the Licensed Capabilities page, verify the list of features displayed.
      • If SR-IOV Capable is marked by the The icon represents the availability of a feature in the HMC icon, the SR-IOV adapter can be configured in the shared mode and can be shared by multiple logical partitions.
      • If SR-IOV Capable is marked by the The icon represents the non-availability of a feature in the HMC icon, the SR-IOV adapter can be configured in the shared mode but can be used by only one logical partition..
      • If SR-IOV Capable is not displayed, the server does not support the SR-IOV feature.
  5. Click OK.
Parent topic: Planning for logical partitions


Last updated: Fri, July 05, 2019