The service interface is a single adapter that is used for service tools. If no network adapter is selected, either by location or partition tagging for a local console that is directly attached, the single adapter is the service interface.
More commonly it is a network adapter that supports either a local console on a network or the service tools server. In the case where there is a valid network adapter available, even if another console is selected and there is a valid service host name associated with the adapter, then this is the service interface. It can support a console, the service tools server, or both.
Occasionally the console is not connected by using this network adapter, but the service tools server is configured to support the System i® Navigator interface for hard-disk drive configuration or similar functions. With IBM® i 6.1, the service interface can be shared with an IBM i line description, therefore, sharing the same interface. This works only when the Host Ethernet Adapter or the 5706, 5707, 5767, or 5768 adapters are supporting the service interface.
It is possible to configure a local console that is directly attached for a service tools server by using a 2793 adapter and a 2849 network adapter, for example. Each adapter is dedicated to support its respective function and is not available by the IBM i operating system. If you were to use the Host Ethernet Adapter, the 2793 adapter is dedicated, but the service tools server that is running on the Host Ethernet Adapter can be shared with IBM i.
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