Dynamic adapter swap

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The dynamic adapter swap functionality lets you swap the IP address of an active network interface card (NIC) with the IP address of a user-specified active, available "backup" network interface card on the same node and network.

Cluster services do not have to be stopped to perform the swap.

This feature can be used to move an IP address off a network interface card that is behaving erratically, to another NIC without shutting down the node. It can also be used if a hot pluggable NIC is being replaced on the node. Hot pluggable NICs can be physically removed and replaced without powering off the node. When the (hot pluggable) NIC that you want to replace is removed from the node, PowerHA® SystemMirror® makes the NIC unavailable as a backup.

You can configure adapter swap using SMIT. The service IP address is moved from its current NIC to a user-specified NIC. The service IP address then becomes an available "backup" address. When the new card is placed in the node, the NIC is incorporated into the cluster as an available "backup" again. You can then swap the IP address from the backup NIC to the original NIC.

Note: This type of dynamic adapter swap can only be performed within a single node. You cannot swap the IP address with the IP address on a different node with this functionality. To move a service IP address to another node, move its resource group using the Resource Group Management utility.