Configuring a device for virtual IP address (VIPA)

6.10 LPAR mode z/VM guest

You can configure a device for VIPA if the layer2 option is not enabled. If you enabled the layer2 option, you can configure for VIPA as you would in a distributed server environment.

Before you begin

Virtual IP address (VIPA) can be configured only if the kernel was compiled with the common code configuration option CONFIG_DUMMY.

About this task

For information about the layer2 option, see MAC headers in layer 2 mode.

IBM Z® uses VIPAs to protect against certain types of hardware connection failure. You can assign VIPAs that are independent from particular adapter. VIPAs can be built under Linux® using dummy devices (for example, dummy0 or dummy1).

The qeth device driver maintains a list of VIPAs that the OSA-Express adapter accepts for each qeth group device. Use the qethconf utility to add or remove VIPAs (see qethconf - Configure qeth devices).

For an example of how to use VIPA, see Scenario: VIPA – minimize outage due to adapter failure.

Be aware of Confirming that an IP address has been set under layer 3 when you work with VIPAs.