Networking

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6.18 LPAR mode z/VM guest KVM guest

Linux® on IBM® Z includes several network device drivers that are specific to z/Architecture®.

Example

Figure 1. Networking example

This graphic is described in the text that follows

In the example there are six Linux instances; two of them run as z/VM® guests in one LPAR and a third Linux instance runs in another LPAR. Within z/VM, Linux instances can be connected directly by IUCV, virtual-CTC, or through a guest LAN or VSWITCH. Within and between LPARs, you can connect Linux instances through HiperSockets™. OSA-Express cards running in QDIO mode can connect the mainframe to an external network.

Linux instance 4 and 5 are guests of a KVM host and are connected through an Open vSwitch, which in turn is connected to the LAN through a Network Express adapter. Linux instance 6 runs in an LPAR and is connected over a Network Express adapter to the LAN.

Table 1 lists which control units and device type combinations are supported by the network device drivers.

Table 1. Supported device types, control units, and corresponding device drivers
Device type Control unit Device driver Comment
1732/01 1731/01 qeth OSA configured as OSD
1732/02 1731/02 qeth OSA configured as OSX
1732/03 1731/02 qeth OSA configured as OSM
1732/05 1731/05 qeth HiperSockets
0000/00 3088/08 ctcm Virtual CTC under z/VM
0000/00 3088/1e ctcm FICON® channel
0000/00 3088/1f ctcm ESCON® channel
Table 2. Supported device types, control units, and corresponding device drivers for PCI-based networking
Device type Device driver Comment
RoCE mlx5_core See RoCE Express for more details.
ROC2 mlx5_core See RoCE Express for more details.
NETH mlx5_core See Network Express in hybrid mode for more details.
NETD mlx5_core See Network Express in direct mode for more details.