Creating an HSCI interface

6.10 LPAR mode

Combine a HiperSockets network interface with an external OSA- or RoCE port to create a single network interface.

Before you begin

It is useful to assign the participating adapters and HiperSockets channels to the same PNET ID in the IOCDS.

Procedure

Ensure that the HiperSockets interface and the OSA or RoCE interface that you want to work with are up.
Merge the HiperSockets interface and the OSA or RoCE interface by issuing a command of the form:
```
# hsci add <HipSock_if> <Ext_if>
```
The resulting HSCI interface name is based on the device-bus ID of the HiperSockets interface.
As a simple example, Figure 1 illustrates how a Linux® instance running in an LPAR is changed to use one HSCI interface instead of one OSA interface and one HiperSockets interface.
Figure 1. A Linux instance where interfaces are merged to a single HSCI interface

Assume you want to set up an HSCI interface by converging a HiperSockets interface named hsi0 (device bus-ID 0.0.b003), and an OSA-Express interface named eth0. Connect the two by issuing:
```
# hsci add hsi0 eth0
...
Successfully added HSCI interface hscib003
```
In the example, the device-bus ID 0.0.b003 of the HiperSockets device results in the HSCI interface name hscib003. The HSCI interface name is predictable.
For more information about the hsci command, see hsci - Manage HSCI interfaces.
Assign an IP address to the new HSCI interface, for example, with the ip command.
Issue a command of the form:
```
# ip addr add <IP_address> dev <interface>
```
For example, assuming that the new HSCI interface is called hscib003:
```
# ip addr add 10.1.0.1/16 dev hscib003
```

Optional: You can list the new HSCI interface with the hsci show command:

# hsci show
HSCI      PNET_ID  HiperSockets  External
------------------------------------------------------------
hscib003  NET1     hsi0          eth0

What to do next

You can delete an HSCI interface with the hsci del command, for example:

# hsci del hscib003
Deleting HSCI interface hscib003 with the HiperSockets hsi0 and the
external eth0
Deleting MAC fe:c2:f4:35:00:12 on hscib003
Successfully deleted device hscib003