Network Express in hybrid mode

7.1 LPAR mode DPM partition z/VM guest KVM guest

You can define PCI functions of type Network Express Hybrid (NETH) on the Network Express adapter's PCHIDs using either IOCP or DPM.

OSH devices: On the same NETH PCHIDs you can also define CCW devices of type OSA hybrid (OSH). OSH devices are not supported on Linux .

PCI functions of type NETH are seen as devices by Linux, and are referred to as NETH devices in the following.

You can assign NETH devices to LPARs using the IOCDS or DPM. These devices are virtual functions (VFs) assigned to LPARs or DPM partitions. In Linux, these VFs appear as PCI functions and are managed by the mlx_core5 device driver. Each PCHID can support up to 123 VF FIDs, in other words, you can have 123 NETH devices per PCHID.

To set up your network, use IP tools as for other interfaces, and refer to your Linux distribution for tools to use.

For details about how to list and manage NETH devices on Linux® on IBM® Z and IBM LinuxONE, see Networking with PCI network adapters, SC34-7745.

Using NETH devices with z/VM and KVM

You can use a pass-through NETH device in a z/VM guest.

On KVM, you can assign a NETH device to the KVM guest. However, for performance reasons you might prefer to create a MacVTap interface and then assign the MacVTap interface to the KVM guest.