Configuring Ethernet on the managed system by using the Integrated Virtualization Manager

You can configure the following types of Ethernet on your managed system:

• You can create virtual Ethernet bridges on your managed system. Virtual Ethernet bridges, also known as Shared Ethernet Adapters, connect the virtual Ethernet networks on your managed system to physical Local Area Networks (LANs). For greater security, do not set up the physical Ethernet adapter that you use to connect to the management partition as a virtual Ethernet bridge. This permits you to isolate the management partition from all external networks. (The management partition manages the virtual Ethernet networks on your managed system but does not participate in any virtual Ethernet networks.)
  Note: This is the only method that you can use to configure Ethernet for an IBM® i partition.
  Note: This is the only method that you can use to configure Ethernet for an IBM i partition.

  If you configure a single physical Ethernet adapter or link aggregation to connect to the management partition and to act as a virtual Ethernet bridge, consider using OpenSSL and Portable OpenSSH on the management partition. You can use OpenSSL and Portable OpenSSH to connect securely to the Virtual I/O Server from a remote location.

  You do not need to select a physical Ethernet adapter or link aggregation for a virtual Ethernet network. If no physical adapter or link aggregation is set for a virtual Ethernet network, then the partitions on the virtual Ethernet network can communicate with one another, but they cannot communicate directly with a physical network.

• You can configure a Host Ethernet Adapter port. A Host Ethernet Adapter is a unique Ethernet adapter that is built into the system. It provides the ability to partition a physical Ethernet port. A Host Ethernet Adapter can contain one or more physical ports and each physical port can be assigned to zero or more partitions.
  Note: You cannot configure an IBM i partition to use a Host Ethernet Adapter.
  Note: You cannot configure an IBM i partition to use a Host Ethernet Adapter.
• You can assign a physical Ethernet adapter to a client partition.
  Note: You cannot assign a physical adapter to an IBM i partition.
  Note: You cannot assign a physical adapter to an IBM i partition.

To configure virtual Ethernet on the managed system, complete the following steps: