Model MMC and MHC Do Not Spport HEA Functionality

Resolving The Problem

This document explains that models of the type MMC and MHC do not support the HEA functionality.

Logical HEA is not supported on the MMC and MHC models. What is confusing is that the card is still called an HEA in all of our documentation, even though it can only act as a PCI card. IBM i does not support the card. It can only be used indirectly using virtual Ethernet to VIOS where VIOS uses it as the backing device.

If you attempt to configure the HEA, you will see the following:



All commands fail with message HSCL066B:

lshwres -m 9179-MHC*"Serial#" -r hea --rsubtype phys --level sys
HSCL066B The managed system does not support Host Ethernet Adapters (HEA).

The capability is conflicting.

GUI shows false:



CLI, however, shows it supported:
lssyscfg -m 9179-MHC*"SERIAL#" -r sys -F lhea_capable
lhea_capable=1

The HEA card shows up as a PCI Ethernet under IO:



Announcement Letter:
http://www-01.ibm.com/common/ssi/ShowDoc.jsp?docURL=/common/ssi/rep_sm/4/897/ENUS9117-_h04/index.html&lang=en

"Also, both drawers are designed with a new Integrated Multifunction Card which provides four Ethernet ports (two 10 Gb and two 1 Gb),a serial port, and two USB ports. Virtualization of these Ethernet ports is provided through VIOS for AIX, IBM i, and Linux. Native (non-VIOS) usage of these ports is supported by AIX or Linux. The Integrated Virtual Ethernet or Host Ethernet Adapter is not used with the Power 770 model MMC. "
...
(#1804) - Integrated, 4 Port (2x1Gb and 2x10Gb SFP+ Optical-SR ports)

Integrated Virtual Ethernet (IVE) or Host Ethernet Adapter (HEA) provides Ethernet connectors for a processor enclosure and does not require a PCI slot. The #1804 provides four Ethernet connections: 2 x 1Gb (RJ-45) and 2 x 10 Gb (Small Form-factor Pluggable + (SFP+) SR optical). It can be virtualized into the system LPARs. All of the connectors are on the rear bulkhead of the processor enclosure. Only one HEA card can be placed in an individual processor enclosure, and one HEA adapter is required in each processor enclosure. On a multi-enclosure system, the HEA features can differ. The RJ-45 ports support up to 100m cabling distance. The optical ports only support the 850 Nm optic cable (multi mode cable) and support up to 300m cabling distances.