Chapter 2. Architecture and technical overview 39
Draft Document for Review May 28, 2009 1:59 pm 4405ch02 Architecture and technical overview.fm
Virtual Ethernet resources without the Virtual I/O Server
Designed to operate at media speeds
The IVE is a physical Ethernet adapter that is connected directly to the GX+ bus instead of
being connected to a PCIe or PCI-X bus, either as an optional or integrated PCI adapter. This
provides IVE high throughput, and low latency. IVE also includes special hardware features to
provide logical Ethernet adapters that can communicate to logical partitions (LPAR) reducing
the use of POWER Hypervisor™ (PHYP).
IVE design provides a direct connection for multiple LPARs to share its resources. This allows
LPARs to access external networks through the IVE without having to go through an Ethernet
bridge on another logical partition, such as a Virtual I/O Server. Therefore, this eliminates the
need to move packets (using virtual Ethernet) between partitions and then through a shared
Ethernet adapter (SEA) to an Ethernet port. LPARs can share IVE ports with improved
performance.
Figure 2-10 Integrated Virtual Ethernet compared to Virtual I/O Server Shared Ethernet Adapter
IVE supports 2 or 4 Ethernet ports running at 1 Gbps and 2 ports running at 10 Gbps
depending on the IVE feature ordered. In the case of a 570 server, clients that are using
1 Gbps connection bandwidth in their IT infrastructure could move up to 10 Gbps
infrastructure by adding a new 570 enclosure with the Integrated 2-ports 10 Gbps virtual
Ethernet.
After any IBM System p initial order, you must use the MES
1
process to make any changes in
the system configuration.
For more information on IVE features read Integrated Virtual Ethernet Technical Overview
and Introduction, REDP-4340.
2.7.1 Physical ports and system integration
The following sections discuss the physical ports and the features available at the time of
writing on a 570.
Each 570 enclosure can have unique Integrated Virtual Ethernet adapters, so a fully
configured 570 server can be comprised of several different IVE feature codes.
1
MES stands for Miscellaneous Equipment Shipment. It is the IBM process for IBM system upgrade
Hypervisor
AIXHosting
Partition
AIX Linux
Virtual Ethernet Switch
Virtual
Ethernet
Driver
Virtual
Ethernet
Driver
Virtual
Ethernet
Driver
Network Adapters
Packet
Forwarder
LAN, WAN, ...
AIX AIX Linux
Virtual
Ethernet
Driver
Virtual
Ethernet
Driver
Virtual
Ethernet
Driver
Integrated Virtual Ethernet
Using Virtual I/O Server Shared Ethernet Adapter Using Integrated Virtual Ethernet
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