[cccompton]

I've heard that it's best not to have an IP address on the VIO server because it impacts performance. Instead, manage the VIOS using HMC console session.

I now understand that an IP address on the VIOS is required for DLPAR operations. Given that, I've come across 2 recommended configurations:

(1) Assign the IP address to the SEA. This is the config in the "Best Practices" Redbook, but it is also the config that was supposed to add processing overhead and hurt performance. E.g.:

physical adapter<->SEA (w/ IP address)<->virtual adapter (PVID N)

(2) Create a another virtual ethernet adapter in the VIOS assigned to the same VLAN for the purpose of communicating with the HMC. The Hypervisor will route the packet, thereby relieving the VIOS of the task. E.g.:

physical adapter <-> SEA <-> virtual adapter 1 (PVID N)
virtual adpater 2 (PVID N) (w/ IP address)

I would be interested in hearing comments on the relative merits of these 2 configurations or suggestions for better implementations.

Thanks.