After upgrading to VIOS 2.2.3.4 I noticed that there is a new SEA adapter attribute: adapter_reset

This adapter setting is set to 'yes' by default, so a SEA adapter going in to Backup state will cause the Physical Link to be reset.  If this link is running LACP (802.3ad) Link Aggregation, it can take up to 30 seconds for the LACP bundle to reset.

If you are running SEA Load Sharing, then Load Sharing is inititated by the 2nd VIO Servers adapter going in to Backup_sh mode.  This can cause the physical link to be reset and network communications may be interupted for this time.

It is advisable to change this adapter setting to 'no' for SEA adapters running Load Sharing where the underlying link is LACP.

1 - Login to the VIO Server

2 - Check the current setting.

# lsdev -dev ent9 -attr adapter_reset

value
yes

3 - Change the setting from 'yes' to 'no' - This is a Dynamic Change.

# chdev -dev ent9 -attr adapter_reset=no

4 - Confirm the adapter has changed.

# lsdev -dev ent9 -attr adapter_reset

value
no