master server moving from AIX to RHEL

Our NBU 7.1.0.4 master server will be moving to RHEL in the near future, to allow us to upgrade to 7.7+.

Our libraries are Quantum i6000, fiber attached to multiple media servers.

Question, will the new RHEL master server require an HBA to control the tape library? Or can it be controlled via LAN?

It will not be a media server.

Does the RHEL need to be a stand alone server or could it reside within a VM environment?

Thanks in advance for any assistance.