IBM - PowerVM - POD03015USEN

8/7/2019 IBM - PowerVM - POD03015USEN

1/6

IBM Systems and Technology

Data Sheet

Power Systems

IBM PowerVM EditionsVirtualization without limits

Highlights

Reduce IT costs by consolidatingdiverse workloads onto Power

Systems platforms

Optimize utilization of enterprise IT

resources to improve service levels and

boost ROI

Minimize the complexity of systems

administration and automate standard

processes

Rapidly scale to deliver maximum sys-

tem resources to the most demanding

mission-critical workloads

Maximize availability by moving liveworkloads between servers to eliminate

planned downtime

Complexity can work its way into any IT infrastructure, driven by the

rollout of new applications and unanticipated change. However, adding

servers in response to each demand for new workloads drives the need

for more datacenter space, power, cooling, network cabling, data stor-age and administrative resources. Such complexity leads to inefficiency.

The answer is virtualization, which allows organizations to consolidate

multiple operating systems and software stacks on a single platform.

PowerVM provides the industrial-strength virtualization solution for

IBM Power Systems servers and blades. Based on more than a decade

of evolution and innovation, PowerVM represents the state of the art

in enterprise virtualization and is broadly deployed in production envi-

ronments worldwide by most Power Systems owners.

The IBM Power Systems family of servers includes proven1 workload

consolidation platforms that help clients control costs while improvingoverall performance, availability and energy efficiency. With these

servers and IBM PowerVM virtualization solutions, an organization

can consolidate large numbers of applications and servers, fully virtual-

ize its system resources, and provide a more flexible, dynamic IT infra-

structure. In other words, IBM Power Systems with PowerVM deliver

the benefits of virtualization without limits.

PowerVM provides industrial-strength virtualization for AIX, IBM i,

and Linux environments on IBM POWER processor-based sys-

tems. IBM Power Systems servers integrated with PowerVM technol-

ogy are designed to allow clients to build a dynamic infrastructure that

will help them to reduce costs, manage risk and improve service levels.


2/6

2

IBM Systems and Technology Power Systems

Data Sheet

PowerVM also offers a secure and resilient virtualization

environment, built on the advanced RAS (reliability,

availability and serviceability) features, extreme scalability and

leadership performance2 of the IBM Power Systems platform,

based on the industry-leading POWER6 and POWER7

processors.

Employing virtualizationYou can employ virtualization in many ways to achieve

improvements in efficiency and flexibility:

Consolidation of multiple workloads, including those on

underutilized servers and systems with varied and dynamic

resource requirements Rapid deployment and scaling of workloads to meet chang-

ing business demands Aggregation of system resources such as CPUs, memory

and storage into shared pools for dynamic reallocation

between multiple workloads Application development and testing in secure, independent

domains Live transfer of running workloads between servers to sup-

port migrations, systems balancing, or to avoid planned

downtime

Processor virtualizationThe Power Systems family gives you the freedom to run the

broadest selection of enterprise applications without the costsand complexity often associated with managing multiple

physical servers. PowerVM can help eliminate underutilized

servers because it is designed to pool resources and optimize

their use across multiple application environments and oper-

ating systems. Through advanced virtual machine (VM) capa-

bilities, a single VM can act as a completely separate AIX,

IBM i, or Linux operating environment, using dedicated or

shared system resources. With shared resources, PowerVM

can automatically adjust pooled processor, memory or storage

resources across multiple operating systems, borrowing

capacity from idle VMs to handle high resource demands

from other workloads.

With PowerVM on Power Systems, you have the power and

flexibility to address multiple system requirements in a

single machine. PowerVM Micro-Partitioning supports

multiple VMs per processor core and, depending upon the

Power Systems model, can run up to 10003 VMs on a single

servereach with its own processor, memory, and I/O

resources. Processor resources can be assigned at a granular-

ity of 1/100th of core. Consolidating systems with PowerVM

can help cut operational costs, improve availability, ease man-

agement and improve service levels, while allowing businessesto quickly deploy applications.

Multiple Shared Processor Pools allows for the automatic

non-disruptive balancing of processing power between VMs

assigned to shared pools, resulting in increased throughput. It

also provides the ability to cap the processor core resources

used by a group of VMs to potentially reduce processor-based

software licensing costs.


3/6

3


Data Sheet

Shared Dedicated Capacity allows for the donation of spare

CPU cycles from dedicated processor VMs to a Shared

Processor Pool. Since a dedicated VM maintains absolute

priority for CPU cycles, enabling this feature can increase

system utilization without compromising the computing

power for critical workloads.

Because its core technology is built into the system firmware,

PowerVM offers a highly-secure virtualization platform that

has received the Common Criteria Evaluation and Validation

Scheme (CCEVS) EAL4+ certification4 for its security

capabilities.

Memory virtualizationPowerVM features Active Memory Sharing, a technology

that allows you to intelligently and dynamically reallocatememory from one VM to another for increased utilization,

flexibility and performance. Active Memory Sharing enables

the sharing of a pool of physical memory among VMs on a

server, helping to increase memory utilization and drive down

system costs. The memory is dynamically allocated amongst

the VMs as needed, to optimize the overall physical memory

usage in the pool.

I/O virtualizationThe Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) is a special-purpose VM that

can be used to virtualize I/O resources for AIX, i, and Linux

client VMs. VIOS owns the resources that are shared withclients. A physical adapter assigned to the VIOS can be

shared by one or more other VMs. VIOS is designed to

reduce costs by eliminating the need for dedicated network

adapters, disk adapters and disk drives, and tape adapters and

tape drives in each client VM. With VIOS, client VMs can

easily be created for test, development, or production

purposes.

Shared Storage Pools allow storage subsystems to be

combined into a common pool of virtualized storage that can

be shared by the VIOS on Power Systems servers. Shared

storage pools support capabilities such as thin provisioning,

whereby VM storage is dynamically allocated and released as

required, to improve overall storage resource utilization.

N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) provides direct access to

Fiber Channel Adapters from multiple VMs, simplifying the

deployment and management of Fiber Channel SAN

environments.

Live Partition MobilityLive Partition Mobility supports the movement of a running

AIX or Linux VM from one Power Systems server to another

without application downtime, helping avoid applicationinterruption for planned system maintenance, provisioning,

and workload management. Live Partition Mobility can be

used to easily migrate operating environments to new servers

temporarily or permanently.

x86 Linux application migrationThe unique PowerVM Lx86 cross-platform virtualization

capability enables you to run a wide range of x86 Linux

applications5 on Power Systems platforms within a Linux on

PowerVM. This feature is designed to support the consolida-

tion of x86 applications onto the Power platform to take

advantage of advanced performance, scalability, and RAScharacteristics. PowerVM Lx86 enables the dynamic

execution of x86 Linux instructions by translating them to

instructions for a POWER processor-based system and

caching the translated instructions to optimize performance.

With PowerVM Lx86, you have immediate access to a broad

selection of Linux applications, which you can run translated

until they are available natively compiled for Linux on Power.


4/6

4


Data Sheet

Systems managementPowerVM virtualization features are managed through the

Hardware Management Console (HMC) or the Integrated

Virtualization Manager (IVM) on entry-level Power Systems.

IVM allows you to point, click and consolidate workloads

with its easy-to-use web-based interface. IVM lowers the

cost of entry into POWER5, POWER6 and POWER7

processor-based virtualization since it does not require the

use of an HMC for system management. With IVM, you can

manage a single system, including the creation of VMs, virtu-

alized storage and virtualized networking.

IBM Systems Director VMControl also supports the

PowerVM environment. VMControl is the IBM virtualiza-

tion management tool for multiple, heterogeneous servers. Itsupports AIX, IBM i, and Linux on PowerVMs, as well as

System x and System z operating environments. VMControl

is a plug-in for IBM Systems Director that supports advanced

management functions such as health check and topology

mappings, as well as the ability to take action on monitored

events. VMControl simplifies the creation and management

of standardized virtual appliances (ready-to-run VMs) and

system poolscombinations of VMs on multiple servers that

can be managed as a single entity.

PowerVM Editions

IBM PowerVM Editions offer broad virtualization function-ality for AIX, IBM i and Linux operating systems:

PowerVM Express Edition is offered exclusively on Power

Express servers and is designed for clients seeking to evaluate

virtualization features at an affordable price. With the

Express Edition, users can create up to three VMs on a server

with IVM, use virtualized disk and optical devices with VIOS

and try out PowerVM Lx86.

PowerVM Standard Edition is intended for production

deployments and is available for all Power Systems servers

and blades. It includes all the features of PowerVM Express

Edition, as well as Micro-Partitioning, HMC management,

dual VIOS support, Shared Processor Pools and Shared

Storage Pools.

PowerVM Enterprise Edition is intended for multiserver pro-

duction deployments and is available for all Power Systems

servers and blades. It includes all the features of PowerVM

Standard Edition, as well as Live Partition Mobility and

Active Memory Sharing.

Diverse set of workloadsMany IBM Software Group offerings are optimized for a

PowerVM environment supporting the consolidation of a

diverse set of workloadsfrom database and application

servers to web infrastructure. For example, PowerVM and

WebSphere Virtual Enterprise work together to provide a

cross system virtualized application infrastructure that can

lower operational and energy costs required to create, run,

and manage enterprise applications and SOA environments.

WebSphere Virtual Enterprise increases flexibility and agility

to ensure business process integrity, improve service andapplication performance, and better manage application

health.


5/6

5


Data Sheet

Help from the expertsIBMs depth and breadth of expertise in IBM Power Systems

servers is unmatched. IBM Global Services technical consult

ants not only have hands-on experience and familiarity

with these state-of-the-art servers, but they also maintain

intimate knowledge of emerging technologies, software

releases and hardware enhancements through working with

-

IBM development teams and research laboratories. When

your organization works with IBM to implement PowerVM

capabilities, you can benefit from the extensive intellectual

capital and implementation methods that the entire

IBM Global Services team has accumulated, tested and

proven over the years.

Feature Benefits

PowerVM Hypervisor

Micro-Partitioning

Dynamic Logical Partitioning

Shared Processor Pools

Shared Storage Pools

Integrated Virtualization Manager

PowerVM Lx86

Live Partition Mobility

Active Memory Sharing

NPIV

Supports multiple operating environments on a single system

Enables up to 10 VMs per processor core

Processor, memory, and I/O resources can be dynamically moved between VMs

VMs can use dedicated or shared (capped or uncapped) processor resources

Processor resources can automatically move between VMs based on workload demands

Processor resources for a group of VMs can be capped, reducing software license costs

Storage resources for Power Systems servers and VIOS can be centralized in pools to optimize

resource utilization

Simplifies VM creation and management for entry Power Systems servers and blades

Supports running many x86 Linux applications in a Linux on PowerVM

Live AIX and Linux VMs can be moved between servers, eliminating planned downtime

Intelligently flows memory from one VM to another for increased memory utilization

Simplifies the management and improves performance of Fibre Channel SAN environments

System Planning Tool Simplifies the planning for and installation of Power Systems servers with PowerVM


6/6

Please Recycle

For more informationTo learn more about PowerVM, please contact your

IBM marketing representative or IBM Business Partner,

or visit the following websites:

ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/index.html Copyright IBM Corporation 2010

IBM CorporationSystems and Technology GroupRoute 100Somers, NY 10589

Produced in the United StatesOctober 2010All Rights Reserved

This document was developed for products and/or services offered in theUnited States. IBM may not offer the products, features or servicesdiscussed in this document in other countries.

The information may be subject to change without notice. Consult yourlocal IBM business contact for information on the products, features andservices available in your area.

All statements regarding IBM future directions and intent are subjectto change or withdrawal without notice and represent goals andobjectives only.

The following terms are registered trademarks of International BusinessMachines Corporation in the United States and/or other countries: AIX,BladeCenter, IBM, IBM (logo), ibm.com.

The following terms are trademarks of International Business MachinesCorporation in the United States and/or other countries: AIX, ActiveMemory, Micro-Partitioning, POWER, PowerVM, PowerVM (logo),Power Architecture, Power Family, POWER Hypervisor, Power PC,Power Systems, Power Systems (logo), Power Systems Software, Power

Systems Software (logo), POWER5, POWER6, POWER7, System i,System p, System Storage.

Linux is a trademark of Linus Torvalds in the United States, othercountries or both.

Other company, product and service names may be trademarks or servicemarks of others.

IBM hardware products are manufactured from new parts, or new andused parts. In some cases, the hardware product may not be new and mayhave been previously installed. Regardless, our warranty terms apply.Photographs show engineering and design models. Changes may beincorporated in production models.

Copying or downloading the images contained in this document isexpressly prohibited without the written consent of IBM.

This equipment is subject to FCC rules. It will comply with theappropriate FCC rules before final delivery to the buyer. Informationconcerning non-IBM products was obtained from the suppliers of theseproducts or other public sources. Questions on the capabilities of thenon-IBM products should be addressed with the suppliers.

All performance information was determined in a controlledenvironment. Actual results may vary. Performance information isprovided AS IS and no warranties or guarantees are expressed orimplied by IBM. Buyers should consult other sources of information,including system benchmarks, to evaluate the performance of a systemthey are considering buying.

1 PowerVM Case Studies:ibm.com/systems/power/success/index.html

2 Power Systems benchmark results:ibm.com/systems/power/hardware/benchmarks/index.html

3 Statement of Direction

4 Common Criteria Evaluation and Validation Scheme (CCEVS)EAL4 Augmented with ALC_FLR.2 certification:www.niap-ccevs.org/cc-scheme/st/index.cfm/vid/10178

5 PowerVM Lx86 application qualifications:ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/editions/lx86/qual.html

POD03015-USEN-05
http://www.ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/index.htmlhttp://www.ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/index.htmlhttp://www.ibm.com/systems/power/success/index.htmlhttp://www.ibm.com/systems/power/success/index.htmlhttp://www.ibm.com/systems/power/success/index.htmlhttp://www.ibm.com/systems/power/hardware/benchmarks/index.htmlhttp://www.ibm.com/systems/power/hardware/benchmarks/index.htmlhttp://www.niap-ccevs.org/cc-scheme/st/index.cfm/vid/10178http://www.ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/editions/lx86/qual.htmlhttp://www.ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/editions/lx86/qual.htmlhttp://www.ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/editions/lx86/qual.htmlhttp://www.niap-ccevs.org/cc-scheme/st/index.cfm/vid/10178http://www.ibm.com/systems/power/hardware/benchmarks/index.htmlhttp://www.ibm.com/systems/power/success/index.htmlhttp://www.ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/index.html

Documents

IBM - PowerVM - POD03015USEN