Introduction to partitioning

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Course materials may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of IBM. 7.0
Unit objectives
IBM Power Systems

After completing this unit, you should be able to:

• Describe the following terms:
– Partition, logical partition (LPAR), resource
• Describe the following partition concepts:
– Dynamic logical partitioning
– Micro-partitioning
– Shared processor pool
– Virtual I/O
– Live Partition Mobility (LPM)
– Capacity on Demand (CoD)
• Describe the functions of the Hardware Management Console (HMC)
• Describe the functions performed by the POWER Hypervisor
• Describe the overall process for configuring partitions
• List references for IBM Power Systems partitioning information

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

What is a partition?
IBM Power Systems

• Partition:
• The allocation of one system’s resources to create logically
separate systems.
– An independent operating environment.

From one to many

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Physical partition
IBM Power Systems

• Physical partition:
– Resources are allocated in physical building blocks.
– Blocks contain groups of processors, memory, and I/O slots.

Interconnect

SMP building block SMP building block SMP building block

Operating system Operating

system

CPU, CPU, CPU,

memory, and I/O memory, and I/O memory, and I/O

Physical partition Physical partition

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Logical partition
IBM Power Systems

• A partition is the allocation of system resources to create

logically separate systems within the same physical footprint.
• A logical partition exists when the isolation is implemented
with firmware:
– Not based on physical system building block
– Provides configuration flexibility

SYS1 SYS2 SYS3 SYS4

1:00 10:00 11:00 12:00
Japan USA Brazil
ORD
UK

AIX 6.1 Linux AIX 7.1 IBM i

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Partition characteristics
IBM Power Systems

• Each partition has its own:

– Operating system
– Licensed internal code (LIC) and open firmware
– Console
– Resources
– Other things expected in a stand-alone operating system
environment, such as:
• Problem logs
• Data (libraries, objects, file systems)
• Performance characteristics
• Network identity
• Date and time

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Partition resources
IBM Power Systems

• Resources are allocated to partitions:

– Memory allocated in units as small as the LMB size.
– Dedicated whole processors or shared processing units.
– Individual I/O slots.
• Including virtual devices

• Some resources can be shared:

– Virtual devices.
– Host Ethernet adapter.
• Some core system components are inherently shared.

AIX Linux AIX

PPPPP P P PPP
MMM M M MM
SSSS SSSS SSSS

S = I/O Slot
M = Memory
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
P = Processor
LPAR resource example
IBM Power Systems

• Flexibility to allocate resources depending on need.

• With DLPAR operations, resources can be moved, removed,
or added with a restarting the partition.

LPAR 1 LPAR 2 LPAR 3 LPAR 4

Processors

Memory

I/O slots

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

IBM POWER6 LPAR-capable systems
IBM Power Systems

• IBM POWER6 processor-based LPAR-capable systems:

– Entry, mid-range, and high-end servers
– IBM Power Systems
– Example models:
• IBM Power Blade Express servers
• IBM Power 520
• IBM Power 550
• IBM Power 560
• IBM Power 570
• IBM Power 575
• IBM Power 595

Visit http://www.ibm.com for latest list of models.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

IBM POWER7 and POWER7+ LPAR-capable
systems
IBM Power Systems

• IBM POWER7 and POWER7+ processor-based LPAR-capable

systems:
– IBM Power Systems
– Example models:
• IBM BladeCenter PS700/701/702/PS703/PS704 Express
• IBM Flex System p260 and p460
• IBM Power 710
• IBM Power 720
• IBM Power 730
• IBM Power 740
• IBM Power 750
• IBM Power 755
• IBM Power 770
• IBM Power 775
• IBM Power 780
• IBM Power 795
Visit http://www.ibm.com for latest list of models.
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Benefits of using partitions
IBM Power Systems

• Capacity management:
– Flexibility to allocate resources.

• Consolidation:
– Consolidate hardware, floor space, software licenses, support contracts, and in-house
support and operations.
– Efficient use of resources.

• Application isolation on a single frame:

– Separate workloads.
– Guaranteed resources.
– Data integrity.

• Merge production and test environments:

– Test on same hardware.

The ability to have virtual Ethernet and virtual I/O devices is

a benefit of using POWER5 and newer processor-based
systems.
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Software licensing
IBM Power Systems

• Licensing is per operating system and is based on processing

power.
– Partial processor and shared processor pool features affect licensing.

• Third-party application provider licenses will vary.

Other software

Operating systems

IBM hardware

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

POWER Hypervisor functions
IBM Power Systems

• The POWER Hypervisor is firmware that provides:

– Virtual memory management:
• Controls page table and I/O access.
• Manages real memory addresses versus offset memory addresses.
– Virtual console support
– Security and isolation between partitions:
• Partitions allowed access only to resources allocated to them (enforced by the
POWER Hypervisor).
– Shared processor pool management

LPAR 1 LPAR 2 LPAR 3 LPAR 4

POWER Hypervisor Security and

isolation barriers
System hardware
(memory, processors, devices)
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Hardware Management Console
IBM Power Systems

• The HMC provides:

– Virtual console windows.
– LPAR configuration and operation management.
– Capacity on demand (CoD) management.
– Service tools.
– Access to LPM function.

• PC-based console:
– Running custom Linux and Java applications.
– Remotely accessible.
– Connects to service processor over private or open network.

Desktop Rack-mount
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
The big picture
IBM Power Systems

Managed system
AIX Linux Unassigned
resources

Partition 1 Partition 2
HMC
Hypervisor
Non-Volatile RAM

Processors processor
Memory
I/O Slots LPAR Ethernet
allocation
tables

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Advanced partition features
IBM Power Systems

• Dynamic resource allocation

• Advanced processor concepts
• Virtual I/O
• Integrated Virtual Ethernet
• Active Memory Sharing
• Live Partition Mobility
• Capacity on demand

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Dynamic Logical Partitioning (DLPAR)
IBM Power Systems

• DLPAR is the ability to add, remove, or move resources between

partitions without restarting the partitions.

• Resources include:
– Processors, memory, and I/O slots.
– Add and remove virtual devices.

• Security and isolation between LPARs are not compromised.

– A partition sees its own resources plus other available virtual resources.
– Resources are reset when moved.

• Applications might or might not be DLPAR-aware.

DLPAR allows you to react to

changing resource needs.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

How DLPAR works
IBM Power Systems

1
HMC command HMC
2

3 3

Partition A Partition B

Hypervisor 4
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Processor concepts
IBM Power Systems

Logical

Virtual
LPAR LPAR LPAR
Shared

Dedicated

Inactive (CoD)

Deconfigured

Physical
(Installed)
processor cores
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Micro-partitioning: Shared processor pool
IBM Power Systems

• Time sliced sub-processor allocations are dispatched

according to demand and entitled capacity.
– This example shows one 10 ms time slice, seven running partitions,
and four processors.
Physical
processors

P P P P Partition 1
10ms
Partition 2
Partition 3
Partition 4
Partition 5
Partition 6
Partition 7

Shared processor pool

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Multiple shared processor pools
IBM Power Systems

Shared processor pooln

Up to 64
Shared processor pool1 Set of micro-partitions shared
Set of micro-partitions
Shared processor pool0 processor
Set of micro-partitions
LPAR pools
LPAR1 LPAR3 LPAR
LPAR2 LPAR4
LPAR5
LPAR6

Shared

Dedicated

Physical
processor
cores

Physical shared processor pool

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Virtual I/O
IBM Power Systems

• Each partition has virtual I/O slots.

– Configurable for each partition.

• Virtual slots have a virtual adapter instance.

– Serial, Ethernet, SCSI, or Fibre Channel.

• Virtual I/O slots can be dynamically added or removed just

like physical I/O slots.
– Cannot be dynamically moved to another partition.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Virtual I/O example
IBM Power Systems

Client Virtual I/O server

partition partition
Physical
network
Virtual Virtual Virtual Layer 2 Physical
Ethernet Ethernet bridge Ethernet
switch
Virtual
Ethernet
LVoirtguiacl Dailsk
Hypervisor
disk

Client Server Device

adapter mapping
adapter SCSI RDMA protocol
DMA
buffer

SCSI, SSA, FC physical

or logical disks
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Integrated Virtual Ethernet
IBM Power Systems

• Also referred to as host Ethernet adapter:

– Included in many POWER6 and POWER7 system configurations.
• Provides network connectivity for LPARs without a Virtual I/O Server:
– Integrated high-speed Ethernet ports with hardware-assisted
virtualization capabilities.
– Offers virtualization support for Ethernet connections.
• Depending on the system model, multiple types are available:
– Two port 1 Gba
– Four port 1 Gba
– Two port 10 Gbb
– Two 10 Gbb and two 1 Gb portsa
• Connected to the GX+ bus:
–An LHEA must be created on the logical partition.
a = RJ45 b = fiber

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

IVE example
IBM Power Systems

AIX Linux
LPAR LPAR

ent ent eth

Layer 2 switch Layer 2 switch

Physical Physical
port port

Physical Physical
network network
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Active Memory Sharing
IBM Power Systems

• Active Memory Sharing (AMS) allows multiple LPARs to

share a common pool of physical memory.
– AMS intelligently assigns memory from one partition to another based
on memory page demands.
• Optimizes memory utilization and provides flexible memory usage.

LPAR1 LPAR2 LPAR3

POWER
Hypervisor

AMS shared Virtual

memory pool I/O
Server

Paging devices

Physical memory
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Active Memory Deduplication
IBM Power Systems

• Active Memory Deduplication makes system memory usage smarter. It

minimizes the existence of identical memory chunks in main memory
space.

Memory structure with Active Memory Deduplication enabled

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Active Memory Expansion
IBM Power Systems

• Compresses in-memory data to fit System physical

memory
System physical
memory

more data into memory: LPAR LPAR LPAR

LPAR
LPAR
LPAR
LPAR
LPAR
LPAR

– The physical memory requirements of LPAR LPAR LPAR LPAR LPAR LPAR

AME LPAR LPAR LPAR

existing LPARs is reduced. LPAR LPAR LPAR

LPAR LPAR LPAR

– Free memory capacity can be used to LPAR LPAR LPAR

LPAR ….
create more LPARs.

• Increases a LPAR’s effective LPAR’s effective LPAR’s effective

memory capacity: memory capacity memory capacity

Physical memory Physical memory

– Can increase the effective memory
capacity of a LPAR. AME

– Increases the memory available to a

workload. Expanded
memory capacity

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Live Partition Mobility
IBM Power Systems

• Migration or movement of an LPAR from one physical server

to another.
• Useful for:
– Reducing the impact of planned outages and increasing application
availability.
– Workload balancing and consolidation.
– Relocation of workload to enable workload.
– Provision of new technology with no disruption to service (migration to
newer systems).
• Requirements: Server 1 Server 2

VIOS

VIOS
– POWER6 or P1 P2 P3 P1 P5

POWER7 systems.
– LPAR must only have
virtual adapters. HMC
Network

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

PowerVM Lx86
IBM Power Systems

• Run x86 Linux applications on Power Systems servers along with your AIX and
Linux on Power applications.
• Simplifies migration of Linux on x86 applications:
– Runs most existing 32-bit x86 Linux applications with no application changes.
– Enables customers to realize the energy and administrative benefits associated with
consolidation.
• Is included with the purchase of PowerVM editions.

PowerVM
x86 Install and run x86
x86
x86 Linux OS Linux OS
Linux OS • No porting
Linux OS app app Power
app app Linux OS
AIX OS
Linux OS • No recompile PowerVM application
Linux OS Lx86 application
Linux OS • No changes
x86 platforms Supported Linux OS AIX OS
x86 Platforms
x86 Platforms
Power Systems platform

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Shared storage pools
IBM Power Systems

Shared storage pools:

Provide distributed access to
storage resources using a
cluster. Shared storage pools
use files called logical units as
backup devices for virtualized
storage devices.

Benefits:
• Simplify the aggregation of large
numbers of disks across multiple
Virtual I/O Servers.
• Improve the utilization of the
available storage.
• Simplify administration tasks.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Thin provisioning with shared storage pools
IBM Power Systems

IBM Systems Director

Core Mgmt Storage Mgmt Centralized
Inventory Provision
Config Clone
Virtual Server
Storage Mgmt
…
Health Snap
Migrate
LPARs

VIOS VIOS VIOS

Hypervisor Hypervisor Hypervisor

3.25TB* 9 TB

* Actual amount of storage savings will vary widely.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Suspend / Resume
IBM Power Systems

• Suspend: The ability to save a partition state (memory, NVRAM, VSP

state) on persistent storage, freeing server resources that were in use by
that partition.
• Resume: The additional ability to restore partition state to server
resources, and resuming operation of that partition and its applications
either on the same server or on a different server.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Capacity on Demand
IBM Power Systems

• Capacity upgrade on demand (CUoD)

– Permanent activation of processors or memory.
• Trial CoD
– No charge 30-day activation of processors or memory resources.
• On/Off CoD
– Ability to activate processor or memory resources temporarily.
• Utility CoD
– Additional processor capacity on a temporary basis within the shared
processor pool.

• Capacity BackUp: Add reserve

– Processors and memory temporarily resources
added to backup server.
– Prepaid for up to 90 days.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

PowerVM editions
IBM Power Systems

• PowerVM editions hardware features include the following components:

PowerVM Editions Express Standard Enterprise
Maximum LPARs 3 per server 20 per core1 20 per core1
(up to 1000) (up to 1000)
Management IVM IVM2, HMC IVM2, HMC
Virtual I/O Server   (dual)  (dual)
PowerVM Lx86   
Shared dedicated   
capacity
Suspend / Resume  
Shared processor pools  
Active Memory Sharing 
Live Partition Mobility 

1
POWER7+ hardware with eFW760 required for 20 LPARs per core
2
IVM only supports a single Virtual I/O Server partition
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Partitioning concepts summary
IBM Power Systems

Use
Part#1 thisPart#2
layout for all your
Part#3 drawing
Part#4 Part#5needs
Part#6 Part#7-11
Virtual AIX V7 Linux IBM i AIX V7 AIX V6 LAN
I/O Server AIXV6/Linux
PPPPPP PPPP
PPPPPP PPP P PPPPPP
MMMMM MMMM MMM MMM M MM M M M M M
A A
AAAAAA AAAAA AAA AAAA AA AAA
Virtual LAN
Virtual I/O
O O O O
O O S O
S O S O
S
AIX 6 AIX 7 Linux i/OS AIX 7 AIX 6 S S S S S
Kernel Kernel Kernel Kernel Kernel Kernel
Virtual Ethernet
POWER Hypervisor

HMC

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Integrated Virtualization Manager
IBM Power Systems

• Provides support for LPARs without a physical HMC:

– Manages a single server.
• IVM software runs in the Virtual I/O Server partition.
– Provides a subset of HMC functionality.
• Hypervisor has been modified to enable VIOS to manage the partitioned
system without an HMC.
– Implicit rule of configuration and setup.
• It requires that the server not be partitioned.
• First operating system installed
must be the VIOS. VIOS AIX Linux Linux
IVM V7.1 RHEL6 SLES11
– Virtual I/O Server partition owns
all physical I/O.
• Client partitions can access
virtual optical, virtual disk,
virtual Ethernet, IVE, and console. Virtual LAN

POWER Hypervisor
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
LPAR configuration process
IBM Power Systems

1 Create plan for usage model and applications.

2 Plan resources for partitions.

Set up HMC and managed system.

3

4 Create and configure partitions.

5 Activate partitions and install operating systems.

6 Configure and test service applications.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
LPAR references
IBM Power Systems

• Documentation:
– http://www.ibm.com/support/publications/us/library/
– Software and hardware information centers available
– http://publib.boulder.ibm.com/eserver/

• LPAR and PowerVM information:

– http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/index.html
• IBM Redbooks:
– http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/
• Technical support web sites:
– http://www.ibm.com/support/
– http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/sas/f/vios/home.html
– http://www14.software.ibm.com/webapp/set2/sas/f/power5cm/power7.html
• Linux web site:
– http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/power/software/linux/

Web links might change over time.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
AN11 course content
IBM Power Systems

• IBM Power Systems hardware overview

• HMC
• System Planning Tool
• HMC maintenance
• System power management
• Configuring LPARs
• Dynamic resource allocation

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

AN30 course content
IBM Power Systems

• Advanced processor concepts

• Virtual I/O
• Virtual network configurations
• VSCSI configurations
• IVE
• Service management

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Checkpoint (1 of 2)
IBM Power Systems

1. True or False: A partition is an independent operating environment.

2. What is it that makes logical partitioning different from physical

partitioning?
a. Resource assignments are flexible.
b. Resources can be moved between partitions without a restart.
c. Partitioning is not dependent on physical system building blocks.

3. Which of the following are true for dynamic partition operations?

a. All AIX 7 partitions on POWER6 and POWER7 processor-based
systems are capable of dynamic resource allocations.
b. Virtual I/O devices can be dynamically added or removed but not
moved between partitions.
c. Partitions do not need to be restarted to add, remove, or move
resources.

4. List the types of resources that are configured in partitions.

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Checkpoint solutions (1 of 2)
IBM Power Systems

1. True or False: A partition is an independent operating environment.

The answer is True.

2. What is it that makes logical partitioning different from physical partitioning?

a. Resource assignments are flexible.
b. Resources can be moved between partitions without a restart.
c. Partitioning is not dependent on physical system building blocks.
The answer is Partitioning is not dependent on physical system building blocks.

3. Which of the following are true for dynamic partition operations?

a. All AIX 7 partitions on POWER6 and POWER7 processor-based systems are
capable of dynamic resource allocations.
b. Virtual I/O devices can be dynamically added or removed but not moved between
partitions.
c. Partitions do not need to be restarted to add, remove, or move resources.
The answer is All of them are true.

4. List the types of resources that are configured in partitions.

The answers are: Processors, memory, I/O slots (including the HEA).
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Checkpoint (2 of 2)
IBM Power Systems

5. What system option provides the ability to order additional resources

that can be activated when you need them?

6. Which of the following are benefits of using partitions?

a. Better management of resources across operating environments
b. Isolate applications that were all running on one system
c. Better high availability solution
d. Manage operational costs by consolidating resources

7. What is the system component that performs the resource allocation to

partitions?

8. What is the system component needed to configure partitions,

configure CoD, and provide access to virtual consoles?

9. What is the term used for the concept of allocating sub-processors to

partitions?

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Checkpoint solutions (2 of 2)
IBM Power Systems

5. What system option provides the ability to order additional resources that can be
activated when you need them?
The answer is Capacity on demand (CoD).
6. Which of the following are benefits of using partitions?
a. Better management of resources across operating environments
b. Isolate applications that were all running on one system
c. Better high availability solution
d. Manage operational costs by consolidating resources
The answers are: Better management of resources across operating
environments, Isolate applications that were all running on one system, and
Manage operational costs by consolidating resources.
7. What is the system component that performs the resource allocation to partitions?
The answer is POWER Hypervisor.

8. What is the system component needed to configure partitions, configure CoD,

and provide access to virtual consoles?
The answer is HMC or IVM.
9. What is the term used for the concept of allocating sub-processors to partitions?
The answer is Micro-partitioning.
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013
Exercise
IBM Power Systems

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013

Unit summary
IBM Power Systems

Having completed this unit, you should be able to:

• Describe the following terms:
– Partition, logical partition (LPAR), resource
• Describe the following partition concepts:
– Dynamic logical partitioning
– Micro-partitioning
– Shared processor pool
– Virtual I/O
– Live Partition Mobility (LPM)
– Capacity on Demand (CoD)
• Describe the functions of the Hardware Management Console (HMC)
• Describe the functions performed by the POWER Hypervisor
• Describe the overall process for configuring partitions
• List references for IBM Power Systems partitioning information

© Copyright IBM Corporation 2013