This IBM® Redbooks® publication provides best practices for planning, installing, maintaining, and monitoring the IBM PowerVM® Enterprise Edition virtualization features on IBM POWER7® processor technology-based servers. PowerVM is a combination of hardware, PowerVM Hypervisor, and software, which includes other virtualization features, such as the Virtual I/O Server. This publication is intended for experienced IT specialists and IT architects who want to learn about PowerVM best practices, and focuses on the following topics: Planning and general best practices Installation, migration, and configuration Administration and maintenance Storage and networking Performance monitoring Security PowerVM advanced features This publication is written by a group of seven PowerVM experts from different countries around the world. These experts came together to bring their broad IT skills, depth of knowledge, and experiences from thousands of installations and configurations in different IBM client sites.
IBM® PowerVM® virtualization technology is a combination of hardware and software that supports and manages the virtual environments on POWER5-, POWER5+, IBM POWER6®, and IBM POWER7®-based systems. PowerVM is available on IBM Power SystemsTM, and IBM BladeCenter® servers as optional Editions, and is supported by the IBM AIX®, IBM i, and Linux operating systems. You can use this set of comprehensive systems technologies and services to aggregate and manage resources by using a consolidated, logical view. Deploying PowerVM virtualization and IBM Power Systems offers you the following benefits: Lower energy costs through server consolidation Reduced cost of your existing infrastructure Better management of the growth, complexity, and risk of your infrastructure This IBM Redbooks® publication is an extension of IBM PowerVM Virtualization Introduction and Configuration, SG24-7940. It provides an organized view of best practices for managing and monitoring your PowerVM environment concerning virtualized resources managed by the Virtual I/O Server.
This IBM® Redbooks® publication provides an introduction to PowerVMTM virtualization technologies on Power System servers. PowerVM is a combination of hardware, firmware, and software that provides CPU, network, and disk virtualization. These are the main virtualization technologies: POWER7, POWER6, and POWER5 hardware POWER Hypervisor Virtual I/O Server Though the PowerVM brand includes partitioning, management software, and other offerings, this publication focuses on the virtualization technologies that are part of the PowerVM Standard and Enterprise Editions. This publication is also designed to be an introduction guide for system administrators, providing instructions for these tasks: Configuration and creation of partitions and resources on the HMC Installation and configuration of the Virtual I/O Server Creation and installation of virtualized partitions Examples using AIX, IBM i, and Linux This edition has been updated with the latest updates available and an improved content organization.
The Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) is part of the IBM PowerVM® feature on IBM® Power SystemsTM and part of the IBM POWER® HypervisorTM. The VIOS is also supported on IBM BladeCenter®. The server is a single-function appliance that is in the logical partition (LPAR) of the Power Systems server. The VIOS facilitates the sharing of physical I/O resources between client partitions (IBM AIX®, IBM i, and Linux) within the server. The Virtual I/O Server provides a virtual SCSI target, N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) target, and Shared Ethernet Adapter (SEA) virtual I/O function to client LPARs. The Virtual I/O Server has the capability of a hardware management function, the Integrated Virtualization Manager (IVM). IVM is a simplified hardware management solution that inherits most of the Hardware Management Console (HMC) features. The console manages a single server, avoiding the need of a dedicated personal computer. This device is designed to provide a solution that enables the administrator to reduce system setup time and to make hardware management easier, at a lower cost. IVM provides a management model for a single system. Although it does not offer all of the HMC capabilities, it enables the exploitation of PowerVM technology. IVM targets the small and medium systems that are best suited for this product. IVM provides the following functions: - Shared Storage Pool - IBM Active MemoryTM Sharing (AMS) - Live Partition Mobility (LPM) - Task manager monitor for long-running tasks - Security additions such as viosecure and firewall, and other improvements There are many environments where there is the need for small partitioned systems, either for test reasons or for specific requirements, for which the HMC solution is not ideal. A sample situation is where there are small partitioned systems that cannot share a common HMC because they are in multiple locations. In these cases, IVM works. Using IVM, companies can more cost-effectively consolidate multiple partitions onto a single server. With its intuitive, browser-based interface, the IVM is easy to use and significantly reduces the time and effort that is required to manage virtual devices and partitions. This IBM RedpaperTM publication provides an introduction to IVM by describing its architecture and showing how to install and configure a partitioned server by using its capabilities. This document is intended for IT personnel who have a complete understanding of partitioning before reading this document.
This IBM® RedpaperTM publication is a comprehensive guide that covers IBM Power Virtualization Performance (PowerVPTM) for IBM Power SystemsTM Version 1.1.3. The objective of this paper is to introduce the features and benefits of PowerVP: Real-time monitoring Intuitive and customizable GUI Background data collection Multiple dynamic views Recording and replay Data stores Thresholds and alarms This publication is for professionals who are involved in performance and capacity planning, support, design, and deployment of IBM PowerVM® on IBM Power Systems. The intended audience includes the following roles: Clients Capacity planning managers Sales and marketing professionals IT Architects Technical support professionals IBM Business Partners independent software vendors This paper explains the current set of IBM PowerVP features and documents the installation and configuration. It includes real-life examples of use of PowerVM. It is intended to help you take advantage of the capabilities of IBM Power Systems and optimize the use of system resources.
The IBM® Hardware Management Console (HMC) provides to systems administrators a tool for planning, deploying, and managing IBM Power SystemsTM servers. This IBM Redbooks® publication is an extension of IBM Power Systems HMC Implementation and Usage Guide, SG24-7491 and also merges updated information from IBM Power Systems Hardware Management Console: Version 8 Release 8.1.0 Enhancements, SG24-8232. It explains the new features of IBM Power Systems Hardware Management Console Version V8.8.1.0 through V8.8.4.0. The major functions that the HMC provides are Power Systems server hardware management and virtualization (partition) management. Further information about virtualization management is in the following publications: IBM PowerVM Virtualization Managing and Monitoring, SG24-7590 IBM PowerVM Virtualization Introduction and Configuration, SG24-7940 IBM PowerVM Enhancements What is New in 2013, SG24-8198 IBM Power Systems SR-IOV: Technical Overview and Introduction, REDP-5065 The following features of HMC V8.8.1.0 through HMC V8.8.4.0 are described in this book: HMC V8.8.1.0 enhancements HMC V8.8.4.0 enhancements System and Partition Templates HMC and IBM PowerVM® Simplification Enhancement Manage Partition Enhancement Performance and Capacity Monitoring HMC V8.8.4.0 upgrade changes
This IBM® Redbooks® publication addresses performance tuning topics to help leverage the virtualization strengths of the POWER® platform to solve clients' system resource utilization challenges, and maximize system throughput and capacity. We examine the performance monitoring tools, utilities, documentation, and other resources available to help technical teams provide optimized business solutions and support for applications running on IBM POWER systems' virtualized environments. The book offers application performance examples deployed on IBM Power SystemsTM utilizing performance monitoring tools to leverage the comprehensive set of POWER virtualization features: Logical Partitions (LPARs), micro-partitioning, active memory sharing, workload partitions, and more. We provide a well-defined and documented performance tuning model in a POWER system virtualized environment to help you plan a foundation for scaling, capacity, and optimization . This book targets technical professionals (technical consultants, technical support staff, IT Architects, and IT Specialists) responsible for providing solutions and support on IBM POWER systems, including performance tuning.
This IBM® RedpaperTM publication introduces PowerVMTM Active MemoryTM Sharing on IBM Power SystemsTM based on POWER6® and later processor technology. Active Memory Sharing is a virtualization technology that allows multiple partitions to share a pool of physical memory. This is designed to increase system memory utilization, thereby enabling you to realize a cost benefit by reducing the amount of physical memory required. The paper provides an overview of Active Memory Sharing, and then demonstrates, in detail, how the technology works and in what scenarios it can be used. It also contains chapters that describe how to configure, manage and migrate to Active Memory Sharing based on hands-on examples. The paper is targeted to both architects and consultants who need to understand how the technology works to design solutions, and to technical specialists in charge of setting up and managing Active Memory Sharing environments. For performance related information, see: ftp://ftp.software.ibm.com/common/ssi/sa/wh/n/pow03017usen/POW03017USEN.PDF
IBM® Power Virtualization Center (IBM® PowerVCTM) is an advanced, enterprise virtualization management offering for IBM Power SystemsTM. This IBM Redbooks® publication introduces IBM PowerVC and helps you understand its functions, planning, installation, and setup. IBM PowerVC Version 1.3.2 supports both large and small deployments, either by managing IBM PowerVM® that is controlled by the Hardware Management Console (HMC) by IBM PowerVM NovaLink, or by managing PowerKVM directly. With this capability, IBM PowerVC can manage IBM AIX®, IBM i, and Linux workloads that run on IBM POWER® hardware. IBM PowerVC is available as a Standard Edition, or as a Cloud PowerVC Manager edition. IBM PowerVC includes the following features and benefits: Virtual image capture, deployment, and management Policy-based virtual machine (VM) placement to improve use Management of real-time optimization and VM resilience to increase productivity VM Mobility with placement policies to reduce the burden on IT staff in a simple-to-install and easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) Role-based security policies to ensure a secure environment for common tasks The ability to enable an administrator to enable Dynamic Resource Optimization on a schedule IBM Cloud PowerVC Manager includes all of the IBM PowerVC Standard Edition features and adds: A Self-service portal that allows the provisioning of new VMs without direct system administrator intervention. There is an option for policy approvals for the requests that are received from the self-service portal. Pre-built deploy templates that are set up by the cloud administrator that simplify the deployment of VMs by the cloud user. Cloud management policies that simplify management of cloud deployments. Metering data that can be used for chargeback. This publication is for experienced users of IBM PowerVM and other virtualization solutions who want to understand and implement the next generation of enterprise virtualization management for Power Systems. Unless stated otherwise, the content of this publication refers to IBM PowerVC Version 1.3.2.
IBM® Power Virtualization Center (IBM® PowerVCTM) is an advanced enterprise virtualization management offering for IBM Power Systems. This IBM Redbooks® publication introduces IBM PowerVC and helps you understand its functions, planning, installation, and setup. It also shows how IBM PowerVC can integrate with systems management tools such as Ansible or Terraform and that it also integrates well into a OpenShift container environment. IBM PowerVC Version 2.0.0 supports both large and small deployments, either by managing IBM PowerVM® that is controlled by the Hardware Management Console (HMC), or by IBM PowerVM NovaLink. With this capability, IBM PowerVC can manage IBM AIX®, IBM i, and Linux workloads that run on IBM POWER® hardware. IBM PowerVC is available as a Standard Edition, or as a Private Cloud Edition. IBM PowerVC includes the following features and benefits: Virtual image capture, import, export, deployment, and management Policy-based virtual machine (VM) placement to improve server usage Snapshots and cloning of VMs or volumes for backup or testing purposes Support of advanced storage capabilities such as IBM SVC vdisk mirroring of IBM Global Mirror Management of real-time optimization and VM resilience to increase productivity VM Mobility with placement policies to reduce the burden on IT staff in a simple-to-install and easy-to-use graphical user interface (GUI) Automated Simplified Remote Restart for improved availability of VMs ifor when a host is down Role-based security policies to ensure a secure environment for common tasks The ability to enable an administrator to enable Dynamic Resource Optimization on a schedule IBM PowerVC Private Cloud Edition includes all of the IBM PowerVC Standard Edition features and enhancements: A self-service portal that allows the provisioning of new VMs without direct system administrator intervention. There is an option for policy approvals for the requests that are received from the self-service portal. Pre-built deploy templates that are set up by the cloud administrator that simplify the deployment of VMs by the cloud user. Cloud management policies that simplify management of cloud deployments. Metering data that can be used for chargeback. This publication is for experienced users of IBM PowerVM and other virtualization solutions who want to understand and implement the next generation of enterprise virtualization management for Power Systems. Unless stated otherwise, the content of this publication refers to IBM PowerVC Version 2.0.0.
