30
Sat, Nov
0 New Articles

Live Partition Mobility in PowerVM Enterprise Holds Great Promise

Analysis of News Events
Typography
  • Smaller Small Medium Big Bigger
  • Default Helvetica Segoe Georgia Times

Users running AIX and Linux applications can migrate entire partitions and hosted applications from one physical server to another in a matter of seconds.

 

One of the success stories at IBM during the past couple years has been the popularity of PowerVM, and one of the most intriguing features of PowerVM is Live Partition Mobility. Still available only in the PowerVM Enterprise Edition, Live Partition Mobility allows the user to migrate an active or inactive AIX or Linux logical partition from one system to another—without disrupting the running applications or users residing on them.

 

To a system administrator, having the ability to bring down a server to perform maintenance and then reactivate it without interrupting users or the applications in use is tantamount to finding the Holy Grail in the data center.

 

Earlier this week, IBM announced a series of new POWER7 servers, including the big IBM Power 795, and four smaller servers for SMBs: the IBM Power 710, 720, 730 and 740 Express. During the course of a press briefing, Steve Sibley, manager, IBM Power Systems servers offering management, mentioned to me that some 80 percent of IBM's customers today that purchase POWER7 servers also get one version or another of PowerVM.

 

There are three versions of PowerVM: Express, Standard, and Enterprise editions. The one with the most features, of course, is the Enterprise Edition. Not only does it offer Live Partition Mobility, but it also gives you Active Memory Sharing—the ability to share memory among logical partitions in a shared memory pool. Most people are buying either the Standard or Enterprise editions of PowerVM, Sibley said, but there is little difference between the two as far as I can tell. Both offer micro-partitioning technology, Virtual I/O Server, the Integrated Virtualization Manager, and Lx86. Lx86 allows you to run Linux applications designed for the x86 processor on a POWER chip, giving IBM customers access to a large library of existing Linux applications.

 

Live Partition Mobility, however, is a feature that excites IT people for the freedom it promises. Unfortunately, it's not currently available for IBM i servers, only AIX and Linux. We don't know if it's in the future for IBM i or not. However, new customers who are porting their Sun (Oracle) or HP UNIX applications over to AIX on POWER7 will have it available to them if they so choose. You must be running at least a POWER6 processor-based machine (or POWER7). IBM i users have had Virtual Partition Manager for some time, which allows the user to create and manage at least one IBM i partition and up to four Linux logical partitions on a single server on models that don't require a Hardware Management Console (HMC). Live Partition Mobility can be combined with other virtualization technologies, including logical partitions, Live Workload Partitions introduced in AIX 6.1, and the SAN Volume Controller.

 

How to implement Live Partition Mobility and what it can be used for is the subject of a 300-page IBM Redbook titled, appropriately, IBM PowerVM Live Partition Mobility, but we can give you an introduction to this impressive technology. According to a summary on the subject released last April, users will need the HMC (V7 with various releases, depending on hardware, but starting with R3.4 or R710 for POWER7), Integrated Virtualization Manager (provided by the Virtual I/O Server V1.5.1.1 or higher on both source and destination), and PowerVM Enterprise Edition on both the source and destination systems. Both systems need to be at firmware level 01Ex320, where x is an S for BladeCenter, an L for entry servers, an M for midrange servers, or an H for enterprise servers. There are firmware compatibility and upgrade issues, and the firmware migration matrix, as of last April, can be found here.

 

There are minimum requirements for the operating systems as well, which very generally are AIX5L V5.3 Technology Level 7 or AIX 5.3 Technology Level 09 with Service Pack 7 for POWER7 servers; AIX V 6.1 or 6.1 Technology Level 02 and Service Pack 8 or later; Red Hat Enterprise Linux V5 Update 1; or SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 (SLES 10) Service Pack 1. The operating system running in the mobile partition has to be AIX or Linux. As mentioned earlier, a Virtual I/O Server logical partition or a logical partition running IBM i cannot be migrated. But a system is capable of being either the source or destination of a migration if it contains the necessary processor hardware to support it. There are numerous fixes that also affect LPM. See Neil Koropoff's summary, Live Partition Mobility (LPM) Nutshell, for details.

 

The PowerVM Enterprise Edition requires an activation code to enable the hardware feature, and when you order the feature, the firmware is activated at the factory. If you order the feature separately from the server, however, you can enter the code using the HMC or the Virtualization Manager, and it's different from that of the Standard Edition.

 

So, the point of those references, frankly, is to let readers know there are a number of pre-conditions to setting up and using Live Partition Mobility. The benefits, however, could be well worth it in the right environment. Not only can you migrate entire running AIX and Linux partitions and hosted applications from one physical server to another without disruption, but you can also quickly rebalance loads across systems. If you only need a single partition migration, there is actually a migration wizard that will guide you through it. Imagine performing such a migration in a matter of seconds. You can do with Live Partition Mobility.

 

As the authors of the Redbook point out, even small servers today often host many logical partitions, and as the number of these partitions increases, finding a window to do system maintenance that doesn't affect someone becomes increasingly difficult. And if you happen to be bound by a service-level agreement, Life Partition Mobility can help you meet your commitments by keeping applications up and running despite the occasional hardware maintenance job.

 

Given the benefits that Live Partition Mobility can provide (not to mention Active Memory Sharing, which we will discuss in a future issue), it seems clear why the Enterprise Edition of PowerVM has such broad appeal to today's Power Systems UNIX and Linux customers.

Chris Smith

Chris Smith was the Senior News Editor at MC Press Online from 2007 to 2012 and was responsible for the news content on the company's Web site. Chris has been writing about the IBM midrange industry since 1992 when he signed on with Duke Communications as West Coast Editor of News 3X/400. With a bachelor's from the University of California at Berkeley, where he majored in English and minored in Journalism, and a master's in Journalism from the University of Colorado, Boulder, Chris later studied computer programming and AS/400 operations at Long Beach City College. An award-winning writer with two Maggie Awards, four business books, and a collection of poetry to his credit, Chris began his newspaper career as a reporter in northern California, later worked as night city editor for the Rocky Mountain News in Denver, and went on to edit a national cable television trade magazine. He was Communications Manager for McDonnell Douglas Corp. in Long Beach, Calif., before it merged with Boeing, and oversaw implementation of the company's first IBM desktop publishing system there. An editor for MC Press Online since 2007, Chris has authored some 300 articles on a broad range of topics surrounding the IBM midrange platform that have appeared in the company's eight industry-leading newsletters. He can be reached at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..

BLOG COMMENTS POWERED BY DISQUS

LATEST COMMENTS

Support MC Press Online

$

Book Reviews

Resource Center

  • SB Profound WC 5536 Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application. You can find Part 1 here. In Part 2 of our free Node.js Webinar Series, Brian May teaches you the different tooling options available for writing code, debugging, and using Git for version control. Brian will briefly discuss the different tools available, and demonstrate his preferred setup for Node development on IBM i or any platform. Attend this webinar to learn:

  • SB Profound WP 5539More than ever, there is a demand for IT to deliver innovation. Your IBM i has been an essential part of your business operations for years. However, your organization may struggle to maintain the current system and implement new projects. The thousands of customers we've worked with and surveyed state that expectations regarding the digital footprint and vision of the company are not aligned with the current IT environment.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT Generic IBM announced the E1080 servers using the latest Power10 processor in September 2021. The most powerful processor from IBM to date, Power10 is designed to handle the demands of doing business in today’s high-tech atmosphere, including running cloud applications, supporting big data, and managing AI workloads. But what does Power10 mean for your data center? In this recorded webinar, IBMers Dan Sundt and Dylan Boday join IBM Power Champion Tom Huntington for a discussion on why Power10 technology is the right strategic investment if you run IBM i, AIX, or Linux. In this action-packed hour, Tom will share trends from the IBM i and AIX user communities while Dan and Dylan dive into the tech specs for key hardware, including:

  • Magic MarkTRY the one package that solves all your document design and printing challenges on all your platforms. Produce bar code labels, electronic forms, ad hoc reports, and RFID tags – without programming! MarkMagic is the only document design and print solution that combines report writing, WYSIWYG label and forms design, and conditional printing in one integrated product. Make sure your data survives when catastrophe hits. Request your trial now!  Request Now.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericForms of ransomware has been around for over 30 years, and with more and more organizations suffering attacks each year, it continues to endure. What has made ransomware such a durable threat and what is the best way to combat it? In order to prevent ransomware, organizations must first understand how it works.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericIT security is a top priority for businesses around the world, but most IBM i pros don’t know where to begin—and most cybersecurity experts don’t know IBM i. In this session, Robin Tatam explores the business impact of lax IBM i security, the top vulnerabilities putting IBM i at risk, and the steps you can take to protect your organization. If you’re looking to avoid unexpected downtime or corrupted data, you don’t want to miss this session.

  • SB HelpSystems ROBOT GenericCan you trust all of your users all of the time? A typical end user receives 16 malicious emails each month, but only 17 percent of these phishing campaigns are reported to IT. Once an attack is underway, most organizations won’t discover the breach until six months later. A staggering amount of damage can occur in that time. Despite these risks, 93 percent of organizations are leaving their IBM i systems vulnerable to cybercrime. In this on-demand webinar, IBM i security experts Robin Tatam and Sandi Moore will reveal:

  • FORTRA Disaster protection is vital to every business. Yet, it often consists of patched together procedures that are prone to error. From automatic backups to data encryption to media management, Robot automates the routine (yet often complex) tasks of iSeries backup and recovery, saving you time and money and making the process safer and more reliable. Automate your backups with the Robot Backup and Recovery Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAManaging messages on your IBM i can be more than a full-time job if you have to do it manually. Messages need a response and resources must be monitored—often over multiple systems and across platforms. How can you be sure you won’t miss important system events? Automate your message center with the Robot Message Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAThe thought of printing, distributing, and storing iSeries reports manually may reduce you to tears. Paper and labor costs associated with report generation can spiral out of control. Mountains of paper threaten to swamp your files. Robot automates report bursting, distribution, bundling, and archiving, and offers secure, selective online report viewing. Manage your reports with the Robot Report Management Solution. Key features include:

  • FORTRAFor over 30 years, Robot has been a leader in systems management for IBM i. With batch job creation and scheduling at its core, the Robot Job Scheduling Solution reduces the opportunity for human error and helps you maintain service levels, automating even the biggest, most complex runbooks. Manage your job schedule with the Robot Job Scheduling Solution. Key features include:

  • LANSA Business users want new applications now. Market and regulatory pressures require faster application updates and delivery into production. Your IBM i developers may be approaching retirement, and you see no sure way to fill their positions with experienced developers. In addition, you may be caught between maintaining your existing applications and the uncertainty of moving to something new.

  • LANSAWhen it comes to creating your business applications, there are hundreds of coding platforms and programming languages to choose from. These options range from very complex traditional programming languages to Low-Code platforms where sometimes no traditional coding experience is needed. Download our whitepaper, The Power of Writing Code in a Low-Code Solution, and:

  • LANSASupply Chain is becoming increasingly complex and unpredictable. From raw materials for manufacturing to food supply chains, the journey from source to production to delivery to consumers is marred with inefficiencies, manual processes, shortages, recalls, counterfeits, and scandals. In this webinar, we discuss how:

  • The MC Resource Centers bring you the widest selection of white papers, trial software, and on-demand webcasts for you to choose from. >> Review the list of White Papers, Trial Software or On-Demand Webcast at the MC Press Resource Center. >> Add the items to yru Cart and complet he checkout process and submit

  • Profound Logic Have you been wondering about Node.js? Our free Node.js Webinar Series takes you from total beginner to creating a fully-functional IBM i Node.js business application.

  • SB Profound WC 5536Join us for this hour-long webcast that will explore:

  • Fortra IT managers hoping to find new IBM i talent are discovering that the pool of experienced RPG programmers and operators or administrators with intimate knowledge of the operating system and the applications that run on it is small. This begs the question: How will you manage the platform that supports such a big part of your business? This guide offers strategies and software suggestions to help you plan IT staffing and resources and smooth the transition after your AS/400 talent retires. Read on to learn: