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48 IBM System p5 520 and 520Q Technical Overview and Introduction
2.10 Logical partitioning
Dynamic logical partitions (LPARs) and virtualization increase utilization of system resources
and add a new level of configuration possibilities. This section provides details and
configuration specifications about this topic. The virtualization discussion includes
virtualization enabling technologies that are standard on the system, such as the POWER
Hypervisor™, and optional ones, such as the Advanced POWER Virtualization feature.
2.10.1 Dynamic logical partitioning
Logical partitioning (LPAR) was introduced with the POWER4 processor-based product line
and the AIX 5L Version 5.1 operating system. This technology offered the capability to divide
a pSeries system into separate logical systems, allowing each LPAR to run an operating
environment on dedicated attached devices, such as processors, memory, and I/O
components.
Later, dynamic LPAR increased the flexibility, allowing selected system resources, such as
processors, memory, and I/O components, to be added and deleted from dedicated partitions
while they are executing. AIX 5L Version 5.2, with all the necessary enhancements to enable
dynamic LPAR, was introduced in 2002. The ability to reconfigure dynamic LPARs
encourages system administrators to dynamically redefine all available system resources to
reach the optimum capacity for each defined dynamic LPAR.
Operating system support for dynamic LPAR
Table 2-12 lists AIX 5L and Linux support for dynamic LPAR capabilities.
Table 2-12 Operating system supported function
2.11 Virtualization
With the introduction of the POWER5 processor, partitioning technology moved from a
dedicated resource allocation model to a virtualized shared resource model. This section
briefly discusses the key components of virtualization on IBM System p servers.
For more information about virtualization, see the following Web site:
http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/about/virtualization/systems/pseries.html
You can also consult the following IBM Redbooks:
Advanced POWER Virtualization on IBM System p5, SG24-7940
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg247940.html?Open
Advanced POWER Virtualization on IBM Sserver p5 Servers: Architecture and
Performance Considerations, SG24-5768
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/sg245768.html?Open
Function AIX 5L
Version 5.2
AIX 5L
Version 5.3
Linux
SLES 9
Linux
RHEL AS 3
Linux
RHEL AS 4
Dynamic LPAR capabilities (add, remove, and move operations)
Processor Y Y Y N Y
Memory Y Y N N N
I/O slot Y Y Y N Y