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2.8 The POWER Hypervisor and Virtual I/O Server technologies
The optional POWER Hypervisor and Virtual I/O Server feature (FC 1965) includes the
POWER Hypervisor enablement and Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) software for OpenPower
systems.
The POWER Hypervisor and Virtual I/O Server feature (FC 1965) provides:
The POWER Hypervisor:
– Firmware enablement for LPAR
– Firmware enablement for dynamic LPAR
– Firmware enablement for partitions using Micro-Partitioning technology
– Support for virtual SCSI (VIOS software)
– Virtual Ethernet
– Virtual TTY
The Virtual I/O Server software:
– Ethernet adapter sharing
– Virtual SCSI
2.8.1 POWER Hypervisor
When FC 1965 is ordered for the OpenPower 710 server on an initial order, the POWER
Hypervisor is shipped enabled. On MES orders the firmware enablement code must be
downloaded from the following Web page:
http://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/openpower/cod
The firmware enablement code is entered into the HMC to enable the POWER Hypervisor
technology. The POWER Hypervisor technology includes static LPAR, dynamic LPAR
Micro-Partitioning, and virtual adapters.
Note: On the OpenPower 710 server, LPAR, dynamic LPAR, and other advanced
virtualization features, such as Micro-Partitioning and virtual Ethernet, are available only
when a system is configured with the POWER Hypervisor and Virtual I/O Server feature,
FC 1965.
Logical partitioning and dynamic logical partitioning
The POWER Hypervisor technology offers the capability to divide the OpenPower 710 server
into logical partitions, where each LPAR runs an operating environment on dedicated
attached devices, such as processors, memory, and I/O components. The HMC is required
when partitioning the OpenPower 710 server. The HMC is required to create and modify the
partitions.
Static LPAR is supported by Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS 3 for POWER. Static and dynamic
LPAR are supported by SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 for POWER, or later, and Red Hat
Enterprise Linux AS 4 for POWER, or later. Static LPARs require a partition reboot for
modifications to be applied. Dynamic LPAR increases flexibility, allowing selected system
resources, such as processors and I/O components, to be added and deleted from dedicated
partitions without reboot. This requires an attached HMC with the proper level of software to
control the system resources and an updated system firmware level to electronically isolate
systems resources.
2
Dynamic LPAR support varies by Linux distribution.
26
IBM eServer OpenPower 710 Technical Overview and Introduction
2
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