Linux Operating System; Java Supported Versions; Boost Performance And Productivity With Ibm Compilers - IBM Power 710 Technical Overview And Introduction

2.14.4 Linux operating system

Linux is an open source operating system that runs on numerous platforms from embedded
systems to mainframe computers. It provides a UNIX-like implementation across many
computer architectures.
The supported versions of Linux on POWER7 processor-based servers are:
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 1, or later, with one current maintenance
update available from SUSE to enable all planned functionality
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AP 5 Update 7 for POWER, or later
Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.1 for POWER, or later
If you want to configure Linux partitions in virtualized Power Systems you have to be aware of
these conditions:
Not all devices and features that are supported by the AIX operating system are supported
in logical partitions running the Linux operating system.
Linux operating system licenses are ordered separately from the hardware. You can
acquire Linux operating system licenses from IBM, to be included with the POWER7
processor-based servers, or from other Linux distributors.
For information about the features and external devices supported by Linux, go to:
http://www.ibm.com/systems/p/os/linux/index.html
For information about SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10, refer to:
http://www.novell.com/products/server
For information about Red Hat Enterprise Linux Advanced Server, see:
http://www.redhat.com/rhel/features

2.14.5 Java Supported versions

There are unique considerations when running Java 1.4.2 on POWER7 servers. For best
exploitation of the outstanding performance capabilities and most recent improvements of
POWER7 technology, upgrade Java-based applications to Java 7, Java 6, or Java 5 whenever
possible. For more information, see:
http://www.ibm.com/developerworks/java/jdk/aix/service.html

2.14.6 Boost performance and productivity with IBM compilers

IBM® XL C, XL C/C++, and XL Fortran compilers for AIX and for Linux exploit the latest
POWER7™ processor architecture. Release after release, these compilers continue to help
improve application performance and capability, exploiting architectural enhancements made
available through the advancement of the POWER® technology.
IBM compilers are designed to optimize and tune your applications for execution on IBM
POWER platforms, to help you unleash the full power of your IT investment, to create and
maintain critical business and scientific applications, to maximize application performance,
and to improve developer productivity.
The performance gain from years of compiler optimization experience is seen in the
continuous release-to-release compiler improvements that support the POWER4™
Chapter 2. Architecture and technical overview
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