IBM announces AIX Version 6, the next generation of IBM's well-proven, scalable, open standards-based UNIX® operating system. New features for virtualization, security, availability and manageability designed to make AIX 6 even more flexible, secure and available than previous versions.
IBM plans to make available a new release of AIX, AIX 6, in fourth quarter 2007. This new AIX release will include significant new capabilities for virtualization, security, continuous availability features, and manageability. AIX Version 6.1 is planned to be the first generally available version of AIX 6.
With POWER6 processor-based servers the following AIX operating systems are supported: AIX 5L for POWER V5.2 with Technology Level 5200-10, or later and AIX 5L for POWER V5.3 with Technology Level 5300-06, or later.
The System i family based on POWER5+ processors and IBM i V5R4 deliver enhanced performance, flexibility, and integration for AIX 5L and Linux operating environments.
Capacity on Demand enhancements provide more cost effective options for customers to add AIX 5L and Linux applications to their System i servers. The introduction of Capacity on Demand on the 520 with the IBM Accelerator for System i and the 1/2-way models extend the power and flexibility of CoD to the entry systems. The 570 Enterprise Edition now comes standard with one processor license of IBM i and one Enterprise Enablement feature, enhancing the flexibility for adding IBM i, AIX 5L, or Linux applications. The entry 570 is now a 2/4-way server which provides clearer positioning with the 1/4-way 550 model.
The IBM i Integrated Server Support option 29 for IBM i and IBM i Integration for Linux on xSeries (5722-LSV) replaces the IBM iSeries Integration for Windows Server (5722-WSV) licensed program product. These new offerings deliver virtual storage, communications, and operations management integration between IBM i and Integrated System x solutions and Linux and AIX 5L partitions for the System i5 family.
These integration offerings include enhancements provided with IBM i V5R4 to deliver:
- Virtual Ethernet support for Linux on System x servers attached by an Integrated xSeries Adapter
- Support for extending the size of a network server storage space.
- iSeries Navigator enhancements to deliver a consistent management interface for integrated System x servers and Linux and AIX 5L partitions
Enhancements to IBM i V5R4 virtual storage support can improve performance and reduce configuration complexity for AIX 5L and Linux partitions. With V5R4, the virtual storage support has been re-architected to improve handling of multiple I/O requests from a partition. With these enhancements, one virtual SCSI connection (NWSD) can support more I/O requests. Multiple virtual SCSI connections (NWSDs) can provide additional I/O performance in certain application environments.
The following operating system releases are required for the new 520, 550, 570, and 595 systems.
- AIX 5L 5.2 (5200-08 maintenance level)
- AIX 5L 5.3 (5300-04 maintenance level)
- SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9 Service Pack 3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4 Update 2
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