Virtualization with IBM i, PowerVM and Power Systems

Overview

Benefits

AIX, Linux and Windows¹ applications

Match business needs with the right applications

IBM Power Systems can help your business grow by simplifying the IT infrastructure needed to support today's diverse applications. In addition to running IBM i applications, Power servers can run AIX, Linux and Windows¹ applications.

AIX applications

AIX is an open, UNIX operating system that allows you to run the applications you want, on the hardware you want— IBM Power servers. AIX in combination with PowerVM provides you with new levels of flexibility and performance. AIX delivers high levels of security, integration, flexibility and reliability— essential for meeting the demands of today's information technology environments. AIX partitions support the powerful Live Partition Mobility capabilities of PowerVM, helping to eliminate planned downtime. Through PowerVM LPAR technology, your business can now run AIX applications on the same system with IBM i and Linux applications. This capability takes advantage of the strengths of LPAR and the shared storage technologies of the IBM i operating system. AIX applications can complement the rich portfolio of IBM i applications to provide you with greater flexibility and application choice.

Linux applications

One of the most important developments in business computing in recent years is the arrival of Linux. Linux, an open source operating system that implements UNIX standards, is rapidly becoming the accepted standard for fundamental infrastructure applications like Web servers, firewalls, file servers and e-mail servers. Now, thanks to the powerful combination of the scalability, reliability and manageability of a Power server and the flexibility of Linux, you can take advantage of a new way to reduce the complexity of your IT infrastructure and expand your application environment—with the potential to greatly reduce cost. Taking advantage of advanced PowerVM technologies, your business can consolidate multiple standalone infrastructure servers on up to 254 Linux partitions on a single Power server—automatically moving processors and dynamically adding storage resources between individual partitions to support your changing business demands. Linux partitions can also leverage IBM i operating system for its storage resources, making it easier and less expensive to create and manage Linux environments on your Power server. Linux supports an array of open source solutions to run your infrastructure. In addition, IBM is working with leading Linux solution providers to expand the set of business applications and solutions available for the Linux operating system on Power Systems. PowerVM Lx86 extends this portfolio by supporting selected Linux on x86 applications within a Linux for Power environment. IBM works with the open source community, Red Hat, Inc. and Novell, Inc. to deliver Linux distributions for IBM's POWER™ processor-based servers.

Windows applications via integration with System x and BladeCenter

Integrated System x and BladeCenter solutions for Power Systems and the IBM i operating system can improve management and administration of a combined IBM i and Windows Server, Linux or VMware operating environment. An iSCSI Host Bus Adapter enables the integration of System x and BladeCenter to support Windows Server, Linux and VMware operating environments. Collectively, these offerings can give you the reliability, flexibility and scalability to support applications requiring x86 servers, while using the storage, networking and systems management features of the Power Systems family and IBM i operating system and easily integrating with IBM i applications and data. When you consolidate and integrate multiple Intel processor-based servers through integrated System x or BladeCenter offerings, you can manage your diverse applications together in a single system environment and take advantage of flexible storage management, network integration and device sharing. Utilizing Virtual Ethernet networking between System x, BladeCenter and Power Systems can reduce the cost and complexity of maintaining performance and security in a network of multiple servers. Integrated System x and BladeCenter solutions mean that you don't have to forego other system benefits just to run Microsoft Exchange, SQL Server®, Citrix or other x86 applications that extend core business applications on the IBM i operating system.

¹ Windows applications are supported via integrated System x or BladeCenter offerings.