IBM P5 570 manual Micro-Partitioning technology, 15shows the POWER5 partitioning concept

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The Advanced POWER Virtualization feature includes:

￿Firmware enablement for Micro-Partitions

￿Installation image for the Virtual I/O server software that supports:

Ethernet adapter sharing

Virtual SCSI Server

￿Partition Load Manager

Automated CPU and memory reconfiguration

Real-time partition configuration and load statistics

Graphical user interface

Micro-Partitioning technology

POWER5-based servers introduces an enhanced partitioning model that is based on the partitioning concepts of a stable and well-known mainframe technology and on existing LPAR/dynamic LPAR implementation on POWER4 and POWER4+ servers.

The Micro-Partitioning model offers a virtualization of system resources. In POWER5 processor-based systems, physical resources are abstracted into virtual resources that are available to partitions. This sharing method is the primary feature of this new partitioning concept and it happens transparently.

POWER5 Micro-Partitioning specifies processor capacity in processing units. One processing unit represents 1% of one physical processor. 1.0 represents the power of one processor. A partition defined with 220 processing units is equivalent to the power of 2.2 physical processors. Creating a partition using Micro-Partitioning technology, the minimum capacity is 10 processing units, or 1/10 of a physical processor. A maximum of 10 partitions for each physical processor may be defined, but on a loaded system the practical limit is less. In a p5-570 system with 16 processors in a shared pool, up to 160 partitions using Micro-Partitioning technology can be activated at the same time for an entire system. The practical limit to the number of partitions is based on available hardware and performance objectives.

Micro-Partitions can also be defined with capped and uncapped attributes. A capped Micro-Partition is not allowed to exceed the defined capacity (a configuration flag inside the HMC menus determines whether the capacity is capped), while an uncapped partition is allowed to consume additional capacity with fewer restrictions. Uncapped partitions can be configured to the total idle capacity of the server or a percentage of it.

The POWER5 processor-based systems use the POWER Hypervisor, which is the new Hypervisor for executing the Micro-Partition model. The Hypervisor of existing POWER4 processor-based systems works on a demand basis, as the result of machine interrupts and callbacks to the operating system. The new Hypervisor operates continuously in the background.

The Advanced POWER Virtualization Feature, which is described in 2.9.2, “Advanced POWER Virtualization feature” on page 38, facilitates all POWER5 and POWER Hypervisor enhancements to reach the highest level of granularity of installed system resources.

Figure 2-15shows the POWER5 partitioning concept.

Chapter 2. Architecture and technical overview 39

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Contents IBM Eserver p5 Technical Overview Introduction Page IBM Sserver p5 570 Technical Overview Introduction First Edition July Contents Page Page Vi p5-570 Technical Overview and Introduction Vii Trademarks Team that wrote this Redpaper PrefaceComments welcome Become a published authorGeneral description P5-570 Technical Overview and Introduction Physical package System specificationsView from the front Minimum and optional featuresProcessor card FC Description Processor card featuresDisk and media features Memory featuresUSB diskette drive 5 I/O drawersModel D10 I/O drawer Model D10 I/O drawer physical package Model D20 I/O drawer Model D11 I/O drawerModel D20 I/O drawer physical package Drawers and usable PCI slotsHardware Management Console models Value PaksSystem racks Model type conversionIBM RS/6000 7014 Model T00 Enterprise Rack AC Power Distribution Unit and rack content IBM RS/6000 7014 Model T42 Enterprise RackRack-mounting rules for p5-570 and I/O drawers Flat panel display options Additional options for rackOEM rack Hardware Management Console 7310 Model CR2IBM 7212 Model 102 TotalStorage Storage device enclosure Statement of direction 18 p5-570 Technical Overview and Introduction Architecture and technical overview POWER4 POWER5 POWER5 chipST operation Dynamic power managementEnhanced SMT features Simultaneous multi-threadingPOWER4 Power chip evolutionCMOS, copper, and SOI technology Processor cardsProcessor card with DDR1 memory socket layout view Processor drawer interconnect cablesPmcycles -m Processor clock rateMemory placement rules Memory subsystemMemory restriction System buses Memory throughputRIO-2 buses and GX+ card Internal I/O subsystem SP busPCI-X slots and adapters Bit and 32-bit adapters LAN adaptersGraphic accelerators Scsi adaptersInternal hot swappable Scsi disks Internal storageInternal RAID options Internal media devicesHot-swap disks and Linux External I/O subsystems 1 I/O drawers2 7311 Model D10 and 7311 Model D11 I/O drawers Model D10 features Model D11 features3 7311 Model D20 I/O drawer Model D20 internal Scsi cabling 4 7311 I/O drawer and RIO-2 cablingCost Optimized Performance Optimized 5 7311 I/O drawer and Spcn cablingIBM 2104 Expandable Storage Plus External disk subsystemsIBM 7133 Serial Disk Subsystem SSA IBM TotalStorage FAStT Storage serversIBM TotalStorage Enterprise Storage Server Virtual Ethernet Advanced Power Virtualization featureDynamic logical partitioning VirtualizationMicro-Partitioning technology 15shows the POWER5 partitioning conceptVirtual I/O Server POWER5 PartitioningPartition Load Manager Service processorService processor extender Service processor baseIPL flow without an HMC attached to the system Boot processIPL flow with an HMC attached to the system Hardware Management ConsoleDefinitions of partitions Managed systemsProfiles System Management Services Hardware requirements for partitioningSpecific partition definitions used for Micro-Partitioning 17 System Management Services main menu Boot optionsDVD-ROM, DVD-RAM Additional boot optionsOperating system requirements SecurityAIX 5L Linux support LinuxCapacity on Demand, RAS, and manageability Way 1.9 GHz POWER5 processor card with DDR2 memory slots Processor Capacity Upgrade on Demand methodsWay 1.65 GHz POWER5 processor card Way 1.9 GHz POWER5 processor card with DDR1 memory slotsCapacity Upgrade on Demand for memory Capacity Upgrade on Demand for memory feature codes How to report temporary activation resourcesReliability, availability, and serviceability Fault avoidanceTrial Capacity on Demand First Failure Data Capture Permanent monitoringMutual surveillance Memory reliability, fault tolerance, and integrity Self-healingEnvironmental monitoring Dynamic or persistent deallocation Fault masking5 N+1 redundancy Resource deallocationError indication and LED indicators ServiceabilityConcurrent Maintenance ManageabilityAdvanced System Management Interface Advanced System Management main menu Service AgentService Update Management Assistant Service focal point3 p5 Customer-Managed Microcode Cluster CSM V1.4 on AIX and Linux planned 4Q04 CSM value pointsOther publications IBM RedbooksOnline resources Help from IBM How to get IBM Redbooks68 p5-570 Technical Overview and Introduction Page IBM Eserver p5 Technical Overview Introduction

P5 570 specifications

The IBM P5 570 is a high-performance server that was designed for enterprise-scale computing, offering a blend of advanced technologies and a flexible architecture. Launched as part of IBM's Power5 server line, the P5 570 stands out for its robust processing capabilities and extensive scalability, making it a preferred choice for businesses requiring reliable and efficient computing solutions.

At the heart of the P5 570 is the IBM Power5 processor, which employs simultaneous multi-threading (SMT) technology. This allows the processor to handle two threads per core, effectively doubling the throughput for workloads ideally suited to multi-threading. The server typically features a configuration of up to 32 Power5 processors, providing an impressive compute power that supports demanding applications, ranging from databases to complex enterprise resource planning (ERP) systems.

The P5 570 architecture supports a wide range of memory configurations, with a maximum memory capacity of up to 512 GB. Utilizing IBM’s proprietary Chip Memory technology, it can deliver high bandwidth and low latency, significantly enhancing performance for memory-intensive applications. Furthermore, the integrated memory controller architecture optimizes memory access, ensuring that critical workloads run smoothly.

Scalability is a key characteristic of the P5 570, with the ability to expand processing power and memory capacity as an organization’s needs grow. The server supports various operating systems, including AIX, Linux, and IBM i, which provides flexibility for diverse IT environments. This versatility ensures that companies can run their preferred applications without the need for substantial system overhauls.

In terms of storage, the P5 570 utilizes advanced RAID technology and supports a variety of disk configurations, ensuring that data integrity and availability are maintained. Coupled with built-in security features, such as the IBM Trusted Foundation, which establishes a secure boot environment, the P5 570 offers a reliable platform for mission-critical workloads.

Finally, the IBM P5 570 is designed for high availability and redundancy. Features like hot-swappable components and advanced error detection and recovery mechanisms minimize downtime, making it a dependable choice for businesses that operate around the clock. Combined with its powerful hardware and versatile software support, the IBM P5 570 remains a formidable player in the high-performance server arena.