IBM P5 570 manual POWER5 Partitioning, Virtual I/O Server

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POWER5 Partitioning

Network

External storage

2 CPUs

Virtual I/O

Server

Virtual

Virtual

SCSI

adapter

2 CPUs 3 CPUs 3 CPUs

Linux AIX AIX v5.2 v5.3

6CPUs

Micro-Partitioning

AIX v5.3 Linux AIX v5.3 Linux AIX v5.3

Virtual Ethernet

POWER Hypervisor

I/O

I/O

I/O

I/O

Storage

Network

Sto

Net

Sto

Net

Sto

Net

HMC

I/O

S

N

Figure 2-15 Micro-Partitioning and LPAR

Virtual I/O Server

The Virtual I/O Server is a special-purpose partition that provides virtual I/O resources to client partitions. The Virtual I/O Server owns the real resources that are shared with the other clients. With Virtual I/O technology, a physical adapter can be assigned to a partition to be shared by one or more partitions, enabling clients to minimize their number of physical adapters. The Virtual I/O Server can be used to reduce costs by eliminating the requirement that each partition has a dedicated network adapter, disk adapter, and disk drive.

It is preferable to use the Virtual I/O server in a partition with dedicated resources to help ensure stable performance.

The following sections discuss the two major functions that are provided from the Virtual I/O Server.

Shared Ethernet adapter

A Shared Ethernet Adapter is a new service that acts as a Layer 2 network switch to route network traffic from a Virtual Ethernet to a real network adapter. The Shared Ethernet Adapter must run in a Virtual I/O Server partition.

The advantage of the Virtual Ethernet Services is that partitions to communicate outside the system without having a physical network adapter attached to the partition. Up to 18 VLANs can be shared on a single network interface. The amount of network traffic will limit the number of client partitions that are served through a single network interface.

Virtual SCSI

Access to real storage devices is implemented through the Virtual SCSI services, a part of the Virtual I/O Server partition. Logical volumes that are created and exported on the Virtual I/O Server partition will be shown at the virtual storage client partition as a SCSI disk. All current storage device types such as SAN, SCSI, and RAID are supported.

The Virtual I/O server supports logical mirroring, and RAID configurations. Logical volumes created on RAID or JBOD configurations are bootable, and the number of logical volumes is limited to the amount of storage available and architectural limits of the LVM.

40p5-570 Technical Overview and Introduction

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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 Preface Team that wrote this RedpaperBecome a published author Comments welcomeGeneral description P5-570 Technical Overview and Introduction System specifications Physical packageMinimum and optional features View from the frontProcessor card features Processor card FC DescriptionMemory features Disk and media features5 I/O drawers USB diskette driveModel D10 I/O drawer Model D10 I/O drawer physical package Model D11 I/O drawer Model D20 I/O drawerDrawers and usable PCI slots Model D20 I/O drawer physical packageValue Paks Hardware Management Console modelsModel type conversion System racksIBM RS/6000 7014 Model T00 Enterprise Rack IBM RS/6000 7014 Model T42 Enterprise Rack AC Power Distribution Unit and rack contentRack-mounting rules for p5-570 and I/O drawers Additional options for rack Flat panel display optionsHardware Management Console 7310 Model CR2 OEM rackIBM 7212 Model 102 TotalStorage Storage device enclosure Statement of direction 18 p5-570 Technical Overview and Introduction Architecture and technical overview POWER5 chip POWER4 POWER5Dynamic power management Enhanced SMT featuresSimultaneous multi-threading ST operationPower chip evolution POWER4Processor cards CMOS, copper, and SOI technologyProcessor drawer interconnect cables Processor card with DDR1 memory socket layout viewProcessor clock rate Pmcycles -mMemory subsystem Memory placement rulesMemory restriction Memory throughput System busesRIO-2 buses and GX+ card SP bus Internal I/O subsystemPCI-X slots and adapters LAN adapters Graphic acceleratorsScsi adapters Bit and 32-bit adaptersInternal storage Internal hot swappable Scsi disksInternal media devices Internal RAID optionsHot-swap disks and Linux 1 I/O drawers External I/O subsystems2 7311 Model D10 and 7311 Model D11 I/O drawers Model D11 features Model D10 features3 7311 Model D20 I/O drawer 4 7311 I/O drawer and RIO-2 cabling Model D20 internal Scsi cabling5 7311 I/O drawer and Spcn cabling Cost Optimized Performance OptimizedExternal disk subsystems IBM 2104 Expandable Storage PlusIBM TotalStorage FAStT Storage servers IBM 7133 Serial Disk Subsystem SSAIBM TotalStorage Enterprise Storage Server Advanced Power Virtualization feature Dynamic logical partitioningVirtualization Virtual Ethernet15shows the POWER5 partitioning concept Micro-Partitioning technologyPOWER5 Partitioning Virtual I/O ServerService processor Partition Load ManagerService processor base Service processor extenderBoot process IPL flow without an HMC attached to the systemHardware Management Console IPL flow with an HMC attached to the systemManaged systems Definitions of partitionsProfiles Hardware requirements for partitioning System Management ServicesSpecific partition definitions used for Micro-Partitioning Boot options 17 System Management Services main menuAdditional boot options DVD-ROM, DVD-RAMSecurity Operating system requirementsAIX 5L Linux Linux supportCapacity on Demand, RAS, and manageability Processor Capacity Upgrade on Demand methods Way 1.65 GHz POWER5 processor cardWay 1.9 GHz POWER5 processor card with DDR1 memory slots Way 1.9 GHz POWER5 processor card with DDR2 memory slotsCapacity Upgrade on Demand for memory How to report temporary activation resources Capacity Upgrade on Demand for memory feature codesFault avoidance Reliability, availability, and serviceabilityTrial Capacity on Demand Permanent monitoring First Failure Data CaptureMutual surveillance Self-healing Memory reliability, fault tolerance, and integrityEnvironmental monitoring Fault masking 5 N+1 redundancyResource deallocation Dynamic or persistent deallocationServiceability Error indication and LED indicatorsManageability Concurrent MaintenanceAdvanced System Management Interface Service Agent Advanced System Management main menuService focal point Service Update Management Assistant3 p5 Customer-Managed Microcode Cluster CSM value points CSM V1.4 on AIX and Linux planned 4Q04IBM Redbooks Other publicationsOnline resources How to get IBM Redbooks Help from IBM68 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.
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