To enhance the flexibility to use the system within several different logical configurations, a System profile could be defined to collect more than one Partition profile to provide requested system behavior.

2.11.5Hardware requirements for partitioning

To implement partitioning on a POWER5-based system, resource planning is important to ensure that you have a base configuration and enough flexibility to make desirable changes to the running logical partitions. To configure a partition, the minimum requirements are processors, memory, and virtual or physical resources to provide boot, application and network support.

Processors

Within POWER5 technology and depending on performance requirements, a logical partition can be created by using a shared processor pool or a dedicated processor.

Shared processors can be defined by a fractional number starting at 1/10th the capacity of a real processor. To calculate the required processor power, a real processor is divided in 100 processing units, so 1/10 of a processor is equal to 10 processing units.

Dedicated processors are entire processors that can be assigned to a single logical partition without the capability to share free capacity to other logical partitions.

Memory

Depending on given application and performance requirements, a logical partition requests memory to execute the installed operating system and application. To create partitions, the minimum memory requirement is 128 MB per logical partition and dynamically increases in increments of 16 MB from the overall memory available in the system.

Expansion unit

Expansion units extend the flexibility of the server system to increase the number of possible logical partitions by adding additional hardware, such as storage or network devices.

2.11.6 Specific partition definitions used for Micro-Partitioning

In addition to the base definition for a partition, new parameters must be defined in order to achieve more flexibility of partitions using Micro-Partitioning technology.

Capped and uncapped partition

A capped partition indicates that the local partition will never exceed its assigned capacity. An uncapped partition indicates that if the capacity entitlement is reached, additional capacity from the shared pool can be used if available.

To manipulate the behavior of uncapped partitions, the parameter uncapped weight must be defined, in the range from 0 through 255. To prevent an uncapped partition from receiving extra capacity, the uncapped weight parameter should be 0.

The default uncapped weight is 128.

2.11.7 System Management Services

Booting up a full partition system or a logical partition to System Management Services (SMS) using the ASCII8 interface or the GUI results in identical contents and functionality.

46p5-570 Technical Overview and Introduction

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IBM P5 570 manual Hardware requirements for partitioning, Specific partition definitions used for Micro-Partitioning

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.