Welcome to:

Unit 1 Introduction to Partitioning

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Course materials may not be reproduced in whole or in part without the prior written permission of IBM.

3.0

Unit Objectives
After completing this unit, you should be able to:
Describe the following terms:
Partition, Logical Partition (LPAR), Resource

Describe the benefits of partitioning

Describe the following partition concepts:

Dynamic logical partitioning

Micro-partitioning
Virtual I/O
Capacity on Demand (CoD)

Describe the functions of the Hardware Management

Console (HMC)
Describe the functions performed by the POWER
Hypervisor
Describe the overall process for configuring partitions
List references for IBM eServer p5 partitioning
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

What is a Partition?
Partition
Allocation of one systems resources to create logically
separate systems
Each partition is an independent operating environment

From One to Many

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Physical Partition (PPAR)

Physical partition
Resources are allocated in physical building blocks
Blocks contain groups of processors, memory, I/O slots
Interconnect
SMP building block

SMP building block

Operating System
CPU,
Memory, and I/O

CPU,
Memory, and I/O

Physical Partition

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

SMP building block

Operating
System
CPU,
Memory, and I/O

Physical Partition

Logical Partition (LPAR)

A partition is the allocation of system resources to create
logically separate systems within the same physical footprint
A logical partition is when the isolation is implemented with
firmware
Not based on physical system building block
Provides configuration flexibility
SYS1
1:00
Japan

SYS2
10:00
USA

SYS3
11:00
Brazil

SYS4
12:00
UK

O
RG RESS O

ORDEMEP

AIX 5L Linux AIX 5L AIX 5L

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Partition Characteristics
Each partition has its own:
Operating system
Licensed Internal Code (LIC) and Open Firmware
Console
Resources
And other things expected in a standalone operating
system environment:
Problem logs
Data (libraries, objects, filesystems)
Performance characteristics
Network identity
Date and time

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Partition Resources
Resources are allocated to partitions
Memory allocated in units as small as the LMB size
Dedicated processors or processing units
Individual I/O slots
Including virtual devices

Some resources can be shared

Virtual devices
Some core resources are implicitly shared
AIX 5L
PPPPP
MMM
AAAAAA

Linux
PP
MM
AAAA

AIX 5L
PPP
MM
AAAA
A = Adapter
M = Memory
P = Processor

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Logical Partition Resource Example

Flexibility to allocate resources depending on need
LPAR 1

LPAR 2

LPAR 3

LPAR 4

Processors

Memory
I/O Slots

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

IBM eServer p5 LPAR-capable Systems

LPAR-capable POWER5-based models

IBM eServer p5-550

9113-550

IBM eServer p5-570

9117-570

IBM eServer p5-520

9111-520
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Benefits of Using Partitions

Capacity management
Flexibility to allocate resources
Consolidation
Consolidate hardware, floor space, software licenses,
support contracts, in-house support/operations
Efficient use of resources
Application isolation
Separate workloads
Guaranteed resources
Data integrity
Merge production and test environments
Share same hardware
Ability to have virtual Ethernet and virtual I/O devices

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Software Licensing
Licensing is per operating system and is based on processing
power
Partial processor and shared processor pool features
affect licensing
Third-party application provider licenses will vary
Other Software

Operating Systems

IBM Hardware
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

POWER Hypervisor Functions

The POWER Hypervisor is firmware that provides:
Virtual memory management
Controls page table and I/O access
Manages real memory addresses vs. offset memory addresses

Virtual console support

Security and isolation between partitions
Partitions are allowed access only to resources that are allocated to
them (enforced by the POWER Hypervisor)

LPAR 1

LPAR 2

LPAR 3

LPAR 4

POWER Hypervisor
System Hardware
(memory, processors, devices)

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Security and
Isolation Barriers

Hardware Management Console (HMC)

For partitioned systems, the HMC provides:
Virtual console windows
LPAR configuration and operation management
Capacity on Demand (CoD) management
Service tools
PC-based console
Running custom Linux and Java application
Remotely accessible
Connects to Service Processor over private or open
network

Desktop
7310-C03

Rack-mount
7310-CR2
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HMC Interface

Navigation pane

Content pane

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

The Big Picture

Managed System
AIX
Partition 1

Linux

Unassigned
Resources

HMC

Partition 2

Non-Volatile RAM

Hypervisor

Service
Processor

Processors
Memory
I/O Slots

LPAR
Allocation
Tables

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Ethernet

Advanced Partition Features

! Dynamic resource allocation

! Advanced processor concepts
! Virtual I/O
! Capacity on Demand

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Dynamic Partitioning (DLPAR)

DLPAR is the ability to add, remove, or move resources
between partitions without restarting the partitions
Resources
Processors, memory, and I/O slots
Security and isolation between LPARs is not compromised
A partition sees its own resources plus other available
virtual resources
Resources are reset when moved
Applications may or may not be DLPAR-aware

DLPAR allows you to react to

changing resource needs

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

How DLPAR Works

HMC Command

HMC

Partition B

Partition A

Hypervisor
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Processor Concepts
Logical

LPAR

LPAR

LPAR

Virtual
Shared
Dedicated
Inactive
(CoD)
Deconfigured

Physical
(Installed)

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Micro-partitioning
Time-sliced sub-processor allocations are dispatched
according to demand and entitled capacity
Physical
Processors

t=0

Shared Processing Pool

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Partition 1
Partition 2
Partition 3
Partition 4
Partition 5
Partition 6
Partition 7

Virtual I/O
Each partition has virtual I/O slots
Configurable for each partition
Slots can have a virtual adapter instance
Ethernet or SCSI
Can be dynamically added or removed just
like physical I/O slots
Cannot be dynamically moved to another
partition
Configuration of what is in the slot can be
redefined without a restart of the partition

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Virtual I/O Example

Client
Partition
Virtual
Ethernet
Virtual
Ethernet
Client
Adapter
DMA
Buffer

Server
Partition

Virtual
Switch

Virtual
Ethernet

Physical
Ethernet

Layer 2
Bridge

Physical
Network

Virtual Disk
Logical
Disk

Hypervisor

SCSI RDMA Protocol

Server
Adapter

Device
Mapping

Device DM
A Transfer

SCSI, SSA, FC Physical

or Logical Disks
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Capacity on Demand (CoD)

Capacity Upgrade on Demand (CUoD)
Permanent activation of processors or memory
Trial CoD
No charge 30-day activation of processors or memory
resources
On/Off CoD
Ability to activate processor or memory resources
temporarily
Reserve CoD
Processors added to shared pool as needed
Add Reserve
Prepaid for certain number of days
Resources
Mobile CoD
Move permanent processor or memory
activation from one server to another
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Advanced POWER Virtualization Feature

Included in this feature
Firmware feature to enable sub-processor LPARs
I/O Virtualization Server software
Shared Ethernet Adapter
Virtual SCSI

Partition Load Manager software

Operating systems which support this feature (as a client)
AIX 5L for POWER V5.3
SUSE LINUX Enterprise Server 9
Red Hat Enterprise Linux AS for POWER Version 3

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Partitioning Concepts Summary

Part#1

Part#2

Part#3

Part#4

Part#5

Part#6

Use
layout
for
all your
drawing
AIX
5L this
AIX
5L
i5/OS
AIX 5Lneeds
AIX 5L
Linux
PPPPPP
PPPPPP
MMMMM

PPPP
PPP
MMMM

P
MMM

MMM

MM

AAAAAA

AAAAA

AAA

AAAA

AA

AAA

AIX 5L
Kernel

AIX 5L
Kernel

Linux
Kernel

i5/OS
Kernel

AIX 5L
Kernel

AIX 5L
Kernel

Part#7-11
AIX 5L /
Linux

PPPPPP

Virtual Ethernet

POWER Hypervisor

HMC
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

M M M M M
A
A

Virtual LAN
Virtual I/O
O
O O
O O
O O O
S S
S
S S
S S
S S

LAN

LPAR Configuration Process

1

Create
Createplan
planfor
forusage
usagemodel
modeland
andapplications
applications

2
3

Power
Poweron
onand
andset
setup
upmanaged
managedsystem
system

4
5

Plan
Planresources
resourcesfor
forpartitions
partitions

Create
Createand
andconfigure
configurepartitions
partitions

Activate
Activatepartitions
partitionsand
andinstall
installoperation
operationsystems
systems

Configure
Configureand
andtest
testservice
serviceapplications
applications
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

References
Information Center documents
http://publib16.boulder.ibm.com/pseries/en_US/infocenter/base/

pSeries LPAR web portal

http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/pseries/lpar/
Links to white papers, education resources, services, and so forth

Redbooks
http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/

Linux Web site

http://www-1.ibm.com/servers/eserver/pseries/linux/

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Checkpoint (1 of 2)
1. True or False: A partition is an independent operating environment.
2. A partition is a logical partition if which one of the following is true?
a. Resource assignments are flexible.
b. Resources can be moved between partitions without a restart.
c. Partitioning is not dependent on physical system building blocks.
3. Which of the following are true for dynamic partition operations?
a. All AIX 5L partitions on eServer p5 systems are capable of dynamic
resource allocations.
b. Virtual I/O devices can be dynamically added or removed but not
moved among partitions.
c. Partitions do not need to be restarted to add, remove, or move
resources.
d. Applications may or may not be DLPAR-aware.
4. List the three types of resources that are configured in partitions.
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Checkpoint Solution (1 of 2)
1. True or False: A partition is an independent operating environment.
True.
2. A partition is a logical partition if which one of the following is true?
a. Resource assignments are flexible.
b. Resources can be moved between partitions without a restart.
c. Partitioning is not dependent on physical system building blocks.
3. Which of the following are true for dynamic partition operations?
a. All AIX 5L partitions on eServer p5 systems are capable of dynamic
resource allocations.
b. Virtual I/O devices can be dynamically added or removed but not
moved among partitions.
c. Partitions do not need to be restarted to add, remove, or move
resources.
d. Applications may or may not be DLPAR-aware.
4. List the three types of resources that are configured in partitions.
Processors, Memory, I/O slots
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Checkpoint (2 of 2)
5. What system option provides the ability to activate resources in reserve
in case you need them?
6. Which of the following are benefits of using partitions?
a. Better management of resources across operating environments
b. Isolate applications that were all running on one system
c. Better high availability solution
d. Manage operational costs by consolidating resources
7. What is the system component that manages the resources that
partitions use?
8. What is the system component needed to configure partitions,
configure CoD, and provide access to virtual consoles?
9. What is the term used for the concept of allocating sub-processors to
partitions?
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Checkpoint Solution (2 of 2)
5. What system option provides the ability to activate resources in reserve
in case you need them? Capacity on Demand (CoD)
6. Which of the following are benefits of using partitions?
a. Better management of resources across operating environments
b. Isolate applications that were all running on one system
c. Better high availability solution
d. Manage operational costs by consolidating resources
7. What is the system component that manages the resources that
partitions use? POWER Hypervisor
8. What is the system component needed to configure partitions,
configure CoD, and provide access to virtual consoles? HMC
9. What is the term used for the concept of allocating sub-processors to
partitions? Micro-partitioning
Copyright IBM Corporation 2004

Unit Summary
Having completed this unit, you should be able to:
Describe the following terms:
Partition, Logical Partition, Resource

Describe the following partition concepts:

Dynamic logical partitioning

Micro-partitioning
Virtual I/O
Capacity on Demand

Describe the functions of the HMC and the POWER

Hypervisor
Describe the overall process for configuring partitions
List references for IBM eServer p5 partitioning

Copyright IBM Corporation 2004