The Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) is part of the IBM PowerVM® feature on IBM® Power SystemsTM and part of the IBM POWER® HypervisorTM. The VIOS is also supported on IBM BladeCenter®. The server is a single-function appliance that is in the logical partition (LPAR) of the Power Systems server. The VIOS facilitates the sharing of physical I/O resources between client partitions (IBM AIX®, IBM i, and Linux) within the server. The Virtual I/O Server provides a virtual SCSI target, N_Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) target, and Shared Ethernet Adapter (SEA) virtual I/O function to client LPARs. The Virtual I/O Server has the capability of a hardware management function, the Integrated Virtualization Manager (IVM). IVM is a simplified hardware management solution that inherits most of the Hardware Management Console (HMC) features. The console manages a single server, avoiding the need of a dedicated personal computer. This device is designed to provide a solution that enables the administrator to reduce system setup time and to make hardware management easier, at a lower cost. IVM provides a management model for a single system. Although it does not offer all of the HMC capabilities, it enables the exploitation of PowerVM technology. IVM targets the small and medium systems that are best suited for this product. IVM provides the following functions: - Shared Storage Pool - IBM Active MemoryTM Sharing (AMS) - Live Partition Mobility (LPM) - Task manager monitor for long-running tasks - Security additions such as viosecure and firewall, and other improvements There are many environments where there is the need for small partitioned systems, either for test reasons or for specific requirements, for which the HMC solution is not ideal. A sample situation is where there are small partitioned systems that cannot share a common HMC because they are in multiple locations. In these cases, IVM works. Using IVM, companies can more cost-effectively consolidate multiple partitions onto a single server. With its intuitive, browser-based interface, the IVM is easy to use and significantly reduces the time and effort that is required to manage virtual devices and partitions. This IBM RedpaperTM publication provides an introduction to IVM by describing its architecture and showing how to install and configure a partitioned server by using its capabilities. This document is intended for IT personnel who have a complete understanding of partitioning before reading this document.

The IBM® Hardware Management Console (HMC) provides to systems administrators a tool for planning, deploying, and managing IBM Power SystemsTM servers. This IBM Redbooks® publication is an extension of IBM Power Systems HMC Implementation and Usage Guide, SG24-7491 and also merges updated information from IBM Power Systems Hardware Management Console: Version 8 Release 8.1.0 Enhancements, SG24-8232. It explains the new features of IBM Power Systems Hardware Management Console Version V8.8.1.0 through V8.8.4.0. The major functions that the HMC provides are Power Systems server hardware management and virtualization (partition) management. Further information about virtualization management is in the following publications: IBM PowerVM Virtualization Managing and Monitoring, SG24-7590 IBM PowerVM Virtualization Introduction and Configuration, SG24-7940 IBM PowerVM Enhancements What is New in 2013, SG24-8198 IBM Power Systems SR-IOV: Technical Overview and Introduction, REDP-5065 The following features of HMC V8.8.1.0 through HMC V8.8.4.0 are described in this book: HMC V8.8.1.0 enhancements HMC V8.8.4.0 enhancements System and Partition Templates HMC and IBM PowerVM® Simplification Enhancement Manage Partition Enhancement Performance and Capacity Monitoring HMC V8.8.4.0 upgrade changes

This IBM® Redbooks® publication provides an introduction to PowerVMTM virtualization technologies on Power System servers. PowerVM is a combination of hardware, firmware, and software that provides CPU, network, and disk virtualization. These are the main virtualization technologies: POWER7, POWER6, and POWER5 hardware POWER Hypervisor Virtual I/O Server Though the PowerVM brand includes partitioning, management software, and other offerings, this publication focuses on the virtualization technologies that are part of the PowerVM Standard and Enterprise Editions. This publication is also designed to be an introduction guide for system administrators, providing instructions for these tasks: Configuration and creation of partitions and resources on the HMC Installation and configuration of the Virtual I/O Server Creation and installation of virtualized partitions Examples using AIX, IBM i, and Linux This edition has been updated with the latest updates available and an improved content organization.

IBM® PowerVM® virtualization technology is a combination of hardware and software that supports and manages virtual environments on IBM POWER5, POWER5+, POWER6®, and POWER7® processor-based systems. These systems are available on IBM Power SystemsTM and IBM BladeCenter® servers as optional editions, and are supported by the IBM AIX®, IBM i, and Linux operating systems. With this set of comprehensive systems technologies and services, you can aggregate and manage resources with a consolidated, logical view. By deploying PowerVM virtualization and IBM Power Systems, you can take advantage of the following benefits: Lower energy costs through server consolidation Reduced cost of your existing infrastructure Better management of the growth, complexity, and risk of your infrastructure This IBM RedpaperTM publication is a quick start guide to help you install and configure a complete PowerVM virtualization solution on IBM Power Systems. It highlights how to use the following management console interfaces to configure PowerVM: Integrated Virtualization Manager (IVM) Hardware Management Console (HMC) Systems Director Management Console (SDMC) This paper also highlights advanced configuration of a dual Virtual I/O Server setup. This paper targets new customers who need assistance with quickly and easily installing, configuring, and starting a new PowerVM server in a virtualized environment.

This IBM® RedpaperTM publication describes the adapter-based virtualization capabilities that are being deployed in high-end IBM POWER7+TM processor-based servers. Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCIe) single root I/O virtualization (SR-IOV) is a virtualization technology on IBM Power Systems servers. SR-IOV allows multiple logical partitions (LPARs) to share a PCIe adapter with little or no run time involvement of a hypervisor or other virtualization intermediary. SR-IOV does not replace the existing virtualization capabilities that are offered as part of the IBM PowerVM® offerings. Rather, SR-IOV compliments them with additional capabilities. This paper describes many aspects of the SR-IOV technology, including: A comparison of SR-IOV with standard virtualization technology Overall benefits of SR-IOV Architectural overview of SR-IOV Planning requirements SR-IOV deployment models that use standard I/O virtualization Configuring the adapter for dedicated or shared modes Tips for maintaining and troubleshooting your system Scenarios for configuring your system This paper is directed to clients, IBM Business Partners, and system administrators who are involved with planning, deploying, configuring, and maintaining key virtualization technologies.

IBM® PowerVM® virtualization technology is a combination of hardware and software that supports and manages the virtual environments on POWER5-, POWER5+, IBM POWER6®, and IBM POWER7®-based systems. PowerVM is available on IBM Power SystemsTM, and IBM BladeCenter® servers as optional Editions, and is supported by the IBM AIX®, IBM i, and Linux operating systems. You can use this set of comprehensive systems technologies and services to aggregate and manage resources by using a consolidated, logical view. Deploying PowerVM virtualization and IBM Power Systems offers you the following benefits: Lower energy costs through server consolidation Reduced cost of your existing infrastructure Better management of the growth, complexity, and risk of your infrastructure This IBM Redbooks® publication is an extension of IBM PowerVM Virtualization Introduction and Configuration, SG24-7940. It provides an organized view of best practices for managing and monitoring your PowerVM environment concerning virtualized resources managed by the Virtual I/O Server.

This IBM® Redbooks® publication provides best practices for planning, installing, maintaining, and monitoring the IBM PowerVM® Enterprise Edition virtualization features on IBM POWER7® processor technology-based servers. PowerVM is a combination of hardware, PowerVM Hypervisor, and software, which includes other virtualization features, such as the Virtual I/O Server. This publication is intended for experienced IT specialists and IT architects who want to learn about PowerVM best practices, and focuses on the following topics: Planning and general best practices Installation, migration, and configuration Administration and maintenance Storage and networking Performance monitoring Security PowerVM advanced features This publication is written by a group of seven PowerVM experts from different countries around the world. These experts came together to bring their broad IT skills, depth of knowledge, and experiences from thousands of installations and configurations in different IBM client sites.