i5/OS: Hardware for logical partitions

To successfully create a logical partition, you need to have certain required hardware installed on your server.

The ability to dynamically move resources between partitions is available on both AS/400^® and iSeries™ models that support logical partitions. Uni-processor partitioning capability and shared processor pool capability is available on V5R1 and V5R2 partitions running on iSeries models 800, 810, 820, 825, 830, 840, 870, and some 270s. Other hardware for the logical partition is either optional, or you can switch it between two or more logical partitions.

You can read Plan for logical partitions to help you decide what hardware you need. To learn more about the hardware you can use with logical partitions, you can read through the corresponding topics that explain the pieces of hardware in the following picture.

To display system hardware resources, follow these steps:

In iSeries Navigator, expand My Connections or your active environment.
Select the primary partition of the system.
Expand Configuration and Service and select Logical Partitions.
Right-click the Logical Partition and select Configure Partitions. You are now working in the Configure Logical Partitions window.
Select Physical System to view the hardware resources for the entire system.

Logical partition concept: Bus
A bus is a conductor that is used for transmitting signals or power.
Logical partition concept: Bus-level and IOP-level I/O partitions
Bus-level and IOP-level are two ways of I/O partition. Depending on your needs, there can be advantages to setting up one type of I/O partition instead of another.
Dynamically switching IOPs between partitions
A powerful advantage of logical partitions is the ability to dynamically switch an IOP from one partition to another. When you dynamically switch an IOP, you take the control of an IOP away from one partition and give it to another without restarting the server.
Logical partition concept: IOP
The IOP attaches to the system I/O bus and one or more input/output adapters (IOAs). The IOP processes instructions from the server and works with the IOAs to control the I/O devices.
Logical partition concept: SPD and PCI
Hardware features are packaged in two different forms: System Product Division (SPD) or Peripheral Component Interface (PCI), depending upon the server model.
Logical partition concept: Processor
A processor is a device that sends and receives information from different parts of a system (including hardware and software), and executes programmed instructions.
Logical partition concept: Memory
Processors use memory to temporarily hold information. Memory requirements for partitions are dependent on partition configuration, I/O resources assigned, and applications used.
Logical partition concept: Disk units
Disk units store data. The server can use and reuse this data at any time. It is more permanent than memory, but you can still erase it.
Logical partition concept: Removable media device and alternate restart (IPL) devices
A removable media device reads and writes to media (tape, CD-ROM, or DVD).
Logical partition concept: Console
Each logical partition must have a console attached to it through an IOP, which is the first workstation that the system activates. The system assumes that this console will always be available for use. You can access the dedicated service tools (DST) display only from this console.
Logical partition concept: Expansion unit
You can add an expansion unit to many of the iSeries servers to support additional features and devices.
Logical partition concept: Load source
Each logical partition must have one disk unit designated as the load source that contains the Licensed Internal Code and the configuration data for the logical partitions.

Parent topic:

Logical partition concepts