Linux support on iSeries servers

 

To successfully partition an iSeries™ to run Linux, the server requires specific hardware and software.

The primary partition must run i5/OS^® V5R1 or later versions and be updated with the latest PTFs. The latest Linux-related i5/OS PTFs can be found on Linux on the System i platform .

(Pre-V5R3 diagram) Linux is not supported on a primary partition. Additional information on software function can be found at i5/OS logical partition function by release.

For information on Linux support for eServer™ 5800 servers, refer to Partitioning the server.

Selected models can run Linux in the shared processor pool configuration. When using shared processors, one processor can be shared among up to 10 i5/OS and Linux partitions. Other models require the use of dedicated processors for a Linux partition. Those same models also require you to disable processor multitasking for the whole server, including the primary partition. See Debug the processor multitasking error for more information.

The Linux operating system supports single processors or multiple processors. This choice is made at the time the logical partition is created. If a Linux kernel built for a single processor is loaded into a partition with multiple processors assigned to it, it will function correctly, but only one processor will be used. If multiple processors are assigned to a partition, Linux built for Symmetric MultiProcessors (SMP) should be used. Any number of available processors may be assigned to a logical partition. The following tables helps you determine if your server supports Linux in a logical partition.

Table 1. Model 270

Feature code	Number of processors	Supported LPAR	Supports Linux	Linux shared processor	Disable processor multitasking
2248	1	No	No	No	No
2250	1	No	No	No	No
2252	1	No	No	No	No
2253	2	No	No	No	No
2422	1	No	No	No	No
2423	1	No	No	No	No
2424	2	No	No	No	No
2431	1	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2432	1	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2434	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2452	1	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2454	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

Table 2. Model 800

Feature code	Number of processors	Support LPAR	Support Linux	Linux shared processor	Disable processor multitasking
	1	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

Table 3. Model 810

Feature code	Number of processors	Support LPAR	Support Linux	Linux shared processor	Disable processor multitasking
	1	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

Table 4. Model 820

Feature code	Number of processors	Support LPAR	Support Linux	Linux shared processor	Disable processor multitasking
2395	1	Yes	No	No	No
2396	1	Yes	No	No	No
2397	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
2398	4	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
2425	1	Yes	No	No	No
2426	2	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
2427	4	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
0150	1	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
0151	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
0152	4	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2435	1	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2436	1	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2437	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2438	4	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2456	1	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2457	2	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2458	4	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

Table 5. Model 825

Feature code	Number of processors	Support LPAR	Support Linux	Linux shared processor	Disable processor multitasking
	3	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	4	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	5	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
	6	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Table 6. Model 830

Feature code	Number of processors	Supports LPAR	Supports Linux	Linux shared processor	Disable processor multitasking
2400	4	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
2402	4	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
2403	8	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
2351	4/8	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
0153	4/8	Yes	Yes	No	Yes

Table 7. Model 840

Feature code	Number of processors	Supports LPAR	Supports Linux	Linux shared processor	Disable processor multitasking
2418	12	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
2420	24	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
2416	8/12	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
2417	12/18	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
2419	12/18	Yes	Yes	No	Yes
2461	24	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2352	8/12	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2353	12/18	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
2354	18/24	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
0158	12	Yes	Yes	Yes	No
0159	24	Yes	Yes	Yes	No

Table 8. Model 870

Feature code	Number of processors	Support LPAR	Support Linux	Linux shared processor	Disable processor multitasking
	8/16	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Table 9. Model 890

Feature code	Number of processors	Supports LPAR	Supports Linux	Linux shared processor	Disable processor multitasking
0197	24	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
0198	32	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
2487	16/24	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes
2488	24/32	Yes	Yes	Yes	Yes

Contact your IBM^® marketing representative or IBM Business Partner for more information on upgrading existing feature codes on your server.

Refer to Linux on the System i platform (www.ibm.com/systems/i/os/linux/) for the latest updates to Linux running on an iSeries server.

 

Parent topic:

Plan to run Linux in a logical partition