PowerVM™ Lx86 supports the installation and running of
most 32-bit x86 Linux® applications on any System p™ model with
POWER5™, or POWER6™ technology, or IBM BladeCenter®
JS20, JS21, or JS22 servers. It creates an x86 Linux application environment
running on POWER™ processor-based systems by dynamically translating
x86 instructions to Power Architecture™ instructions. The System p
advantages for your x86 Linux applications include: performance and
scalability; improved service quality through availability and security
features; and optimized use of processor, memory, disk, and network
resources with optional IBM Virtualization technology available on some
systems.
During its previous open beta, this product was known as IBM System p
Application Virtual Environment for x86 Linux.
Following a successful open beta program, PowerVM Lx86 is now generally
available to customers and independent software vendors (ISVs). For a
demo, check out our
short video on YouTube.
You can get IBM support for PowerVM x86 , or you can join an open
forum
to exchange information with other users and IBM.
To access the PowerVM Lx86 feature on your System p or POWER
processor-based blade server, decide whether you will be downloading the
code or whether you will be requesting a Virtual Loaner Program (VLP)
session if you are an ISV. If you want to download the code,
check your system configuration to ensure that
PowerVM Lx86 supports it.
Accept the online agreement
and download the code.
Intrigued? Want to learn
more?
For ISVs and IBM Business
Partners
ISVs can also use the Virtual Loaner Program (VLP), which provides
partitions with PowerVM Lx86 installed, ready for your remote access. VLP
usage requires PartnerWorld membership and login, along with acceptance of
the VLP usage agreement.
To access the PowerVM Lx86 system image within VLP,
users must accept the
PowerVM Lx86 online
agreement.
After accepting this agreement, you will be
directed to the VLP reservation page along with other documentation and
help resources. PowerVM Lx86 runs on Red Hat version 4 with update 4 or
later and Novell/SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 with Service Pack 3 and 10
or later. If you have not participated in the VLP before, you will be
asked to accept the VLP usage agreement also.
PowerVM Lx86 is supported on POWER 5, POWER 5+, and POWER 6 systems.
PowerVM Lx86 is supported on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.4 and later, Novell
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 SP3 and later, and Novell SUSE Linux
Enterprise Server 10 and later. You should use either the same OS version
or one service pack earlier in the PowerVM Lx86 Intel environment that is
running on the POWER system.
PowerVM Lx86 runs most x86 Linux applications except those that:
- Directly access hardware devices (such as 3D graphics
adapters).
- Require unique kernel modules not available for POWER
systems.
- Use instructions outside of the Intel IA-32 instruction set
architecture as defined by the 1997 Intel Architecture Software
Developer's Manual consisting of Basic Architecture (Order Number
243190), Instruction Set Reference Manual (Order Number 243191),
and the System Programming Guide (Order Number 243192), all dated
1997.
- Do not run correctly on Red Hat RHEL 4.4 or later, or Novell SUSE
Linux Enterprise Server 9.3 or later. (Note: Starting with PowerVM
Lx86 Version 1.3.1, Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 9 is no
longer supported.)
- Require x86 real-mode
Applications that are expected to use PowerVM Lx86 effectively fall into
categories of infrastructure applications, tools and utilities, and
end-user apps from Linux client OSes or other end-user interface
applications.
Java™ applications should use the most recent version of the IBM
JVM. Java is recommended for one-time use such as installers, rather than
for heavy application use.
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