The System i platform gives you the freedom to run a wide variety of business applications without the costs and complexity often associated with managing multiple physical servers. The System i architecture can help eliminate underutilized servers because it is designed to pool resources and optimize their use across multiple application environments and operating systems. Through advanced dynamic logical partitioning (LPAR) capabilities, a single partition can act as a completely separate i5/OS, Linux or AIX server. System i platforms can automatically adjust pooled processor resources across multiple operating systems, borrowing processing power from idle partitions to handle high transaction volumes in other partitions.
With LPAR on the System i platform, you have both the power and flexibility to address multiple system requirements in a single machine. LPAR supports up to 10 dynamic logical partitions per processor. So, depending upon the System i model, you can run up to 254 independent servers—each with its own processors and memory resources within a single physical System i system. Consolidating systems with LPAR can help cut operational costs, improve availability, ease management and improve service levels, while allowing businesses to quickly deploy applications. LPAR technology can even enhance your ability to simplify networks and centralize multiple business operations.
Since its introduction in 1999, logical LPAR on the System i platform has energized server consolidation and IT cost optimization strategies. Thousands of clients are taking advantage of LPAR to optimize IT investments by rapidly consolidating multiple smaller servers onto fewer, larger System servers. With new capabilities such as uncapped partitions, unused processor capacity on System i servers can be automatically shared between multiple logical partitions based on business priorities.
By using LPAR clients can:
- Reduce complexity through centralized management and administration and pooling of resources
- Improve utilization rates by sharing a pool of virtual resources and micro-partitioning
- Automate processor balancing to address business peaks
- Integrate and access business processes with secure inter-partition communications using virtual LAN
- Extend i5/OS storage automation and management to multiple operating environments using Virtual I/O
- Run multiple independent operating environments and business workloads, including multiple languages and time zones for global IT infrastructure consolidation
The IBM System Planning Tool is a browser-based application that helps you design system configurations; it is particularly useful for designing logically partitioned systems.
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