Creating a new partition

This procedure provides step-by-step instructions for using the New Partition task to create a new partition.

Before you begin

The New Partition task offers two modes through which you can create a partition: basic and advanced. This procedure provides instructions only for the basic mode of the New Partition task. Because the advanced mode is similar, however, you can use these instructions for the advanced mode as well. Note that some pages, or sections, of the advanced mode might have slightly different names and additional content, compared to the basic mode. If you want to review the differences between the two modes, see Selecting which New Partition task mode to use.

  • Make sure you have the appropriate authorization to use the New Partition task. You need to use a customized user ID either with authorization to the task, or with the predefined System Programmer Tasks role.
  • Use the online help for the New Partition task together with these instructions; the online help explains the page elements and functions in more detail. To access the online help, click Help on the New Partition task window. Note that the basic and advanced modes of the task have separate online help; to access the help for the advanced mode, switch to that mode and then click Help.
  • If you are creating a partition only to familiarize yourself with the process, you can accept default or automatically generated property values or settings. After you successfully complete the New Partition task, you can use the Partition Details task to modify the partition definition to conform to your company's conventions and planned use for this system.
    Notes:
    • After you create a partition through the New Partition task, you cannot change the partition type through the Partition Details task.
    • Regardless of the mode you use for the New Partition task, the Partition links section only provides links for more information, because you can attach a partition link to a partition only through the Configure Partition Links task.
  • If you want to supply your own property values or configuration settings rather than accepting default values, use the checklist in Planning checklist for creating a partition to gather the information that you need to select or fill in values in the New Partition task.

About this task

The basic mode of the New Partition task provides a quick, guided method of creating a partition; DPM either provides default values or automatically generates many of the values for partition properties that are required to successfully start a partition. Some of these properties are not displayed or editable in the basic task mode.

Some of the following individual steps are marked as required, which indicates that the corresponding task page contains fields for which you need to supply a value or make a selection. The end result of the task is a partition definition, which you can modify through the Partition Details task, or use to start the partition through the Start task.

Although the steps in this procedure include information that is specific to creating a Secure Service Container partition, you can find more detailed instructions either in the online help for the New Partition task or in the Secure Service Container User's Guide, which is available on https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/systems-hardware.

Procedure

  1. Open the New Partition task.
    You can access this task from the main HMC page by selecting the Systems Management node and expanding the Configuration task group; by selecting a specific DPM-enabled system; or by selecting the task in the Tasks index. For example:
    1. Select a DPM-enabled system listed under the Systems Management node.
    2. From the Configuration task group, click the link for the New Partition task.
      The New Partition window opens, with a page overlay that highlights key task controls on the window.
    3. Click the Okay, got it button to remove the page overlay.
      The Welcome page is displayed.
      Figure 1. Welcome page of the New Partition task in basic mode
      Screen capture of the navigation pane and Welcome page of the New Partition task
    4. On the Welcome page, you can use two controls to modify the page display.
      • Click the Show this welcome page next time check box if you want to see the Welcome page the next time that you open this task. By default, the check box is not selected.
      • Click the icon at the end of the check box label if you want to restore the page overlay.
    5. Click Next to navigate to the next page in the task.
  2. Required: Use the Name page to enter the name of the new partition, the partition type, and an optional description.
    A partition name must uniquely identify the partition from all other partitions defined on the same system.
    1. Specify the name of the new partition, which can be 1 - 64 characters in length. Supported characters are alphanumerics, blanks, periods, underscores, dashes, or at symbols (@). Names cannot start or end with blank characters.
    2. Optionally, specify a description for the partition. The description can be up to 1024 characters in length.
    3. Specify one of the following values that identifies the type of partition that you are creating.
      Linux®
      In this type of partition, you can install and run a Linux distribution as a single operating system, or as a hypervisor for multiple guests.
      z/VM®
      In this type of partition, you can install and run z/VM as a hypervisor for multiple Linux guests.
      Secure Service Container
      This type of partition is a Secure Service Container, in which you can run only specific software appliances that the Secure Service Container supports.

      If you select the partition type Secure Service Container, the page display includes fields for entering a master user ID and password to secure access to the Secure Service Container web interface. If you need help supplying values for these fields, see the online help.

    4. When you have finished, click Next to navigate to the next page in the task.
  3. Required: Use the Processors page to define the number of shared virtual processors for the partition, and to view various charts that are based on your selections.
    The virtual processors are allocated from physical processors of the selected type.
    Figure 2. Processors page of the New Partition task in basic mode
    Screen capture of the navigation pane and Processors page of the New Partition task
    1. If the Processors type field is displayed, select a value. If you want to enable simultaneous multithreading for this partition, you must select the IFL processor type.
    2. Review the Processors bar chart to determine how many processors are available on this system, and how many are already in use or reserved for other partitions.
    3. Select the number of processors that you want to assign to your new partition.
      If you are creating a partition only to familiarize yourself with the process, you can accept the default value. Otherwise, base your selection on your knowledge of the processing requirements of the operating system and applications that you plan to run in this new partition.
    4. Review the Processors bar chart and pie chart to understand how your selection affects the availability of processing resources on the system.
      Although you can select a number of processors greater than the number that is currently available, your new partition will not start unless currently active, unreserved partitions are stopped or more processors are added to the system.
    5. When you have finished, click Next to navigate to the next page in the task.
  4. Required: Use the Memory page to define the initial and maximum amounts of memory to be assigned to the new partition.
    When you define the amount of memory to be assigned, or allocated, to a specific partition, you specify an initial amount of memory, and a maximum amount that must be equal to or greater than the initial amount. If you are creating a partition only to familiarize yourself with the process, you can accept the default values for both the Memory and Maximum Memory fields. Otherwise, base your selection on your knowledge of the memory requirements of the operating system and applications that you plan to run in this new partition.
    Figure 3. Memory page of the New Partition task in basic mode
    Screen capture of the navigation pane and Memory page of the New Partition task
    1. Review the Installed Memory bar chart to determine how much memory is available on this system, and how much is already in use or reserved for other partitions.
    2. Select the amounts of initial and maximum memory that you want to assign to your new partition.
      If you are creating a Secure Service Container partition, you must specify an initial amount of at least 4096 MB (4 GB).
    3. To understand how your selection affects the availability of memory resources on the system, review the updated Installed Memory bar chart.
    4. When you have finished, click Next to navigate to the next page in the task.
  5. Use the Network page to define network interface cards (NICs) to enable the new partition to access specific networks.

    If you are creating a partition only to familiarize yourself with the process, you do not need to create any NICs unless you want to do something more than simply start the partition when you have finished creating it. If you are only trying out the process, skip to step 6 of these instructions. Otherwise, you need to create a NIC for each network connection that is required for the operating system or hypervisor that runs on this partition, or for the applications that the operating system or hypervisor supports.

    • For availability, select at least two network adapters of the same type, and create a NIC for each one.
    • If you are creating a Secure Service Container partition, you must specify at least one NIC for communication with the Secure Service Container web interface.
    Figure 4. Network page of the New Partition task in basic mode
    Screen capture of the navigation pane and Network page of the New Partition task

    When you first use the New Partition task, the Network display contains an empty NICs table. To create a NIC, complete the following steps.

    1. From the Actions list in the NICs table, select New to open the New Network Interface Card window.
    2. Enter a unique, meaningful name and, optionally, a description of the new NIC.
    3. If you are creating a Secure Service Container partition, supply values for the additional information about the network connection that is required to access the Secure Service Container web interface.
      This information includes an optional, virtual local area network (VLAN) identifier, the required IP address and type, and a mask / prefix.

      If you need more detailed descriptions as you provide these configuration values, see the online help.

    4. Review the entries in the Adapter Ports and Switches table to determine which network adapters are configured on the system.
      1. Check the percentages listed in the Uplink Utilization and Adapter NIC Allocation columns. If the percentage in either column is high (for example, 90%) for a specific port or switch, consider selecting a different port or switch on the same network.
      2. Look for a warning icon next to the name in the Adapter Name column; if the warning icon is displayed for a specific port or switch, select a different one on the same network.
      3. Select one port or switch by clicking the radio button in the Select column. Note that, if you select an OSA-Express adapter port other than port 0, you need to manually specify the relative port number through a Linux qeth device driver command, before entering the Linux command to bring the device online. Instructions for specifying a port number are provided at the end of the procedure in Starting a partition and its operating system or hypervisor.
    5. Click OK to create the new NIC and close the New Network Interface Card window.
    6. Check the entry for the new NIC that is displayed in the NICs table on the Network page. Change the device number if your company uses a specific numbering convention for its networks.
    7. If you are creating a Secure Service Container partition, provide the network settings that are displayed after the NICs table.
      These settings include a host name, default gateway, and DNS servers.

      If you need more detailed descriptions as you provide these configuration values, see the online help.

    8. Repeat the preceding steps, as necessary, to create a new NIC for each network connection that your new partition requires.
    9. When you have finished, click Next to navigate to the next page in the task.
  6. Use the Storage page to attach storage groups or tape links that enable the partition to access storage networks and hardware that is connected to the DPM-enabled system.
    The Storage section contains a Storage Groups table and a Tape Links table, each with controls that you can use to attach storage groups or tape links to the partition.

    If you are creating a partition only to familiarize yourself with the process, you do not need to attach any storage groups or tape links unless you want to boot a specific hypervisor or operating system image that resides on a storage device. If you are only trying out the process, skip to step 7 of these instructions. Otherwise, continue with this step.

    System administrators create storage groups and tape links to enable partitions (and the operating systems and applications that they host) to use physical storage hardware that is connected to the system. A storage group is a logical group of storage volumes that share certain attributes. A tape link defines the attributes of a connection that one or more partitions can use to access one FCP tape library in the SAN.

    To attach one or more storage groups or tape links to the partition, complete the following steps.

    1. When you first use the New Partition task, the Storage display contains an empty Storage Groups table and Tape Links table. Select the plus icon in the table toolbar to open the Attach Storage Groups or Attach Tape Links window.
    2. On the Attach Storage Groups window, select one or more storage groups listed in the Storage Groups table to attach to this partition.
      • The suggested practice is to select storage groups that are in the Complete fulfillment state, but you can select any storage group except for those with a fulfillment state of Incomplete, or those that are already attached to the maximum number of partitions. If you do select groups in states other than Complete, some storage might not be available for use when you start the partition.
      • Use the additional information in the Storage Groups table, as necessary, to decide which storage groups to attach.

      When you have finished selecting storage groups to attach, select OK to close the Attach Storage Groups window.

    3. On the Attach Tape Links window, select one or more tape links listed in the table to attach to this partition.
      • The suggested practice is to select tape links that are in the Complete fulfillment state, but you can select any tape link except for those with a fulfillment state of Incomplete, or those that are already attached to the maximum number of partitions. If you do select links in states other than Complete, some storage might not be available for use when you start the partition.
      • Use the additional information in the table, as necessary, to decide which tape links to attach.

      When you have finished selecting tape links to attach, select OK to close the Attach Tape Links window.

    4. Check the entries for the storage groups or tape links that you selected, which are now displayed in the Storage Groups table or Tape Links table in the Storage section. If necessary, you can use the minus icon in the table toolbar to remove a storage group or tape link from the table.
    5. When you have finished, review another section or click OK to save the partition definition.
    The next page to open might be either Cryptos or Partition links, depending on the system configuration.
  7. If the system has configured cryptographic features, use the Cryptos page to enable the new partition to use the cryptographic features that it requires.

    Crypto features are optional and, therefore, might not be installed on the system. If none are installed, the Cryptos page is disabled, and you can skip to step 9 of these instructions.

    If cryptographic features are installed on the system but you are creating a partition only to familiarize yourself with the process, you can skip to step 9. Otherwise, use instructions in the online help to enable your partition to use cryptographic adapters.

  8. Use the information in the Partition links section to view or learn about partition links, which interconnect two or more partitions that share the same network configuration and reside on the same system.
    Through links in this section, you can open the Configure Partition Links task to the overview page, or open a new window to display the online help for that task.
  9. Required: Use the Boot page to select the location of the executables for the hypervisor or operating system to be run in this partition, or to upload the required files to initialize the hypervisor or operating system when the partition itself is started.

    Some of these boot options require that you find and select an ISO image file, which is a collection of files and metadata for installing software, and an .INS file, which maps image components (for example, kernel, ramdisk, parameter file) to the appropriate storage addresses in main memory.

    The Boot from menu lists the boot options that are available for the hypervisor or operating system. If an option in the list is disabled, hover your cursor over that option to display additional information for that option. If necessary, take appropriate action to make that selection available; for example, if you want to use the Storage device (SAN) option, return to the Storage page to attach a storage group with a boot volume.

    Use the Secure Boot option to have DPM verify that the software signature matches the signature from the distributor. If the signatures do not match, the boot process fails. This option is enabled only under the conditions listed in Validating boot images of operating systems.

    If you have selected the partition type Secure Service Container, note that option set in the Boot from menu is Secure Service Container. This boot option cannot be changed unless you first change the partition type.

    To define a boot option for other types of partitions, complete the following steps.

    1. Click the down arrow to display the available options in the Boot from menu.
    2. Choose one of the available options and provide any additional information that is required.
      Figure 5. Boot page of the New Partition task in basic mode
      Screen capture of the navigation pane and Boot page of the New Partition task
      When you select a specific boot option, the display shows editable fields and other information related to the selected option.
      None
      Select this option if you want to start a partition without a hypervisor or operating system. Although the partition can be started, it is not in a usable state.
      Storage device (SAN)
      Select this option when the hypervisor or operating system executables reside on an internal or external storage device. This option is available only when at least one storage group is attached to the partition. When you specify this option, you need to select a boot volume in an attached storage group.

      The Storage Groups table displays the available FCP or FICON® or NVMe storage groups that contain a boot volume. To view the available boot volumes, expand any table entry by selecting the storage group. The expanded table display contains a Boot Volume table that lists all available boot volumes that the storage group contains. The Boot Volume table content and Advanced Boot Volume Settings fields vary, depending on the storage group type.

      • For each boot volume in an FCP storage group, the Boot Volume table provides the universally unique identifier (UUID) and capacity of the volume, along with a user-supplied description, if any.
      • For each boot volume in a FICON storage group, the Boot Volume table provides the name of the storage subsystem in which the volume resides, along with the volume ID, capacity, type, and device number. If a user-supplied description is available, it is also displayed in the table.
      • For each boot volume in an NVMe storage group, the Boot Volume table provides the boot volume serial number and capacity, along with a user-supplied description, if any. When you select an NVMe volume, note that NVMe namespace management is not supported, so you can boot programs only from namespace ID=1.
      Select the boot volume on which the operating system or hypervisor image resides. If you plan to boot the operating system or hypervisor from a volume in an NVMe storage group, check the product documentation for the operating system or hypervisor to make sure that it supports booting from NVMe storage.
      Note: Starting with DPM R4.0, you can select options to validate the operating system image that you boot from a volume in a storage group. These options are described in the online help for this task. For an overview of this capability, see Validating boot images of operating systems.
      Network server (PXE)
      Select this option when you want to use a preboot execution environment (PXE) on a network server. This option is available only if a network interface card (NIC) for either an OSA port or HiperSockets switch is defined for the partition.

      When you select this option, the NIC table displays the available network interface cards. Select the NIC for the adapter that connects the partition to the network on which the network boot server resides.

      FTP server
      Select this option if you want to use FTP to boot an image that is located on a different system. Provide the following information:
      Host name
      Enter either the fully qualified domain name of the FTP server, or its IP address.
      User name
      Enter the user name on the target FTP server.
      Password
      Enter the password associated with the user name on the target FTP server.
      INS file
      Either click Browse to retrieve a list of INS files from the target FTP server and select one file, or enter the fully qualified name (relative to FTP root) of an INS file.

      Depending on the size of the FTP site, browsing might require more time than manually entering the full path and name of the INS file. Also note that the browsing function returns INS files found in the user's home directory or its subdirectories. Because you cannot select a starting directory, or navigate to a directory above the user's home directory, manually entering the full path and name of the INS file might be more expedient.

      If you click Browse, a separate window displays the user's home directory and its subdirectories. Select one INS file, and click OK to close the Browse FTP Server window.

      FTPS server
      Select this option if you want to use the FTP Secure (FTPS) protocol to boot an image that is located on a different system. FTPS uses the Secure Socket Layer (SSL) protocol to secure data. With this option, you need to supply a host name, user ID, password, and .INS file, as described for the FTP server boot option.
      SFTP server
      Select this option if you want to use the Secure File Transfer Protocol (SFTP) to boot an image that is located on a different system. SFTP uses the Secure Shell (SSH) protocol to secure data. With this option, you need to supply a host name, user ID, password, and .INS file, as described for the FTP server boot option.
      Hardware Management Console removable media
      Select this option if you want to use an INS file from a media drive that is connected to the HMC. The media drive must be available when you are creating the partition definition and when the partition is started. Possible drive selections are CD/DVD drive or USB flash memory drive, depending on what media drives are installed in the HMC.
      When you select this option:
      1. If more than one type of media drive is available on the HMC, select the radio button for the media drive on which the INS file resides. Otherwise, skip to the next step.
      2. Either enter the fully qualified name (relative to the mount point) of an INS file, or complete the following steps.
        1. Select Browse to start a search on the target media drive to retrieve a list of INS files. Any INS files found are displayed in a separate window.
        2. Select only one INS file and click OK to close the Browse Removable Media window.
      ISO image
      Select this option when you want to upload an ISO file that is located on your workstation file system. This option is available only when you are connecting to the HMC through a remote browser.
      When you select this option:
      1. Select Browse to find the ISO image file on your workstation file system. You cannot select an ISO image from an HMC media drive. As soon as you select an ISO image file, DPM starts to upload the file, and displays a progress indicator for the upload operation.
      2. After the upload operation completes, click Browse to search the ISO image file for the INS file that you want to use. Any INS files found are displayed in a separate window. Select only one INS file and click OK to close the Browse ISO Image window.
      Sample image
      Select this option if you want to test your partition using a sample Linux operating system that IBM® provides with DPM. Use this sample system for checking only operating system commands and IP connectivity.
    3. When you have finished, click Next to navigate to the next page in the task.
  10. Use the Summary page to review the properties for the new partition.

    You might need to vertically scroll the page to view all of the partition properties. If necessary, click Back to return to a particular page to change a property value or setting.

  11. Required: On the Summary page, click Finish to save the partition definition.
    A progress indicator is displayed until DPM finishes creating the partition.

Results

DPM opens the validation window when it finishes creating the partition definition. The validation window displays a message indicating that your partition has been created, and lists additional tasks that you can use to work with the new partition.

What to do next

To work with the partition, select any of the links on the validation window to open a related task in a separate window.

Start the partition
Opens the Start task, with this partition selected as the partition to start.
Setup auto-start
Opens the Start Options section in the System Details task, through which you can specify that the partition is to be started automatically, when the system is started. You can specify the order in which the partition is started, relative to other partitions on the system, or add the partition to an auto-start group.
Setup scheduled operations
Opens the Customize Scheduled Operations task, through which you can automate start and stop operations for a partition by scheduling them to be run on specific dates and times.
Create monitors
Opens the Monitor System Events task, through which you can define specific events for which you want to be notified, if these events occur. For example, you can request to be notified when network traffic on a system, or processor utilization on a partition, reaches a specific threshold that you set.

When you are finished reviewing the information on the validation window or using the provided links to related tasks, click Close to close the validation window.