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POWER7 information
Processor compatibility mode definitions
You can learn about each processor compatibility mode and the servers on which each mode can run.
The following table describes each processor compatibility mode and the servers on which the logical partitions that use each processor compatibility mode can successfully operate.
| Processor compatibility mode | Description | Supported servers |
|---|---|---|
| POWER5 | The POWER5 processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER5 processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER5 processor
compatibility mode can run on POWER5, POWER6®, and POWER6+™ processor-based servers. Restriction: A POWER6 processor
cannot emulate all features of a POWER5 processor. Similarly, a POWER7® processor cannot emulate
all features of a POWER6 or
a POWER5 processor.
For example, certain types of performance monitoring might not be
available for a logical partition if the current processor compatibility
mode of a logical partition is set to the POWER5 mode.
|
| POWER6 | The POWER6 processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER6 processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER6 processor compatibility mode can run on POWER6, POWER6+, and POWER7 processor-based servers. |
| POWER6+ | The POWER6+ processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER6+ processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER6+ processor compatibility mode can run on POWER6+ and POWER7 processor-based servers. |
| POWER6 enhanced | The POWER6 enhanced processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER6 processor and also provides additional floating-point instructions to applications that use the POWER6 processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER6 enhanced processor compatibility mode can run on POWER6 processor-based servers. |
| POWER6+ enhanced | The POWER6+ enhanced processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER6+ processor and also provides additional floating-point instructions to applications that use the POWER6+ processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER6+ enhanced processor compatibility mode can run on POWER6+ processor-based servers. |
| POWER7 | The POWER7 processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER7 processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER7 processor compatibility mode can run on POWER7 processor-based servers. |
| default | The default processor compatibility mode is a preferred processor compatibility mode that enables the hypervisor to determine the current mode for the logical partition. When the preferred mode is set to default, the hypervisor sets the current mode to the most fully featured mode supported by the operating environment. In most cases, this is the processor type of the server on which the logical partition is activated. For example, assume that the preferred mode is set to default and the logical partition is running on a POWER7 processor-based server. The operating environment supports the POWER7 processor capabilities so the hypervisor sets the current processor compatibility mode to POWER7. | The servers on which logical partitions with the preferred processor compatibility mode of default can run depend on the current processor compatibility mode of the logical partition. For example, if the hypervisor determines that the current mode is POWER7, the logical partition can run on POWER7 processor-based servers. |
