IBM Power Private Cloud with Shared Utility Capacity

In this publication, IBM® Power® Private Cloud with Shared Utility Capacity is referenced as Power Enterprise Pools 2.0.

Power Enterprise Pools 2.0 provides enhanced multisystem resource sharing and by-the-minute consumption of on-premises compute resources to clients who deploy and manage a private cloud infrastructure. Power E1080, Power E1050, Power E980, Power E950, Power S924 (9009-42G), and Power S922 (9009-22G), Power S1022 (9105-22A), and Power S1024 (9105-42A) servers are supported in Power Enterprise Pools 2.0.

The following types of pools are available:
  • Power E980 and Power E1080 pools
  • Power E950 and Power E1050 pools
  • Power S922, Power S924, Power S1022, and Power S1024 pools

All installed processors and memory on servers in a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0 are activated and made available for immediate use when a pool is started. Processor and memory usage on each server are tracked by the minute and aggregated across the pool.

Base Processor Activation features and Base Memory Activation features, and corresponding software license entitlements are purchased for each server in a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0. The base resources are aggregated and shared across the pool without having to move them from server to server. The unpurchased capacity in the pool can be used on a pay-as-you-go basis. Resource usage that exceeds the pool's aggregated base resources is charged as metered capacity by the minute, on a real-time basis. Metered capacity can either be debited against per-purchased capacity credits or it can be billed monthly.

Processor usage is tracked based on actual consumption by shared processor partitions and dedicated processor partitions in donating mode. For dedicated processor partitions not in donating mode, core usage is tracked based on 100% utilization of the entitled cores assigned to the active partitions. Memory usage is tracked based on the assignment of memory to active partitions, and is not based on Operating System (OS) usage of the memory. Both processor and memory usage are tracked and charged by the minute. Both processor and memory usage are based on the average usage for 1 minute and not the peak usage during the minute.

Base Memory Activation features and metering are not enabled for Power S924, Power S922, Power S1022, and Power S1024 servers as all installed memory is included with the purchase of these systems. However, memory usage is still tracked.

Processor usage is tracked and charged by the Operating System type. Processor activations and software license entitlements are monitored and metered independently. The following types of processor-related base resources and metered capacity charges are supported:
  • Any OS core (a core that can run any operating system that is supported on POWER® servers)
  • Linux® or VIOS core (a core that can run only Linux or VIOS)
  • IBM AIX® software (licensed per core)
  • IBM i - P10 software (licensed per core)
  • IBM i - P20 software (licensed per core)
  • IBM i - P30 software (licensed per core)
  • Eligible SUSE Linux® Enterprise Server (SLES) software
  • Eligible Red Hat® Enterprise Linux (RHEL) software
  • Eligible Red Hat OpenShift® Container Platform (OCP) software
  • PowerHA® SystemMirror® for AIX Standard Edition
  • PowerHA SystemMirror for AIX Enterprise Edition
  • PowerHA SystemMirror for IBM i

Software charges are not applicable for VIOS partitions. For Linux partitions, software charges are applicable only for partitions that run SLES, RHEL, or Red Hat OCP in pools with specific SLES, RHEL, or Red Hat OCP subscription offerings that are supported as base and metered capacity resources. For PowerHA SystemMirror, charges are applicable only for the partitions that are running PowerHA SystemMirror and are tagged with one of the CMC reserved PowerHA tags.

A monthly budget for metered capacity consumption can be set.

The IBM Cloud Management Console (CMC) monitors and manages the Power Enterprise Pool 2.0. The CMC Enterprise Pools 2.0 application helps you to monitor base and metered capacity across a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0, with summary and sophisticated drill-down views of real-time and historical resource consumption by the logical partition.

Configuration requirements for Power Enterprise Pools 2.0

  • A single CMC instance can support a maximum of 4000 logical partitions across all Power Enterprise Pools 2.0.
  • All IBM POWER servers in a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0 must be under a warranty or current IBM Hardware Maintenance contract with the same service level.
  • All IBM POWER servers in a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0 must be within a single enterprise and a single country.
  • All processor cores that are activated by Base Processor Activation features are typically configured with a corresponding quantity of aggregate Base operating system license entitlements for one or more supported operating systems. Exceptions are allowed for operating system entitlement quantities on systems being configured for a Power Enterprise Pools 2.0 environment; however, as a result, utilization of all Base Processor resource on these systems can result in significant charges for minutes of Metered Software Capacity consumed above reduced Base operating system software entitlement. And although Base operating system license entitlement may be configured on a PEP 2.0 system in an aggregate amount less than a system’s Base Processor resource, PowerVM and other software products with terms that require license entitlement for all permanently active cores on a system must still be procured in appropriate quantities.

    All Base operating system software and any associated IBM Licensed Program Products installed on systems in Power Enterprise Pools 2.0 environment must also be registered sufficiently for Software Subscription and Support. In addition, an active CMC subscription is required for every system (to cover all sockets) in a Power Enterprise Pools 2.0.

  • All IBM POWER servers in a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0 must be connected to an IBM Cloud® Management Console through an Hardware Management Console (HMC).
  • A signed IBM License Supplement for IBM Power Systems – Shared Utility Capacity on Enterprise Pools 2.0 (Z126-8404). Where available this supplement can be accepted online instead through the Entitled Systems Support website when starting a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0.
  • All shared processor partitions are always allowed on IBM POWER servers within a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0. Dedicated processor partitions are only allowed when the Power Systems Firmware level is FW950, or later, and the HMC is at Version 9.2.950, or later, and the Power Enterprise Pool 2.0 is created in CMC to allow dedicated processor partitions.
  • All Hardware Management Consoles that are managing IBM POWER servers within a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0 must have Network Time Protocol (NTP) enabled.
  • Performance and Capacity Monitoring (PCM) must be enabled for each IBM POWER server in a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0 through the HMC.

  • Linux Software Requirements

    The following SUSE Linux Enterprise Server (SLES) subscription offerings are monitored, shared as base capacity, and made available as pay-per-use metered capacity resources in a pool consisting of Power E1080 servers and Power E980 servers, Power E950 servers, or Power E1050 servers:

    • 5639-15S and 5639-12S: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for Power with Base 1 - 2 Socket, Unlimited LPAR and Priority Subscription, or Priority Subscription and Support features.
    • 5639-SAP: SUSE Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications for Power with 1 - 2 Socket, Unlimited LPAR and Priority Subscription, or Priority Subscription and Support features.

    Base SLES subscription entitlement resources can be shared across systems within a pool. SLES base subscription entitlement for each system is set to the number of cores that are available in the quantity of sockets that are entitled by the current, and valid subscription for that system (the number of cores per chip multiplied by the quantity of sockets acquired in the current subscription).

    All servers that are expected to share the base SLES subscription entitlement resources within a pool must have the same product subscription and add-on features.

    Linux subscription entitlement is monitored and metered independently of processor activations. Metered capacity charges for minutes of SLES use exceeding a pool’s base of respective subscription entitlement will be charged by the minute, similar to AIX and IBM i operating system minutes.

    If you do not purchase the SLES subscription offerings (5639-15S and 5639-12S, or 5639-SAP), the Linux license entitlement must be procured separately as required to support the appropriate cores or sockets that are activated and available for use by Power Enterprise Pools 2.0.

    The following Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL) subscription offerings are monitored, shared as base capacity resources, and are made available as pay-per-use metered capacity resources in a pool consisting of Power E1080 servers and Power E980 servers, Power E1050 servers and Power E950 servers, or Power S924 servers, Power S922 servers, Power S1022 servers, and Power S1024 servers:

    • 5639-RH8: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 for Power with Smart Management, Premium (up to 4 cores and 4 LPARs) Subscription or Subscription/Red Hat Support, including Extended Update Support and High Availability for Power features (required).
    • 5639-RLE: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 for Power with Smart Management, Premium (up to 4 cores and 4 LPARs) Subscription or Subscription/Red Hat Support, including Extended Update Support features (required).
    • 5639-RHS: Red Hat Enterprise Linux for SAP Solutions for Power, Premium (up to 4 cores and 4 LPARs) Subscription or Subscription/Red Hat Support.
    • 5639-1RE, 5639-3RE, 5639-5RE: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8 for Power with Smart Management, Premium Subscription or Subscription/Red Hat Support (up to 4 cores and 4 LPARs) including Extended Update Support features (1-year, 3-year, or 5-year subscriptions)

    Base capacity resources can be shared across systems within a pool. Base RHEL subscription entitlement for each system can be set for each system to the number of cores that are entitled by the current and valid subscription for that system.

    Metered capacity resources more than the base capacity of a pool are activated, available for use, and charged by the minute when used.

    All systems expected to run and share the base RHEL subscription entitlement resources within a pool must have a valid subscription product with required add-on features.

    To enable your Red Hat subscriptions as base capacity resources and metered capacity resources within a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0 environment, the IBM or Business Partner Sales teams must order 5799-RP2 "Red Hat Enablement for Power Private Cloud/Pools 2.0” and include i-listed PRPQ P91342.

    Linux subscription entitlement is monitored and metered independently of processor activations. Metered capacity charges for minutes of RHEL use that exceeds a pool’s base RHEL subscription entitlement is charged by the minute, similar to AIX or IBM i operating system minutes.

    The HMC must be at a Version 9.2.950, or later. Also, you need an active RMC connection from the HMC to each logical partition that is running SLES or RHEL.

    The following Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform (OCP) subscription offering is monitored, shared as base capacity resources, and is made available as pay-per-use metered capacity resources in a pool consisting of Power E1080 servers and Power E980 servers, Power E1050 servers, Power E950 servers, or Power S924 servers and Power S922 servers, Power S1022 servers, and Power S1024 servers:
    • 5639-OCP: Red Hat OpenShift Container Platform for Power with 1, 3, or 5-year Premium Subscription or Premium Subscription/Red Hat Support features for 2 or more cores on each Power server that runs OCP.
      Note: Standard subscription features are not supported as Shared Utility Capacity resources.

    Base capacity resources can be shared across systems within a pool. Red Hat OCP base subscription entitlement is set for each system to the number of cores that are entitled by the current and valid subscription for that system.

    Metered capacity resources that are more than the base capacity of a pool are activated, available for use, and charged by the minute when used.

    All systems expected to share the base Red Hat OCP subscription entitlement resources within a pool must have the same product subscription and add-on features.

    To enable your Red Hat OCP subscriptions as base capacity resources and metered capacity resources within a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0 environment, in addition to any new Product ID 5639-OCP subscription orders, IBM or Business Partner Sales teams must initiate a single order on one system in the pool for the Product ID 5799-OC2 “OpenShift Enablement for Power Private Cloud/Pools 2.0” and include i-listed PRPQ P91343.

    Linux subscription entitlement is monitored and metered independently of processor activations. Metered capacity charges for minutes of Red Hat OCP use that exceeds a pool’s base Red Hat OCP subscription entitlement is charged by the minute, similar to AIX or IBM i operating system minutes.

    The HMC must be at a Version 10.1.1010, or later. Also, you need an active RMC connection from the HMC to each logical partition that is running Red Hat OCP.

For more information about the system firmware level and HMC version requirements for Power Enterprise Pools 2.0, see https://ibmcmc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360038760214-Minimum-system-firmware-level-required.

Getting started with Power Enterprise Pools 2.0

  • Purchase one or more Power E950 servers, Power E980 servers, Power E1050 servers, or Power E1080 servers with the Power Enterprise Pools 2.0 enablement feature, Base Processor Activation and Base Memory Activation features and corresponding software license entitlements. Otherwise, purchase one or more Power S922 (9009-22G) servers, and Power S924 (9009-42G) servers, Power S1022 (9105-22A) servers, or Power S1024 (9105-42A) servers with the Power Enterprise Pools 2.0 enablement feature and Base Processor Activation features and corresponding software license entitlements.
  • If you want to use prepaid capacity credits to pay for your metered usage, purchase an initial quantity of capacity credits from an IBM Business Partner, directly from IBM Sales, or on the IBM Entitled Systems Support (ESS) website (where available) to pay for potential metered capacity consumption.
  • Use the IBM Entitled Systems Support website to start a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0 by entering the serial number of one Power System with the Power Enterprise Pools 2.0 enablement feature, and choose your payment method for the pool.
  • Access the IBM Cloud Management Console and create a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0 using the pool ID received on the IBM ESS website when the pool was started and assign other Power Systems to it.
  • All processor and memory resources are then activated on all Power Systems in the pool, and CMC begins monitoring the pool.
  • Metered resource minutes consumed more than the pool's aggregated base for that resource are either debited against the pool's prepaid capacity credits by CMC on a real-time basis or sent to ESS daily for monthly billing.
Note: No other Capacity on Demand offerings, such as Elastic CoD or Utility CoD, are supported on servers in a Power Enterprise Pool 2.0.

For more information about the IBM Cloud Management Console, see https://ibmcmc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/sections/207305647-FAQ.

For more information about the CMC Enterprise Pool 2.0 application, see https://ibmcmc.zendesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/360021928094-Enterprise-Pools-2-0.