64-bit kernel

The AIX operating system provides a 64-bit kernel that addresses bottlenecks that could have limited throughput on 32-way systems.

As of AIX® 7.1, the 64-bit kernel is the only kernel available. POWER4 systems are optimized for the 64-bit kernel, which is intended to increase scalability of RS/6000® System p systems. It is optimized for running 64-bit applications on POWER4 systems. The 64-bit kernel also improves scalability by allowing larger amounts of physical memory.

Additionally, JFS2 is the default file system for AIX 7.1. You can choose to use either JFS or Enhanced JFS. For more information on Enhanced JFS, see File system performance.