IBM Support

Linux on IBM Power Systems Server Requirements and Support

Preventive Service Planning


Abstract

IBM Spectrum Protect for Linux on IBM® Power® Systems (formally called Linux on i/pSeries or Linux on POWER) Server Requirements and Support

Content


Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements


Tip: The product now known as IBM Spectrum Protect™ was named IBM Tivoli® Storage Manager in releases earlier than Version 7.1.3. To learn more about the rebranding transition, see technote 1963634.

Note: This document describes system requirements for IBM Spectrum Protect 8.1.12 and earlier.  Links to system requirements for more recent IBM Spectrum Protect server levels can be found here.


Support for server versions before 8.1.1 is limited to big endian operating system versions only. Beginning with server version 8.1.1, support is limited to little endian operating system versions only.

Versions that have reached End of Support:

  • IBM Spectrum Protect 7.1
IBM Spectrum Protect Server 8.1.1.000 and later
Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements
Hardware A Linux® on IBM® Power® Systems (little endian) server on an IBM system, such as one listed in the following website:
http://www.ibm.com/systems/power/software/linux/about/index.html
Disk space The following minimum values for disk space:
  • 512 MB for the /var directory
  • 5 GB for the installation directory
  • 2 GB for the /tmp directory
  • 128 MB in the home directory for the root user
Tip: Expect to use more space for problem determination.
  • 2 GB for the shared resources area
In version 8.1.2 and later, the minimum values are:
  • 7.5 GB for the installation directory
  • 4 GB for the /tmp directory
  • 2.5 GB for the /var directory

Significant additional disk space is required for database and log files. The size of the database depends on the number of client files to be stored and the method by which the server manages them. The default active log space is 16 GB, the minimum that is needed for most workloads and configurations. Allocate at least three times the active log space for the archive log (48 GB). Ensure that you have sufficient resources if you are using data deduplication or expect a heavy client workload.

For optimal performance and to facilitate I/O, specify at least two equally sized containers or Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs) for the database. See Optimizing Performance for more information about the configuration of directories for the database. In addition, each active log and archive log should have its own container or LUN.


You must format the disk device to have a disk sector size of 512 bytes.

Ensure that you see the capacity planning section for more details about disk space.
Memory The following minimum values for memory:
  • 16 GB if you are using data deduplication.
  • At least 40 GB for heavily used servers. Using 40 GB or more of memory enhances performance of the IBM Spectrum Protect server database inventory.
  • If you plan to run multiple instances, each instance requires the memory listed for one server. Multiply the memory for one server by the number of instances planned for the system.
  • Node replication processing requires additional memory. Use a minimum of 32 GB of memory for node replication without data deduplication. Node replication with data deduplication requires a minimum of 64 GB of memory.
  • When you create the active log, you need at least 64 GB of memory to run replication. If replication and deduplication are both being used, create an active log of 128 GB in size.
Operating system
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8.1 and 8.2, starting with IBM Spectrum Protect™ server 8.1.12**
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.3 up to, and including, 7.6 (64-bit) **
  • Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, starting with IBM Spectrum Protect™ server 8.1.5*
  • Ubuntu 18.04 LTS, starting with IBM Spectrum Protect™ server 8.1.12
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 12, Service Pack 3 or later, starting with IBM Spectrum Protect™ server 8.1.6
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15, Service Pack 1, starting with IBM Spectrum Protect™ server 8.1.12
NOTE: It is not supported to run an IBM Spectrum Protect™ server in a virtual machine hosted by a Linux server running inside an LPAR.
*Does not support tape
**Certain hardware requires minimal RHEL levels.  For details click here
Libraries GNU C libraries, Version 2.17-157.el7 and later.

libaio.so.1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Servers (32- and 64-bit packages are required).



Disable SELinux:
To determine if SELinux is installed and in enforcing mode, complete one of the following tasks:
  • Check the /etc/sysconfig/selinux file.
  • Run the sestatus operating system command.
  • Check the /var/log/messages file for SELinux notices.
To disable SELinux, complete one of the following tasks:
  • Set permissive mode by issuing the setenforce 0 command as a superuser.
  • Modify the /etc/sysconfig/selinux file and reboot the machine.
Communication protocol - TCP/IP Version 4 or Version 6, which is standard with Linux
- Shared memory protocol
Processing Asynchronous I/O must be enabled. On Linux kernels at 2.6 or later, install the libaio library to enable Asynchronous I/O.
Web browser A web browser to retrieve an online installation package. The following browsers are supported:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or later
  • Firefox 3.5 or later

Your browser must support the server code page. If your browser does not support the server code page, the windows might be unreadable. If your browser meets these requirements but does not correctly display an IBM Spectrum Protect web-based interface, consider using a different browser.
Other software Korn Shell (ksh)

You must have the I/O completion ports (IOCP) configured on the operating system.

To authenticate IBM Spectrum Protect users with a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server, you must use one of the following directory servers:
  • Microsoft Active Directory (Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012)
  • IBM Security Directory Server 6.3
  • IBM Security Directory Server 6.4

Remember: Raw logical volumes are not supported.

Version 7.1 has reached End of Support (EOS)
IBM Spectrum Protect Server 7.1
Minimum Hardware and Software Requirements
Hardware A Linux® on IBM® Power® Systems server on an IBM® system, such as one listed in the following website:
http://www.ibm.com/systems/power/software/linux/about/index.html
Disk space The following minimum values for disk space:
  • 512 MB for the /var directory
  • 5 GB for the installation directory
  • 2 GB for the /tmp directory
  • 128 MB in the home directory for the root user
Tip: Expect to use more space for problem determination.
  • 2 GB for the shared resources area

Significant additional disk space is required for database and log files. The size of the database depends on the number of client files to be stored and the method by which the server manages them. The default active log space is 16 GB, the minimum that is needed for most workloads and configurations. Allocate at least three times the active log space for the archive log (48 GB). Ensure that you have sufficient resources if you are using data deduplication or expect a heavy client workload.

For optimal performance and to facilitate I/O, specify at least two equally sized containers or Logical Unit Numbers (LUNs) for the database. See Optimizing Performance for more information about the configuration of directories for the database. In addition, each active log and archive log should have its own container or LUN.


You must format the disk device to have a disk sector size of 512 bytes.

Ensure that you see the capacity planning section for more details about disk space.
Memory The following minimum values for memory:
  • 16 GB if you are using data deduplication.
  • At least 40 GB for heavily used servers. Using 40 GB or more of memory enhances performance of the IBM Spectrum Protect server database inventory.
  • If you plan to run multiple instances, each instance requires the memory listed for one server. Multiply the memory for one server by the number of instances planned for the system.
  • Node replication processing requires additional memory. Use a minimum of 32 GB of memory for node replication without data deduplication. Node replication with data deduplication requires a minimum of 64 GB of memory.
  • When you create the active log, you need at least 64 GB of memory to run replication. If replication and deduplication are both being used, create an active log of 128 GB in size.
Operating system The IBM Spectrum Protect Server requires one of the following operating systems:
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 (starting with Tivoli Storage Manager 7.1.1.300)
  • SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11, Service Pack 2

And the following, additional requirements:
  • Minimum C++ runtime level with the xlC.rte 12.1.0.1 or later file sets. The file set is automatically upgraded if the level is lower than 12.1.0.1. The file set is included in the June 2008 fix pack package for IBM C++ Runtime Environment Components for Linux.
NOTE: It is not supported to run an IBM Spectrum Protect™ server in a virtual machine hosted by a Linux server running inside an LPAR.
To download the XL C++ runtime, go to this website: http://www.ibm.com/software/products/ccompfami.
Libraries GNU C libraries, Version 2.4-31.30 and later.

libaio.so.1 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux and SUSE Linux Enterprise Servers (32 and 64 bit packages are required).

If you are running SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11, download the XL C/C++ runtime package V10.1. See the following link for instructions: http://www.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg24022673.


Disable SELinux:
To determine if SELinux is installed and in enforcing mode, perform one of the following tasks:
  • Check the /etc/sysconfig/selinux file.
  • Run the sestatus operating system command.
  • Check the /var/log/messages file for SELinux notices.
To disable SELinux, complete one of the following tasks:
  • Set permissive mode by issuing the setenforce 0 command as a superuser.
  • Modify the /etc/sysconfig/selinux file and reboot the machine.
Communication
protocol
  • TCP/IP Version 4 or Version 6, which is standard with Linux
  • Shared memory protocol (with IBM Spectrum Protect Version 7.1.3 IBM® Power® Systems client)
Processing Asynchronous I/O must be enabled. On Linux kernels at 2.6 or later, install the libaio library to enable Asynchronous I/O.
Web browser A web browser to retrieve an online installation package. The following browsers are supported:
  • Microsoft Internet Explorer 7.0 or later
  • Firefox 3.5 or later

Your browser must support the server code page. If your browser does not support the server code page, the windows might be unreadable. If your browser meets these requirements but does not correctly display an IBM Spectrum Protect web-based interface, consider using a different browser.
Other software Korn Shell (ksh)

You must have the I/O completion ports (IOCP) configured on the operating system.

To authenticate IBM Spectrum Protect users with a Lightweight Directory Access Protocol (LDAP) server, you must use one of the following directory servers:
  • Microsoft Active Directory (Windows Server 2008 or Windows Server 2012)
  • IBM Security Directory Server 6.3
  • IBM Security Directory Server 6.4

Remember: Raw logical volumes are not supported.

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Document Information

Modified date:
28 March 2022

UID

swg21108042

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