logical partition (LPAR)

By: Robert Sheldon

This was last updated in August 2023

What is a logical partition (LPAR)?

A logical partition (LPAR) is a subset of a computer's processor, memory and I/O resources that behaves
much like a physical server. A computer can host multiple LPARs, each one running independently of the
other.

The LPAR has its own operating system (OS), applications and configurations, just like its physical
counterpart. If an LPAR is set up with resources comparable to a physical server and they're both running
the same OS and applications, they will seem like similar systems from the outside.

The number of logical partitions that can be created on a computer depends on its hardware, OS and
available resources. For example, an IBM Power Systems server can host up to 1,000 LPARs. No matter
how many LPARs are running on a physical computer, each one looks like an independent system.

Logical partition advantages

Logical partitions offer several important advantages over physical machines. They help to consolidate
services and resources, reducing the need for equipment and the maintenance overhead that goes with it.
Logical partitions also make it easy to assign hardware resources to different LPARs and to move those
resources around as needed, providing IT teams with a great deal of flexibility. For example, a team can
create mixed production and quality assurance environments on a single machine or run integrated clusters
on that machine.

Logical partitions hosted on the same computer run in isolation from each other. They do not interfere with
each other's operations no matter what operating systems or applications they run. For instance, an IT team
can create LPARs that run IBM AIX, IBM i and Linux all on the same server. They can also create LPARs
that run the same OS, with each LPAR using its own OS installation. The following figure represents a
server running five LPARs with three different operating systems.
 Diagram illustrating
a server running five logical partitions (LPARs) with three different operating systems.

How logical partitions work

To facilitate LPAR deployments, a virtualization layer runs on top of the computer's physical layer,
providing the structure necessary to create multiple independent environments on the same system. The
virtualization platform can be made up of any combination of hardware, firmware or software. For
example, IBM's PowerVM, which supports LPAR management, consists of a combination of all three.

When setting up a logical partition, an administrator assigns the resources necessary for the LPAR to run
its anticipated workloads. The assigned resources are usually provided for the LPAR's exclusive use.
However, an administrator might also configure resource sharing on the server to better utilize the
hardware resources, although this typically requires additional layers of virtualization. Another option is to
implement dynamic LPAR, which makes it possible to dynamically allocate and deallocate resources.
 The ability to create
and move logical partitions (LPARs) is one of the key features of IBM PowerVM enterprise-grade
virtualization product that runs AIX, IBM i and Linux. It combines hardware, firmware and software to
serve as a foundation for virtualizing CPU, storage and network resources.

When multiple LPARs are deployed on the same system, they typically serve different purposes. For
example, two LPARs might both run the same Linux distribution: one for production and one for testing.
Because the production LPAR runs mission-critical applications, it is assigned more memory and processor
resources than the second LPAR. The second LPAR is used to test new versions of the applications, so it
requires fewer resources. The second LPAR makes it possible to run applications under development
without affecting or interfering with the production environment.

Another way in which multiple LPARs might be used is to run different application components on the
same machine. For example, an IT operations team might configure one LPAR to run an application's
front-end webpages, another LPAR to run the middle-tier business services and a third LPAR to handle the
back-end database. The team configures each LPAR environment with the resources it needs to support its
specific operations. The LPARs do not interfere with each other's operations, but they can communicate
with each other so the application components can work in a coordinated manner.

Logical partitioning was first studied by IBM in 1976 and later introduced by Amdahl and then IBM.
Hitachi and Sun Microsystems also used forms of logical partitioning. Today, logical partitioning is
associated primarily with IBM products, such as the IBM Power Systems and IBM Z mainframe
computers.

Understand the pros and cons of the IBM PowerVM.

Understand the pros and cons of the IBM PowerVM
IBM's enterprise virtualization product, PowerVM, offers a host of
benefits, but it also comes with challenges that admins should
familiarize themselves with prior to implementation.

By: Robert Sheldon

Published: 19 Aug 2020

IBM's PowerVM offers a secure and scalable virtualization environment that enables IT administrators to
consolidate workloads and better utilize server resources, while reducing administrative overhead and
overall costs. Despite this, PowerVM comes with certain challenges, such as hardware compatibility issues
and lack of support.

The IBM PowerVM is an enterprise-grade virtualization product created by IBM to run AIX, IBM i and
Linux applications on IBM Power Systems. IMB's PowerVM enables admins to decrease cost, bolster
system security and flexibility. Conversely, PowerVM relies on IBM's Power Systems hardware, so admins
considering PowerVM should be wary of vendor lock-in.

An introduction to IBM's PowerVM

PowerVM is a combination of hardware, firmware and software components that provide a foundation for
virtualizing CPU, storage and network resources. At the heart of PowerVM is the Power hypervisor, which
is built into the Power Systems' firmware.

The Power hypervisor uses features in the Power processor to provide an abstraction layer between
physical hardware resources and LPARs. The partitions are self-contained operating environments similar
to VMs supported by other hypervisors. The Power hypervisor also enforces partition integrity, controls
processor dispatching and monitors the service process.

LPARs provide a structure for creating independent server systems that run virtual workloads. A Power
Systems server can support up to 1,000 LPARs, each running the AIX, IBM i or Linux OS. Admins can
assign processor, memory and I/O device resources to each LPAR and dynamically reconfigure resources.
PowerVM also supports a feature called Virtual I/O Server (VIOS), which makes it possible to share
physical storage and network resources across multiple LPARs.
In addition, PowerVM supports Micro-Partitioning technology for allocating fractions of processors to
LPARs. In this way, admins can distribute the processing capacity of one or more physical CPUs across
one or more LPARs, resulting in improved resource utilization. Another important feature is Active
Memory Sharing, which is an advanced memory virtualization technology that enables multiple LPARs to
share a common pool of physical memory, adding to PowerVM's flexibility.

PowerVM also comes with several management tools such as the Hardware Management Console, a virtual
appliance for configuring and controlling multiple PowerVM systems. Another tool is the Integrated
Virtualization Manager, which is a VIOS extension for managing local PowerVM systems. Admins can
also install the NovaLink software interface on PowerVM servers to carry out scalable cloud management
and workload deployments. Plus, admins can use the PowerVP performance monitoring tool to access real-
time information about virtualized workloads.

In addition, PowerVM enables admins to perform remote restarts on LPARs, suspend and resume LPAR
operations, and migrate active or inactive LPARs from one system to another. PowerVM also includes
virtual network adapters and Peripheral Component Interconnect Express extensions that enable multiple
LPARs to share PCIe devices.

With PowerVM, IBM is specifically targeting enterprises already invested in Power Systems or that plan to
purchase them in the near future to run their virtual workloads. PowerVM also represents an additional
incentive for those considering a Power Systems purchase.

Because PowerVM is already integrated into the Power Systems platform, admins don't have to implement
additional hardware or software. Admins need only enable one of three editions: PowerVM Standard;
PowerVM Enterprise; or the IBM PowerVM, Linux Edition. Most Power servers support all PowerVM
features; however, customers should contact IBM directly to verify whether a specific server supports
every feature.

The pros and cons of PowerVM

PowerVM offers Power server admins a number of advantages, such as seamless integration into the Power
Systems platform that delivers a highly secure environment to protect workload integrity and isolation. For
example, the Power processor includes features specific to PowerVM such as Secure Boot, which uses
digital signatures to perform hardware-protected verifications of firmware components.

In addition, PowerVM comes with PowerSC, a suite of components that includes Trusted Boot, Trusted
Firewall and Trusted Logging. Plus, the Power hypervisor ensures that LPARs trying to access resources
have the proper permissions to do so.

To use PowerVM exclusively, admins must lock themselves into all Power Systems equipment for their server
virtualization needs.

PowerVM also provides a number of features that increase flexibility, such as Live Partition Mobility. This
feature enables admins to move LPARs between servers to better utilize resources and support load
balancing, while also providing a maintenance window that doesn't require downtime. PowerVM also
makes it possible to dynamically allocate resources to applications as admins require, making it easier to
address changing business requirements and fluctuating workloads.

To increase flexibility even further, IBM offers Capacity on Demand for Power Systems and PowerVM, a
program that provides consumption-based pricing based on processor and memory usage. In addition,
admins can scale their systems up or out without incurring performance penalties. PowerVM also makes it
possible to consolidate workloads onto fewer servers, helping to reduce administrative overhead and better
utilize hardware resources, all of which can lead to lower costs.

However, PowerVM brings with it several challenges. To begin with, IBM limits PowerVM to Power
Systems hardware only. Although this is an advantage in terms of integration, it means that admins with
servers from different vendors must purchase and manage different hypervisors for their virtual servers. To
use PowerVM exclusively, admins must lock themselves into all Power Systems equipment for their server
virtualization needs. At the same time, PowerVM doesn't support the Windows OS, again forcing admins
to contend with multiple hypervisors and the licensing that goes with them.

Another challenge is that PowerVM isn't as widely implemented as other hypervisors, which might make it
more difficult for admins to receive community support and feedback when required. In addition, some
admins have found PowerVM to be somewhat difficult to deploy and much of its documentation outdated,
which might leave admins wondering whether the product has the attention it deserves.

Despite these challenges, admins already committed to Power Systems could realize a number of important
benefits, assuming their workloads can conform to PowerVM's OS limitations. PowerVM is directly
incorporated into the Power Systems platform and brings with it the platform's integrated security,
characteristics that go a long way in making PowerVM worth serious consideration for enterprise
workloads.