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Introduction to IBM Power Systems,
AIX, and system administration
Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

US Government Users Restricted Rights - Use duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp 8.1
Unit objectives
IBM Power Systems
After completing this unit, you should be able to:

Define terminology and concepts of IBM Power System
servers, virtualization, HMC, and AIX
Describe the roles of the system administrator
Obtain root access with the su command

US Government Users Restricted Rights - Use duplication or disclosure restricted by GSA ADP Schedule Contract with IBM Corp
AIX overview
IBM Power Systems
IBMs proprietary operating system based on UNIX System V.

Also has BSD compatible commands and programming interface extensions
Advanced Interactive Executive (AIX) runs on proprietary hardware
(H/W) called IBM Power Systems.
Seventh generation of Power, based on Reduced Instruction Set Computer
(RISC) technology
Most Power Systems today run many instances of AIX in partitions
known as logical partitions (LPAR).
This is H/W partitioning managed by the system firmware, Power Hypervisor
LPAR:
AIX1
LPAR:
AIX2
LPAR:
AIX3

Logical partition overview
IBM Power Systems
An LPAR is the allocation of system resources to create logically

separate systems within the same physical footprint.
The resource allocation and isolation for a logical partition is
implemented in firmware called Power Hypervisor.
Provides configuration flexibility
Each partition has its own:
Operating system
Resources: Processors, memory, devices (defined in a profile)
Partitions can consist of physical (real) or virtual devices
Or a combination of both
sys1 sys2 sys3 sys4

04:42 14:42 11:42 19:42
LPAR 1 LPAR 2 LPAR 3 LPAR 4
Power Hypervisor
System Hardware (memory, processors, devices)

Dynamic logical partitioning
IBM Power Systems
DLPAR is the ability to add, remove, and move resources

without reactivation of a partition.
Processor, memory, and I/O allocation changes
Processors and memory quantities are bound by the
minimum and maximum profile settings.
Applications can be DLPAR-aware.
Before After
LPAR 1 LPAR 1
DLPAR operation: (running) (running)
- Add 2.0 CPU
-Remove 4 Gb Mem 2.0 CPU 4.0 CPU
-Move the DVD slot to LPAR 2 16 Gb Mem 12 Gb Mem

Workload partitions
IBM Power Systems
Software (S/W) partitioning is managed by AIX.

This has been available since AIX 6.1.
Many AIX OS images can reside within a master global AIX image.
Live Application Mobility allows WPAR relocation to another box or
LPAR.
WPARs provide automatic workload balancing.
WPAR technology is not H/W dependent.
Support is available on servers from POWER4 through POWER7.
AIX1
AIX2 1.
WPAR2 2.
AIX3
WPAR1
WPAR4
WPAR5
WPAR3
WPAR6 WPAR mgr

Live Partition Mobility
IBM Power Systems
Live Partition Mobility allows running AIX partitions to be migrated from

one physical server to another without downtime.
For POWER6 and later, LPARs must not contain any physical devices
No
LPAR:
LPAR:
Downtime
AIX1
AIX1
Partition mobility provides systems management flexibility and is
designed to improve system availability.
Can help avoid planned outages for hardware or firmware maintenance
Can help avoid unplanned downtime
If a server indicates a potential failure, you can move its partitions to another server
before the failure occurs.
Enables optimized resource use by moving workloads from server to server

POWER7 offerings
IBM Power Systems
p460
p260+ Power 795
Power 780
Flex System Power 770
PureFlex System
Power 760
Power 750
PS Blades
Power 740
Power 730
Power 720
POWER7+
Power 710 32 nm

Typical Power system layout
IBM Power Systems
LPAR configuration and control is completed through the Hardware

Management Console (HMC).
The HMC connects to the service processors and the LPARs.
A private network usually connects HMC and service processors.
Private Service
Processors Managed
network system
Secondary HMC
Backup LPAR 1
LPAR 2
Primary HMC Public/open SAN
network LPAR 3
LPAR 4
NIM Server Images

The HMC (1 of 2)
IBM Power Systems
An appliance for the management of POWER-processor

based servers
IBM provided Intel based server (desktop or rack mount) running a
web-based application on a customized version of Linux
Access through https (GUI) and SSH (command line)
Acts as a focal point for collecting and servicing managed

system serviceable events
Can be configured to call home to IBM for parts and service
The HMC (2 of 2)
IBM Power Systems
Managed
Systems
LPARs Proc &

running MEM
AIX resources
Navigation
area
Task
Pad

LPAR virtualization overview (1 of 2)
IBM Power Systems
An AIX client partition can:

Be virtual, have no real devices
Use fractions of CPUs (micro-partitioning)
Virtualizing LPARs has many advantages:
Flexibility in allocating resources
More efficient use of system resources through sharing
Consolidation (hardware, floor space, merge production, and test
environments)
Relocating partitions using Live Partition Mobility
A key component of virtualization is the Virtual I/O Server
(VIOS).
Implemented as special customized version of AIX
It is not AIX. It is PowerVM software!
Requires, at minimum, a PowerVM standard license
Included on some high-end systems
LPAR virtualization overview (2 of 2)
IBM Power Systems
The two key functions of virtualization are:

Virtual Ethernet is a standard feature of POWER5 and later.
AIX can have up to 256 virtual adapters per LPAR.
Does not require a VIOS, unless a bridged connection to the outside
world is required.
Virtual SCSI is way of providing virtual disks to clients.
The backend storage can be internal disk (SCSI or SAS) or SAN
storage.
This is a feature of the VIOS.
Note: There are many other virtualization features which are covered in more
depth in the LPAR and virtualization curriculum and roadmap.

Virtual I/O Server overview
IBM Power Systems
The VIOS partition is allocated physical I/O slots containing real

adapters.
These are used for the virtual adapters (SCSI or Ethernet) to share amongst
the client partitions.

Virtualization example
IBM Power Systems
AIX Virtual I/O Server

LPAR LPAR
Physical
Virtual Virtual Physical network
Ethernet Virtual Ethernet SEA Ethernet
ent0 Ethernet ent1 Layer 2 ent0
Switch Bridge
Virtual ent2
Ethernet
ent1
Hypervisor
Virtual
Virtual Physical
Client Device
vSCSI Server Storage
Adapter Adapter Mapping
vtscsi0 Adapter
vhost0 fcs0
SCSI, SAS, FC physical disks

or logical volumes

Role of the system administrator
IBM Power Systems
Pre-installation planning of:

Partitions
User accounts/groups
Storage allocation/paging space
Subsystems (printing, networks, and so forth)
Standard naming conventions
Determine system policies
Install and configure hardware Maintain application /
Network configuration system uptime!
System backups and disaster recovery
Create/manage user accounts
Define and manage subsystems
Manage system resources (for example, disk space)
Performance monitoring
Capacity planning
Application license management
Documentation - system configuration, and keep it current!
Who can perform administration tasks?
IBM Power Systems
The root user

Exercise caution when logging in directly as root, especially
remotely.
Keep the root password secure.
Members of special groups or RBAC roles
The su command enables you to obtain access to root user
$ id; pwd $ id; pwd

uid=251(alex) gid=1(staff) uid=251(alex) gid=1(staff)
/home/alex /home/alex
$ su root $ su - root
root's Password: or root's Password:
# id; pwd
# id; pwd
uid=0(root) gid=0(system) uid=0(root) gid=0(system)
/home/alex /
# set |grep USER # set |grep USER
USER=alex USER=root

How can we perform administration tasks?
IBM Power Systems
Command line
UNIX system administration tasks often done from the command
line, by executing scripts, or both
Writing and executing scripts
Typically using Korn shell scripts (ksh is the default shell on AIX)
Perl for more advanced users
SMIT (smit or smitty)
Text based tool (graphical version also available)
IBM Systems Director Console for AIX (pconsole)
New web-based GUI in AIX6 and later
IBM Systems Director
A cross platform product for managing Power systems and AIX
across a large enterprise environment
Checkpoint
IBM Power Systems
1. What is the name of the device which creates and controls LPARs?
2. True or False: An AIX operating system can have no real devices.
3. True or False: Virtualization features provided by the VIO Server can

be used by default on any Power system.
4. True or False: The su command enables you to get root authority even
if you signed on using another user ID.

Checkpoint solutions
IBM Power Systems
1. What is the name of the device which creates and controls LPARs?
The answer is the HMC.
2. True or False: An AIX operating system can have no real devices.

The answer is true.
3. True or False: Virtualization features provided by the VIO Server can

be used by default on any Power system.
The answer is false. Lower end machines require a PowerVM license.
4. True or False: The su command enables you to get root authority even
if you signed on using another user ID.
The answer is true. You must also know the root password.

Exercise
IBM Power Systems
Introduction to
IBM Power Systems and
AIX

Unit summary
IBM Power Systems
Having completed this unit, you should be able to:

Define terminology and concepts of IBM Power System
servers, virtualization, HMC, and AIX
Describe the roles of the system administrator
Obtain root access with the su command


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Introduction to IBM Power Systems,

AIX, and system administration

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

After completing this unit, you should be able to:

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

IBMs proprietary operating system based on UNIX System V.

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

An LPAR is the allocation of system resources to create logically

sys1 sys2 sys3 sys4

LPAR 1 LPAR 2 LPAR 3 LPAR 4

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

DLPAR is the ability to add, remove, and move resources

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Software (S/W) partitioning is managed by AIX.

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Live Partition Mobility allows running AIX partitions to be migrated from

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

LPAR configuration and control is completed through the Hardware

NIM Server Images

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

An appliance for the management of POWER-processor

Acts as a focal point for collecting and servicing managed

LPARs Proc &

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

An AIX client partition can:

The two key functions of virtualization are:

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

The VIOS partition is allocated physical I/O slots containing real

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

AIX Virtual I/O Server

SCSI, SAS, FC physical disks

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Pre-installation planning of:

The root user

$ id; pwd $ id; pwd

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

2. True or False: An AIX operating system can have no real devices.

3. True or False: Virtualization features provided by the VIO Server can

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

2. True or False: An AIX operating system can have no real devices.

3. True or False: Virtualization features provided by the VIO Server can

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

Having completed this unit, you should be able to:

Copyright IBM Corporation 2009, 2013. All Rights Reserved.

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