Learn to implement advanced PowerVM features such as Active Memory Sharing, Shared Dedicated Processors, Multiple Shared Processor Pools, N_Port Virtualization, and Remote Live Partition Mobility.

This course focuses on the features that relate to the performance of the POWER6 and POWER7 processor, AIX , and the special monitoring, configuring, and tuning needs of logical partitions (LPARs). This course does not cover application monitoring and tuning.

You will learn skills to implement, measure, analyze, and tune PowerVM virtualization features for optimal performance on IBM Power Systems servers.

You will also learn about the AIX performance analysis and tuning tools that enable an administrator to take advantage of the Micro-Partitioning and other virtualization features of the IBM Power Systems servers.

Hands-on lab exercises reinforce each lecture and give the students practical experience.

- Describe the effect of the POWER6 and POWER7 virtualization features on performance and monitoring, such as: Simultaneous Multithreading (SMT), Micro-Partitioning, Multiple Shared Processor Pools (MSPP), shared dedicated capacity, Active Memory Sharing (AMS), Active Memory Expansion (AME) and other virtualization features
- Interpret the outputs of AIX 6.1performance monitoring and tuning tools used to view the impact of SMT, Micro-Partitioning, additional shared processor pool activations and device virtualization. The tools include: vmstat, iostat, sar, topas, trace, curt, mpstat, lparstat, smtctl
- List various sources of information and support related to AIX performance tools, system sizing, system tuning, and AIX enhancements and new features
- Perform a Live Partition Mobility between two different POWER6 or POWER7 servers
- Describe the New features available with the Virtual I/O Server version 2.1 and version 2.2 such as: N_port ID Virtualization, Heterogeous Multi-threading, Virtual Tape devices, Active Memory sharing
- Describe and implement the Active Memory Sharing (AMS) feature and the POWER7 Active Memory Expansion (AME) feature

This advanced course is for anyone responsible for implementing and managing virtualization features on a System p server including:
- AIX technical support individuals
- System administrators
- Systems engineers
- System architects

Day 1:
- Unit 1: PowerVM features review
- Exercise 1: Introduction to the lab environment
- Unit 2: Processor virtualization tuning
- Exercise 2: Processor virtualization tuning

Day 2:
- Unit 3: Dedicated shared capacity and multiple shared processor pools
- Exercise 3: Configuring multiple shared processor pools
- Unit 4: Active Memory Sharing
- Exercise 4: Configuring Active Memory Sharing

Day 3:
- Unit 5: Active Memory Expansion overview
- Unit 6: N_Port ID Virtualization
- Exercise 5: Virtual Fibre Channel adapter configuration (optional)
- Unit 7: I/O device virtualization performance and tuning

Day 4:
- Unit 7: I/O device virtualization performance and tuning (continued)
- Exercise 6: I/O device virtualization performance and tuning
- Unit 8: Partition mobility

Day 5:
- Exercise 7: Implementing Live Partition Mobility
- Unit 9: PowerVM advanced systems maintenance
- Exercise 8: PowerVM system maintenance
- Unit 10: Virtualization management tools

The LPAR and Virtualization prerequisite skills may met by attending one of the following classes or students may have equivalent LPAR skills.

- Power Systems for AIX 1: LPAR Configuration and Planning (AN11D1DE) and
- Power Systems for AIX - Virtualization 1: Implementing Virtualization (AN30D1DE) (until 2009: AU73)