Virtualization was once a product of science fiction writer’s imaginations. Then again, supercomputers and talking automobiles were once a pipe dream and they’re as much a part of our lives as the daily cup of coffee. So it should surprise no one that virtualization is here and now. It should also not be too much of a surprise that IBM is one of the first leading the charge towards a more virtual world with their PowerVM system.
But what does this bit of change mean for the world? Where will virtualization take us in the immediate and distant futures? Will we even have to leave the house again?
The move towards drastic change is regrettably slow. While we are not all equipped with flying jetpacks living in cities in the sky just yet, this new PowerVM from IMB could be one step in getting to a far freer and more efficient world, starting in the workplace.
What is PowerVM? — A recent project breakdown described PowerVM as an “industrial strength virtualization solution for IBM Power Systems servers and blades.” The PowerVM systems promise to reduce costs and increase performance. With its advanced capabilities PowerVM promises to allow an organization to streamline their servers, consolidate applications, virtualize the whole system and keep the IT infrastructure limber and dynamic. As IMB says the benefit of the platform is “virtualization without limits.”
The goal of the PowerVM is so that users can build their internal networks and allow users to manage risk, improve service and lower costs.
PowerVM is able to make all these things happen through the successful use and execution of their virtualization technology. The automated implementation of users systems makes everything move much smoother and faster. The constant uptime means people can keep working and because resources are optimized, there is less chance for cost waste.
All that may sound nice but the questions begin to arise already. Will this work just with my system? What if the network fails? What else will I have to buy to make my system work? It’s a cynical attitude but an expected one; with all the new technologies popping up every day it is easy for consumers to just shut off and say this isn’t worth their time.
If you are a business owner, IMB PowerVM Virtualization is a new item which can really help grow and streamline business. PowerVM servers can act across multiple physical servers with maximum efficiency on your end. The VM claims it can operate as a totally separate AIX, IBM I, and Linux operating realm. It does this in a way which some may view as something of a canard. The IMB PowerVM tool uses a shared pool of resources. That is the space is borrowed space and comes from idle VMs without slowdown. Sharing the burden also helps lower operating costs and improve service from your employees, true. But does that mean that there has to be widespread implementation of the IMB PowerVM service in order to make full use of it?
Some of the other more pointed benefits of the PowerVM tool includes their Active Memory Sharing. Active Memory Sharing allows the PowerVM to make intelligent relocation of memory from one VM to another. This promises to increase memory utilization and lower system costs.
Another new feature of the PowerVM is their Virtual I/O Server (VIOS). VIOS promises to lower costs by getting rid of the need for exclusive dedicated network adapters, disc drive, disk adapters, and individual tape adapters and drives for each client. The VIOS feature of the PowerVM will share Storage Pools and allow individuals pools to be combined and used together in “virtualized storage.”
At the end of the day your choice of servers all boils down to costs. What is going to get the bigger bang for a buck? PowerVM allows users the ability to run a massive suite of enterprise applications easier and with less expense than the others. If your staff is big enough or your use of online services is enough of a concern; even for your smaller operation; PowerVM virtualization servers may be something for you to consider.
IMB has for years been at the forefront of innovation; it appears as though IBM is one of the leaders in this newly implemented realm of virtualization. The fact that people are using storage “in the cloud” and we are all sharing networks and signals and connections only speaks strongly for IMB PowerVM and their new virtualization tool. While some of the benchmarks have to be proven feasible in practice, IMB has never been one to back down from a challenge.
With the IMB PowerVM Virtualization tool, there are many appealing facets. But we shall see how this new tool is rolled out and how quickly it is received. There is the likelihood that IMB’s longstanding relationships with businesses and individuals will make those looking to upgrade gravitate towards the PowerVM just as a matter of course. That could be all the saturation which the PowerVM needs to become the new standard in the industry.
Sources:
http://www-03.ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/
http://www.hicompllc.com/products.html
https://www.ibm.com/developerworks/mydeveloperworks/blogs/aixpert/entry/powervm_virtual_i_o_server_recommended_levels18?lang=en