Originally posted by: mailman_2097

I am getting a new system p 520 with aix 5.3 with powervm.
I want to setup LPARs on this machine.

I am going through the Hands-On Technical Demo Movies from IBM. Most of the operations are done through HMC.

The video tutorial points to a desktop based HMC that can be used to manage the 520 series.
My earlier understanding was that I can do everything from tty itself.

But now I understand that I should be using IVM running on VIO server will should be running on an LPAR on the system to make life easier.
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Originally posted by: nagger

You haven't actually asked a question!!!

If you want to use PowerVM and LPARs then either:

• You have a HMC - a separate PC like box running the HMC code which plugs in via a network to the Service processor on the back of the Power machine. You can then create a Logical Partition and install a Virtual I/O Server.
• You are using IVM this is an addition to the Virtual I/O Server which you must install on the machine that is totally unaware of a HMC (reset to factory defaults ensures this). You install the VIOS and if not HMC then the IVM function is installed too.

The HMC or IVM and the VIOS provides access between them the bulk of the PowerVM functions.

The HMC and IVM provide the same functions (HMC can control lots of machines and IVM just the box its running on but the HMC also has added functions and allows dual VIOS).

The Graphical User Interfaces are 100's of times easier to use when you are starting out but yes you can do the same functions using (to be frank) long complex and wordy commands to the HMC or VIOS (running with IVM).

HMC is a little bit more complex, has more functions, requires the HMC hardware, provides "call IBM error reporting" for higher reliability and is mandatory for p570 and p595 machines.
IVM is simpler and in recent versions caught up with the HMC function but the major limitation is only one VIOS.

Hope this helps, ta Nigel
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