Planning for Virtual I/O Server

Virtual I/O Server logically partitions a single physical processor with its physical memory, I/O adapters, and disk storage for use in logical partitions (LPARs) where client operating systems reside.

If you did not order your servers with the Virtual I/O Server software installed, you can use the Virtual I/O Server DVD in the product package to install Virtual I/O Server and set up a virtual environment that supports client operating systems in logical partitions. You can then install any of the supported operating systems as a client in an LPAR.

The order of installation of Virtual I/O Server and the operating systems is important. You can update the firmware first with the stand-alone Diagnostics CD, but you must install the Virtual I/O Server software before you install any other software. The Virtual I/O Server software creates the Integrated Virtual Manager administrator console and the first logical partition, which Virtual I/O Server and Integrated Virtual Manager occupy.

After you install Virtual I/O Server, you can use Integrated Virtual Manager and Micro-Partitioning® to create client partitions for client operating systems.

To plan for Virtual I/O Server installation, complete the following steps:

Plan to install Virtual I/O Server.
See the Installing section of the PowerVM Information Roadmap.

Virtual I/O Server is on the Virtual I/O Server DVD that comes with the blade server. If you do not have a DVD drive on your BladeCenter® unit, you can use a network installation manager (NIM) server to install Virtual I/O Server.
Plan to establish a Serial over LAN connection from the NIM server to the PS703 or PS704 blade server if you are performing a NIM installation of Virtual I/O Server.
Plan to update the blade server firmware from the Virtual I/O Server partition, if you have not already updated the firmware.
Plan to use a Virtual I/O Server in-band firmware update to preserve any partition configuration data.
Plan to use IVM to bridge and modify the virtual Ethernet.
Plan to use IVM to modify the properties of the host Ethernet adapters (HEAs) to allow virtual Ethernet bridging. If you have a choice between ports ending in -T6 or -T7, choose the -T6 port.

Plan to use IVM to modify the Virtual Ethernet Bridge and change the physical adapter of the virtual Ethernet adapter ID (1) to the port ending in -T6 or whatever port you set up to allow Ethernet bridging.
Plan to assign a host name to each logical adapter and register the names in your Domain Name Servers.

Next step: Install Virtual I/O Server.

See the Installing section of the PowerVM Information Roadmap.

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