Realize new workload migration and consolidation possibilities

An overview of HP-UX vPars and Integrity VM 6.1

HP-UX vPars and Integrity VM 6.1 is a combined product that enables you to run either Virtual Partitions version 6.1

(vPars v6.1) or Integrity VM version 6.1 (but not both at the same time). For the purpose of this document, it is assumed

that the migration being considered is from “legacy” vPars, either the firmware-based Superdome 2 virtual partitions

(v5), or software-based v5 vPars on cell based systems to vPars v6.1.

About HP-UX Virtual Partitions

vPars v6.1 is an HP-UX Virtual Partitions product that enables you to run multiple instances of HP-UX simultaneously on

a Virtualization Services Platform (VSP). Each virtual partition is assigned a subset of hardware, runs a separate instance

of HP-UX, and hosts its own set of applications. The VSP virtualizes physical processors, memory, and I/O devices,

allowing you to allocate them as virtual resources to each virtual machine. As each instance of HP-UX is isolated from

all other instances, vPars provides application and Operating System (OS) fault isolation. Applications running on

top of HP-UX (using vPars), run the same as when run on HP-UX native mode (standalone). No changes, recompilation,

or re-certification is required for applications running in the virtual partitions (unless otherwise noted). The patch level

of each instance of HP-UX can be different. vPars v6.1 offers a common manageability framework that is accessible

from the VSP. You can use the VSP to assign resources that includes CPU, memory, and I/O, and manage virtual

partitions from the Integrity Virtual Server Manager graphical user interface (GUI). The VSP provides control for creating,

starting, stopping, modifying, and deleting virtual partitions.

About HP Integrity Virtual Machines (VMs)

Integrity VM is a virtualization technology that provides operating system isolation, with sub-processor core allocation

and shared I/O. Integrity VM can be installed on an Integrity server, Integrity server blade, or hardware partition

(nPartition) running HP-UX. The environment consists of two types of components:

• VSP

• VMs

Virtual machines are abstractions of real, physical machines. The guest OS runs on the VM just as it would run on a

physical Integrity server, with no special modification.

Guests are fully-loaded operational systems, complete with OS, applications, system management utilities, and

networks, all running in the VM environment. You boot and manage guests using the same storage media and

procedures that you would if the guest OS were running on its own dedicated physical hardware platform. Even the

system administration privileges can be allocated to specific VM administrators.

Because multiple VMs share the same physical resources, I/O devices can be allocated to multiple guests, maximizing

use of the I/O devices and reducing the maintenance costs of the data center.

New features and enhancements

HP-UX vPars v6 adds C-Class Integrity blade support, as well as a fully functional GUI that can create, modify and delete

vPars as well as monitor, start, and stop them. The management framework, including the GUI, is leveraged from

Integrity VM and provides greater levels of I/O sharing and cost savings.

The new I/O paradigm enables you to choose I/O on a port-by-port basis, and how much to share the I/O hardware

between vPars (if at all). Where speed and bandwidth are key, the port can be dedicated to a single vPar and can use

technologies such as N-Port ID Virtualization (NPIV) and Direct I/O (DIO). Where I/O performance is not the key

consideration, it is possible to share each I/O port. This allows the server to increase the number of vPars without

purchasing new adapters or being limited by the number of I/O slots on the physical server.