| Bringing x86 Linux apps to Power computers |
Apr. 23, 2007
IBM loves Linux. Linux gave the mainframe new life. Unlike IBM's x86-based System x servers, which contributed greatly to IBM's $17.1 billion in server revenue, the Power-based System p hasn't done so well.
Now, however, IBM plans to change that by enabling x86 Linux applications to run on its Power processor-based systems.
Historically, the System p servers, known previously as the pSeries, and before that as the RS/6000, has been one of the few hardware platforms where Linux has not done well. That's because the native System p operating system, AIX, is a top-of-the-line Unix operating system. While, according to IBM, in no way moving away from AIX, IBM also is trying to make Linux an attractive option for System p users.
IBM is doing this by introducing on April 23 an open beta version of a virtual Linux environment that enables x86 Linux applications to run without modification on its Power processor-based IBM System p servers. The technology is called System p AVE, which is short for the IBM System p Application Virtual Environment.
Even without p AVE, nearly 2,800 applications already run natively on Linux on System p servers. IBM's main focus for introducing the x86 virtualization is to encourage x86 Linux server users to consolidate their servers to System p. An IBM representative stated that by allowing x86 Linux binaries to run unmodified as well, this expands the x86 workloads that can be moved to System p, thereby increasing the power, cooling and space savings customers can get by consolidating more x86 server footprints onto System p.
In a statement, Scott Handy, IBM's VP of worldwide marketing and strategy, said "System p customers have told me that technology that may have been 'good enough' for deploying one x86 server at a time is not 'good enough' when consolidating over 300 x86 servers spanning eight racks onto one rack of more powerful System p servers. These customers are choosing to trust System p and our Advanced Power Virtualization for those more mission-critical points of consolidation, and p AVE expands the possibilities of what x86 workloads they can consolidate onto System p to get more savings."
Today's news follows IBM's recent launch of three System p-based Web-tier servers aimed at consolidating x86 Linux workloads. These servers use quad-core module Power5+ processors, which will allow the server to scale up from four to 16 cores. According to IBM, this will allow up to 80 cores in each rack.
"I'm encouraged by the fast start in 1Q, especially for the new 560Q, the most powerful of the three Web-tier server solutions, announced in first quarter," Handy said. "Customers' orders show that each 560Q sold in the first quarter had an average of 30 logical partitions configured for Linux per server, and its only been six weeks since the launch. These configurations are capable of replacing over 450 x86 Linux servers each."
IBM officials state that initial testing shows that clients should be able to easily install and run a wide range of x86 Linux applications on system p and BladeCenter JS20 and JS21 servers that are using a Linux operating system. These applications should run without any change to the application and without having to predefine that application to the Linux on Power operating system with p AVE installed.
Company officials claim that the system will "just know" the application is a Linux x86 binary at run-time and run it automatically in a p AVE environment. Behind the scenes, p AVE creates a virtual x86 environment and file structure and executes x86 Linux applications by dynamically translating and mapping x86 instructions and system calls to a Power Architecture-based system. It uses caching to optimize performance, so an application's performance actually can increase the longer it runs.
Using p AVE, IBM also expects ISVs that don't already have a native Linux on Power product to be able to expand their addressable market to System p servers at minimal cost by allowing them to run their existing x86 Linux applications on these servers without having to recompile, release new media or documentation, or maintain a unique product offering for Power.
Clients and ISVs are encouraged to join the System p AVE's beta program. To join the beta, testers must accept the online agreement and download the code to try on their System p or BladeCenter JS20 and JS21 servers. IBM intends to make p AVE generally available in the second half of 2007.
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
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