Workload Partitions
Encyclopedia
AIX Workload partitions are a software implementation of operating system-level virtualization
technology introduced in the IBM's
AIX 6.1 operating system that provides application environment isolation and resource control.
WPARs are software partitions that are created from, and share the resources of a single instance of the AIX OS. WPARs can be created on any system p hardware that supports AIX 6.1 or higher versions. There are two kinds of WPARs, System WPARs and Application WPARs.
of a mobile WPAR must either be stored in a disk or NFS mounted (both of which should be shared and accessible from all the machines where WPAR is being moved to).
The feature can be extremely helpful in the following scenarios :
Operating system-level virtualization
Operating system-level virtualization is a server virtualization method where the kernel of an operating system allows for multiple isolated user-space instances, instead of just one. Such instances may look and feel like a real server, from the point of view of its owner...
technology introduced in the IBM's
IBM
International Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
AIX 6.1 operating system that provides application environment isolation and resource control.
WPARs are software partitions that are created from, and share the resources of a single instance of the AIX OS. WPARs can be created on any system p hardware that supports AIX 6.1 or higher versions. There are two kinds of WPARs, System WPARs and Application WPARs.
Application WPAR
Application WPARs are light weight environments used for isolating and executing a single application process.Mobility
WPAR mobility is an extension to WPARs that provides the ability to move a running workload from one physical machine to another. Both System and Application WPARs can be moved from one machine to another. To continue having access to the same files before/after mobility; the filesystemsUnix directory structure
In Unix and Unix-like operating systems, the Unix directory structure is a convention for filesystem layout.Several attempts exist to standardize the Unix filesystem layout, such as the "Filesystem Hierarchy Standard," however, it is targeted primarily at Linux...
of a mobile WPAR must either be stored in a disk or NFS mounted (both of which should be shared and accessible from all the machines where WPAR is being moved to).
The feature can be extremely helpful in the following scenarios :
- During hardware upgrades or other planned outages.
- To transfer the load of the running application to another machine.
See also
- Operating system-level virtualizationOperating system-level virtualizationOperating system-level virtualization is a server virtualization method where the kernel of an operating system allows for multiple isolated user-space instances, instead of just one. Such instances may look and feel like a real server, from the point of view of its owner...
- Logical PartitioningLPARA logical partition, commonly called an LPAR, is a subset of computer's hardware resources, virtualized as a separate computer. In effect, a physical machine can be partitioned into multiple logical partitions, each hosting a separate operating system....
(LPAR) - Dynamic Logical PartitioningDynamic Logical PartitioningDynamic Logical Partitioning , is the capability of a logical partition to be reconfigured dynamically, without having to shut down the operating system that runs in the LPAR...
(DLPAR) - FreeBSD jailFreeBSD JailThe FreeBSD jail mechanism is an implementation of operating system-level virtualization that allows administrators to partition a FreeBSD-based computer system into several independent mini-systems called jails....
- Fujitsu XPAR
- SUNSun MicrosystemsSun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
Dynamic Domains - SUNSun MicrosystemsSun Microsystems, Inc. was a company that sold :computers, computer components, :computer software, and :information technology services. Sun was founded on February 24, 1982...
LDOM - Solaris ContainersSolaris ContainersSolaris Containers is an implementation of operating system-level virtualization technology for x86 and SPARC systems, first released publicly in February 2004 in build 51 beta of Solaris 10, and subsequently in the first full release of Solaris 10, 2005.It is present in newer OpenSolaris based...
- IBMIBMInternational Business Machines Corporation or IBM is an American multinational technology and consulting corporation headquartered in Armonk, New York, United States. IBM manufactures and sells computer hardware and software, and it offers infrastructure, hosting and consulting services in areas...
Workload ManagerWorkload ManagerIn IBM mainframes, Workload Manager is a base component of MVS/ESA mainframe operating system, and its successors up to and including z/OS. It controls the access to system resources for the work executing on z/OS based on administrator-defined goals. Workload Manager components also exist for... - OpenVZOpenVZOpenVZ is an operating system-level virtualization technology based on the Linux kernel and operating system. OpenVZ allows a physical server to run multiple isolated operating system instances, known as containers, Virtual Private Servers , or Virtual Environments...
External links
- Basic management of Workload Partitions in AIX, IBM developersworks
- Workload Partitioning (WPAR) in AIX 6.1, IBM developersworks