Logical partition concepts

The IBM® i environment offers you the ability to partition one system into several independent systems. Before you start creating partitions, it is essential that you understand the concepts behind this type of system configuration.

The purpose of this topic is to familiarize you partition concepts.

Understand the meaning of a logical partitioned system and how partitions operate as independent servers.

Picture showing a partitioned system.

Logical partitioning is the ability to make a system run as if it were two or more independent systems. Each logical partition operates as an independent logical server. However, each partition shares a few physical system attributes such as the system serial number, system model, and processor feature code. All other system attributes may vary among partitions.

Each logical partition represents a division of resources in your system. Each partition is logical because the division of resources is virtual, not along physical boundaries. The primary resources in your system are its processors, memory, buses, and IOPs. The following diagram shows the division of system resources on a system that has two partitions:

The division of resources on a system that has two partitions.