This is a new article on how to save time when moving your IBM i workloads to IBM Cloud and Power Virtual Server.
LICENSING
We all know that IBM i license/subscription is part of the billing in our instance. Most of you know that Software Maintenance service is also included, that you can add a couple of software components:
But are you aware of all the LPPs (License Program Products) included in your IBM i LPAR?
- 5770-SS1 IBM i processor and unlimited users
- 5770-SS1: IBM i Option 23, OptiConnect
- 5770-SS1: IBM i Option 44, Encrypted Backup Enablement
- 5770-SS1: IBM i Option 45, Encrypted ASP Enablement
- 5770-SS1 IBM i Option 18 Media & Storage Extensions
- 5770-SS1 IBM i Option 26 Db2 Symmetric Multiprocessing
- 5770-SS1 IBM i Option 27 Db2 Multisystem
- 5770-SS1 IBM i Option 38 PSF for IBM i Any Speed Printer Support
- 5770-SS1 IBM i Option 41 HA Switchable Resources
- 5770-SS1 IBM i Option 42 HA Journal Performance
- 5770-SS1 IBM i Options: all other IBM i Options that are included with IBM i at no additional charge. Examples: Option 8, AFP Compatibility Fonts Option 12, Host Servers Option 13, System Openness Includes
- 5770-DG1: HTTP Server for i
- 5770-JV1: Developer Kit for Java
- 5770-NAE: Network Authentication Enablement for i
- 5733-SC1: Portable Utilities for i
- 5770-TC1: TCP/IP
- 5770-TS1: Transform Services for i
- 5770-UME: Universal Manageability Enablement for i
- 5770-XE1: IBM i Access for Windows operating system
- 5733-ACS: IBM i Access Client Solutions
- 5733-ARE: IBM Administration Runtime Expert
- 5798-FAX: IBM Facsimile Support for i
- 5770-SM1: IBM System Manager for i
- 5770-DFH: IBM CICS Transaction Server for i
- 5770-MG1: IBM Managed System Services for i
- 5770-AF1: Advanced Function Printing for i
- 5761-AMT: Rational Application Management Toolset
- 5761-AP1: Advanced DBCS Printer Support
- 5733-B45: AFP Font Collection for i
- 5770-BR1: Backup, Recovery, and Media Services
- 5770-BR2: Backup, Recovery, and Media Services
- 5761-DB1: System/38 Utilities
- 5761-CM1: Communications Utilities
- 5761-DS2: Business Graphics Utility
- 5648-E77: InfoPrint Fonts
- 5769-FN1: AFP DBCS Fonts
- 5769-FNT: AFP Fonts
- 5722-IP1: Infoprint Server for i
- 5770-JS1: Advanced Job Scheduler for i
- 5770-PT1: Performance Tools
- 5770-QU1: Query for i
- 5770-ST1: Db2 Query Manager and SQL Dev Kit for i
- 5733-XT2: XML Toolkit
- 5770-XH2: IBM i Access for web
- 5770-XW1: IBM i Access Family
But it is important to acknowledge:
- If you use a release out of standard support, you will pay extra charges for extended support. My suggestion: Upgrade to a supported release.
- You can open your IBM i support ticket in IBM Cloud support
- IBM software not included in this list is considered 3rd party software: Bring your own license.
- Software groups: Sxx22: P10, XX80: P30
SERIAL NUMBERS
We have been taught that Cloud VMs don't have a serial number, they are anonymous entities. And we all know how important are Serial Numbers for IBM i software.
Ok, we have a Serial Number, and we can "pin" it or not, based on our licensing needs.
We have an option called "Virtual Server Pinning", with 3 options:
- None: IBM can change our LPAR to a different machine (Serial Number) in case a maintenance is required.
- Hard: IBM cannot change our LPAR to a different machine (Serial Number)
- Soft: IBM can change our LPAR to a different machine (Serial Number) in case a maintenance is required. When maintenance has finished the LPAR will return to its original box.
But what happen if my software vendor charges per-Serial Number? Some software vendors allow to use their products in unlimited LPARs on the same box with no extra-charges, but multiple serial numbers means multiple licenses.
Well, that is the IBM Power Virtual Server SUPER-POWER!!!
You have the Server Placement Groups to allocate your LPARs in the same box or force to use different boxes, in case you want to avoid risk or have set an HA solution.
Now, when you create a new LPAR, you can set the Placement Group to use the same physical server with the same Serial Number.
Have an existing LPAR and need to change the serial number to an existing Placement Group? Read my previous article on that topic: https://bit.ly/pvs_ibmi_sn01
CPU: Dedicated/Capped/Uncapped
Yes, we can use Capped and Uncapped processing.
If you are charged per-CPU, you can use Dedicated CPUs (1,2,3,4 ...) or shared Capped.
If you are not charged per-CPU, you can enjoy setting fractions of a CPU and using the entire CPU (vCPU).
SIZING and SUBSCRIPTIONS
IBM Power Virtual Server is really optimized, and IBM i is I/O oriented. This means that using a really fast disk, you could reduce the need for more CPU.
So there are my suggestions:
- Set a PoC running workloads with the fastest disk you can, using half of your actual CPU in your actual on-premise system.
- Remember, you can increase the amount of resources later, or during busy days.
- Ask an expert to tune your OS before migration. Using more resources "just in case" cost you money every month you run on this model (the cloud).
- You can save money signing a subscription with IBM, but you have to be really sure about the resources you need. My suggestion: Wait a couple of months running in Pay-as-you-Go mode before signing the 1 or 3 year contract.
- Try to use the smallest system: I know, the S1080 is tempting, and fast, and great. But always try to fit in the S1022 box, do not think about server resiliency, that is part of the solution you are buying in the cloud. Are you running your S924 with 6 cores LPARs? Try to make it fit in the S1022 with 4 cores, Power11 is round the corner to future proof your workloads. You can save a lot of money in licensing, believe me.
Last comments
Maybe this is not exactly a tips&tricks article, except for the one to set your serial number, but I guess you can use it to save time and money.
Read the IBM Power Virtual Server documents, you can find a lot of information, examples, diagrams and suggestions on how to move your workloads.
Consultant-IBM i infrastructure
6moInsightful. Thank you!