Adding a client logical partition to the partition workload group

You can use a workload management tool to manage resources that your logical partitions use. To do so, you must use the Integrated Virtualization Manager to add the client logical partition to the partition workload group.

A partition workload group identifies a set of logical partitions that are located on the same physical system. Workload management tools use partition workload groups to identify which logical partitions they can manage. For example, Enterprise Workload Manager™ (EWLM) can dynamically and automatically redistribute processing capacity within a partition workload group to satisfy workload performance goals. EWLM adjusts processing capacity based on calculations that compare the actual performance of work processed by the partition workload group to the business goals defined for the work.

Workload management tools use dynamic logical partitioning (DLPAR) to make resource adjustments based on performance goals. For example, the partition management function of EWLM adjusts processor resources based on workload performance goals. Thus, EWLM can adjust the processing capacity for AIX®, IBM® i, and Linux® logical partitions.

Limitations:
  • Do not add the management partition to the partition workload group. To manage logical partition resources, workload management tools often require that you install some type of management or agent software on the logical partitions. To avoid creating an unsupported environment, do not install additional software on the management partition.
  • For AIX and Linux partitions, the DLPAR support of the operating system is not the same as the DLPAR capabilities that are in the partition properties for a logical partition. The DLPAR support of the operating system reflects what each operating system supports with regard to DLPAR functions. AIX and Linux support DLPAR of processors, memory, and I/O. The DLPAR capabilities that are shown in the partition properties for a logical partition reflect a combination of the following factors:
    • A Resource Monitoring and Control (RMC) connection between the management partition and the client logical partition
    • The DLPAR support of the operating system
    For example, an AIX client logical partition does not have an RMC connection to the management partition, but AIX supports DLPAR of processors, memory, and I/O. In this situation, the DLPAR capabilities shown in the partition properties for the AIX logical partition indicate that the AIX logical partition is not capable of processor, memory, or I/O DLPAR. However, because AIX supports DLPAR of processors, memory, and I/O, a workload management tool can dynamically manage its resources. Workload management tools are not dependent on RMC connections to dynamically manage logical partition resources.

    The DLPAR capabilities of IBM i partitions are not shown because IBM i partitions support DLPAR of processors, memory, and I/O, and do not require an RMC connection.

  • If a logical partition is part of the partition workload group, you cannot dynamically manage its resources from the Integrated Virtualization Manager because the workload management tool is in control of dynamic resource management. Not all workload management tools dynamically manage processor, memory, and I/O resources. When you implement a workload management tool that manages only one resource type, you limit your ability to dynamically manage the other resource types. For example, EWLM dynamically manages processor resources, but not memory or I/O. AIX supports processor, memory, and I/O DLPAR. EWLM controls dynamic resource management of processor resources, memory, and I/O for the AIX logical partition, but EWLM does not dynamically manage memory or I/O. Because EWLM has control of dynamic resource management, you cannot dynamically manage memory or I/O for the AIX logical partition from the Integrated Virtualization Manager.
To add a logical partition to the partition workload group, complete the following steps in the Integrated Virtualization Manager:
  1. From the navigation area, select View/Modify Partitions under Partition Management. The View/Modify Partitions page displays.
  2. Select the logical partition that you want to include in the partition workload group.
  3. From the Tasks menu, select Properties. The Partition Properties page is displayed.
  4. Select the General tab, then select Partition workload group participant, and click OK.