Running Linux in a guest partition on an IBM i5 server

This section provides instructions for running the Linux operating system on IBM^® i5 server.

IBM and a variety of Linux distributors partnered to integrate the Linux operating system with the reliability of the i5 server. Linux brings a new generation of Web-based applications to the i5 server. IBM has modified the Linux PowerPC^® kernel to run in a secondary logical partition and contributed the kernel to the Linux community. This section contains an overview of the types of tasks that you must perform to operate Linux on an i5 server:

• Plan to run Linux as a hosted or nonhosted guest partition

  Determine what you need to do before you install Linux on the i5 server. Understand which software and hardware requirements that you need to support Linux. Find out the configuration options that are available and which options fit the needs of your company. Find out if the system that you own requires you to disable the multitasking function of your server's processor.

• Create a guest partition to run Linux

  Understand how to configure a guest partition using system service tools (SST) and how to install Linux on the i5 server. You can also find information about supported I/O adapters (IOAs) and how to configure a network server description (NWSD.)

• Manage Linux in a guest partition

  Find the information that you need to manage a guest partition running Linux. Use the information to understand which IPL types that you can use and how Linux partitions can communicate with other partitions on the server.

• Order a new server or upgrade an existing server

  Use the LPAR Validation tool to validate that your planned partitions are valid. You can also find the contact information that you need to order a new server.