Power Systems Capacity on demand(CoD)

Capacity on demand

Capacity on Demand (CoD) offerings allow you to dynamically activate one or more resources on your server as your business peaks dictate. You can activate inactive processors or memory units that are already installed on your server on a temporary and permanent basis.

This topic describes Capacity on demand capabilities for IBM® POWER6™ or above  servers managed by the Hardware Management Console (HMC) Version 7 and later, and explains how to order and use each offering.

Capacity on Demand offerings

We are going to discuss about the  "Capacity on Demand offerings" and learn basic information about each offering.The following table provides a brief description of each CoD offering. Consult your IBM Business Partner or IBM sales representative to select the CoD offering most appropriate for your environment.

Offering	Description
Capacity Upgrade on Demand	You can permanently activate inactive processors and memory units with code without restart of server
Trial Capacity on Demand	You can evaluate the use of inactive processors, memory, or both, at no charge using Trial CoD. After it is started, the trial period is available for 30 power-on days.
On/Off Capacity on Demand	You can activate processors or memory units for a number of days by using the HMC to activate resources on a temporary basis.
Utility Capacity on Demand	Utility CoD is used when you have unpredictable, short workload spikes.
Capacity BackUp	You can use Capacity BackUp to provide an off-site, disaster recovery server using On/Off CoD capabilities.
PowerVM™ Editions (PowerVM)	PowerVM Editions (PowerVM Editions) deliver advanced virtualization functions for AIX®, Linux® and IBM i™ clients. PowerVM Editions (PowerVM Editions) include the following offerings: Ø  Micro-Partitioning™ Ø  Virtual I/O Server Ø  Integrated Virtualization Manager Ø  Live Partition Mobility Ø  The ability to run x86 Linux applications on Power Systems PowerVM Editions (Express, Standard, and Enterprise) offer different capabilities.

Capacity on Demand software licensing considerations:

Typically a tool, such as a license manager, is used to manage the licenses. A license manager detects use of the software, compares it to the entitlement, and then takes action based on the results. A licensemanager can be provided by IBM or can be made available by the software provider.

This table shows Capacity on Demand software licensing considerations.

Table 2. Capacity on Demand software licensing considerations

*Note: It is possible that you use a combination of these licensing types.

Capacity Upgrade on Demand activation codes:

After you decide to permanently activate some or all of your resources, you must order and purchase one or more activation features. When you order and purchase activation features, you are provided with one or more activation codes that you use to activate resources on your server.

The activation codes are posted on an IBM Web site for quick access,usually it will take 24 hrs upon purchase to reflect.   Here is the link http://www-912.ibm.com/pod/pod.

Ordering Capacity Upgrade on Demand activation features:

You can order activation features for a new server, a server model upgrade, or an installed server. After you place your order, you will receive a code that activates inactive processors or memory units.

Notes:

•  It can take several days to process an order. You can use a one-time no-charge Trial Capacity on Demand for 30 days to satisfy workload requirements while your order for permanent activation of additional capacity is being fulfilled. 
•  An order for activation features will process more quickly if you do not include any miscellaneous features with the order.

To order one or more CUoD activation features:

1. Determine the number of inactive processors or memory units that you want to activate.
2. Contact your IBM Business Partner or IBM sales representative to place your order for one or more activation features.

After ordering, see “Activating Capacity Upgrade on Demand” to activate inactive resources permanently.

Using Capacity Upgrade on Demand from ASMI

You can use the Hardware Management Console (HMC) or the Advanced System Management Interface (ASMI) to manage Capacity Upgrade on Demand (CUoD).

Most Capacity on Demand (CoD) tasks on the HMC require the HMC Super Administrator user role.
If you are not using the HMC, you can use the ASMI.

Activating Capacity Upgrade on Demand

When you purchase one or more activation features, you will receive corresponding activation codes to permanently activate your inactive processors or memory units.

To permanently activate your inactive resources by retrieving and entering your activation code:

1. Retrieve the activation code by going to http://www-912.ibm.com/pod/pod .
2. Enter the system type and serial number of your server.
3. Record the activation code that is displayed on the Web site.
4. Enter your activation code on your server using the HMC. To enter your code:
      a. In the navigation area of the HMC window, expand Systems Management.
      b. Select Servers.
      c. In the contents area, select the server on which you want enter your activation code.
      d. Select Tasks > Capacity on Demand (CoD) > Enter CoD Code.
      e. Type your activation code in the Code field.
      f. Click OK.

Any newly activated processors are now available for use by uncapped logical partitions. If there are no uncapped logical partitions, you must assign the processors to one or more logical partitions in order to begin using the processors. Any newly activated memory must be assigned to one or more logical partitions to begin using the newly activated memory.

Viewing settings for Capacity on Demand resources

You can use the Hardware Management Console (HMC) to view Capacity on Demand (CoD) settings.You can see how many processors or memory units you have, how many are active, and how many are available for activation using CoD with these settings. You can also view information about your On/Off CoD processors and memory units, Trial CoD processors and memory units, and your Utility CoD processors.

To view the capacity settings for processors or memory, do the following:

  1. In the navigation area of the HMC window, expand Systems Management.
  2. Select Servers.
  3. In the contents area, select the server on which you want to view capacity settings.
  4. Select Capacity on Demand.
  5. Select either Processor or Memory.
  6. Select the CoD offering that you want to view.
  7. Select View Capacity Settings

Viewing and saving Capacity on Demand code-generation information:

   1. In the navigation area of the HMC window, expand Systems Management.
   2. Select Servers.
   3. In the contents area, select the server on which you want to view and save the CoD code
        information.
4. Select Tasks.
5. Select Capacity on Demand (CoD).
6. Select Processors (or Memory).
7. Select the CoD offering you want to view or save.
8. Select View Code Information.
9. In the CoD Code Information window, click Save to save the CoD code information to a file on a
     remote system or to a file on removable media.
10. In the Save CoD Code Information panel, select one of these options, and then perform the tasks
     associated with that option.

Trial Capacity on Demand:

Trial Capacity on Demand (CoD) provides no-charge temporary capacity to enable you to test new function on your server.

 Activating Trial Capacity on Demand:

You can activate your inactive processors or memory for a trial period by obtaining and entering a trial processor code or a trial memory code.

To activate Trial CoD, do the following:
1. Retrieve the activation code by going to the following Web address: http://www-912.ibm.com/pod/pod
2. Enter your activation code on your server using the HMC. To enter your code:
   a. In the navigation area of the HMC window, expand Systems Management.
   b. Select Servers.
   c. In the contents area, select the server on which you want enter your activation code.
   d. Select Tasks > Capacity on Demand (CoD) > Enter CoD Code.
   e. Type your activation code in the Code field.
   f. Click OK. 

Stopping Trial Capacity on Demand

Trial Capacity on Demand ends when the trial period is over and the resources have been reclaimed by the server. You must return the resources before the trial period has ended.

 

To stop a current Trial Capacity on Demand, follow these steps:

1. Return the trial resources. 

2. In the navigation area of the HMC window, expand Systems Management.
3. Select Servers.
4. In the contents area, select the server on which you want to stop Trial Capacity on Demand.
5. Select Tasks.
6. Select Capacity on Demand (CoD).
7. Select either Processor or Memory.
8. Select Trial CoD.
9. Select Stop.
10. In the confirmation window, click Yes to stop the trial. Click No to cancel the request to stop the trial (the trial will remain active).

   Trial Capacity on Demand is now stopped and cannot be restarted.

On/Off Capacity on Demand:

On/Off Capacity on Demand (CoD) allows you to temporarily activate and deactivate processor cores and memory units to help meet the demands of business peaks. After you request that a number of processor cores or memory units are to be made temporarily available for a specified number of days,those processor cores and memory units are available immediately. You can start and stop requests for On/Off CoD, and you are billed for usage at the end of each quarter.

Using On/Off Capacity on Demand

You must use the Hardware Management Console (HMC) to use and manage On/Off Capacity on Demand (CoD).Most Capacity on Demand (CoD) tasks on the HMC require the HMC Super Administrator user role.After you have enabled and activated On/Off CoD, minimal day-to-day management of your temporary capacity is required.

Enabling On/Off Capacity on Demand

Before requesting temporary capacity on your server, you must enable your server for On/Off Capacity on Demand (CoD). To enable your server for On/Off CoD, you must use the Hardware Management Console (HMC).

Most CoD tasks on the HMC require the HMC super administrator user role.
To enable your server for On/Off CoD:

1. Retrieve the On/Off CoD enablement code by going to http://www-912.ibm.com/pod/pod .
2. Enter your activation code on your server using the HMC. To enter your code:
a. In the navigation area of the HMC window, expand Systems Management.
b. Select Servers.
c. In the contents area, select the server on which you want enter your activation code.
d. Select Tasks > Capacity on Demand (CoD) > Enter CoD Code.
e. Type your activation code in the Code field.
f. Click OK.

Your server is now enabled for On/Off CoD.

Activating On/Off Capacity on Demand

After you have ordered On/Off CoD and enabled On/Off CoD, you can request temporary activation of On/Off CoD resources.

To request activation of On/Off CoD resources:

1. In the navigation area of the Hardware Management Console window, expand Systems      Management.
2. Select Servers.
3. In the contents area, select the server on which you want to activate processors or memory temporarily.
4. Select Tasks.
5. Select Capacity on Demand.
6. Select either Processor or Memory.
7. Select On/Off CoD.
8. Select Manage.
9. Type the number of On/Off CoD resources you want and the number of days you want them for, and then click OK.

Any newly activated processors are now available for use by uncapped logical partitions. If there are no uncapped logical partitions, you must assign the processors to one or more logical partitions in order to begin using the processors. Any newly activated memory must be assigned to one or more logical partitions to begin using the newly activated memory.

 Utility Capacity on Demand

Utility Capacity on Demand automatically delivers additional processor capacity on a temporary basis within the system’s default Shared Processor Pool.

Utility Capacity on Demand concepts

The Utility Capacity on Demand (CoD) offering is for customers with unpredictable, short workload increases who need an automated and affordable way to help assure that adequate server resource is
available as needed.
When you add utility CoD processors, they are automatically placed in the default shared processor pool. These processors are available to any uncapped partition in any shared processor pool.
Entering Utility CoD enablement codes and reporting codes

Learn more about how to use the HMC to enter enablement and reporting codes.
To enter the Utility CoD enablement and reporting codes, do the following:
1. In the navigation area of the HMC window, expand Systems Management.
2. Select Servers.
3. In the contents area, select the server on which you want to enter your Utility CoD enablement or reporting code.
4. Select Tasks > Capacity on Demand > Enter CoD Code.
5. Type your enablement or reporting code in the Code field.
6. Click OK

Capacity BackUp:

Capacity BackUp uses On/Off Capacity on Demand (CoD) capabilities to provide an off-site,disaster-recovery server.

The Capacity BackUp offering has a minimum set of active processor cores that can be used for any workload and a large number of inactive processor cores that can be activated using On/Off CoD in the event of a disaster. A specified number of no-charge On/Off CoD processor days is provided with Capacity BackUp.

Make sure that you have prepared your server before continuing. 

You can test your Capacity BackUp activations while not incurring duplicate charges. 

PowerVM Editions (PowerVM)

PowerVM Editions (also referred to asPowerVM) is activated with a code, similar to the way that capacity is activated on IBM Systems and IBM eServer hardware.

When you purchase a PowerVM Editions feature, a code is provided that can be entered on the Hardware Management Console (HMC) to activate the technology. You can enter PowerVM activation codes by using the Integrated Virtualization Manager (IVM).

PowerVM Editions concepts

This information describes the virtualization technologies that are available.

The following virtualization technologies are available:

PowerVM is a Virtualization Engine technology that enables the system for the following features:

– Micro-Partitioning

– Virtual I/O Server

– Integrated Virtualization Manager

– Live Partition Mobility

– The ability to run x86 Linux applications on Power Systems

The following table describes the features each PowerVM Edition offers: