IBM AIX - Few Important definitions and Accronyms

IBM AIX - Few Important definitions and Accronyms

CoD - Capacity on Demand. The ability to add compute capacity in the form of CPU or memory to a running system by simply activating it. The resources must be pre-staged in the system prior to use and are (typically) turned on with an activation key. There are several different pricing models for CoD.

DLPAR - Dynamic Logical Partition. This was used originally as a further clarification on the concept of an LPAR as one that can have resources dynamically added or removed. The most popular usage is as a verb; ie: to DLPAR (add) resources to a partition.

HEA - Host Ethernet Adapter. The physical port of the IVE interface on some of the Power 6 systems. A HEA port can be added to a port group and shared amongst LPARs or placed in promiscuous mode and used by a single LPAR. (See IVE)

HMC - Hardware Management Console. An "appliance" server that is used to manage Power 4, 5, and 6 hardware. The primary purpose is to enable / control the virtualization technologies as well as provide call-home functionality, remote console access, and gather operational data.

IVE - Integrated Virtual Ethernet. The capability to provide virtualized Ethernet services to LPARs without the need of VIOS. This functionality was introduced on several Power 6 systems.

IVM - Integrated Virtualization Manager. This is a management interface that installs on top of the VIOS software that provides much of the HMC functionality. It can be used instead of a HMC for some systems. It is the only option for virtualization management on the blades as they cannot have HMC connectivity.

LHEA - Logical Host Ethernet Adapter. The virtual interface of a IVE in a client LPAR. These communicate via a HEA to the outside / physical world. (See IVE)

LPAR - Logical Partition. This is a collection of system resources (CPU, Memory, I/O adapters) that can host an operating system. To the operating system this collection of resources appears to be a complete physical system. Some or all of the resources on a LPAR may be shared with other LPARs in the physical system.

LV - Logical Volume. A collection of one or more LPs (Logical Partitions) in a VG (Volume Group) that provide storage for filesystems, journal logs, paging space, etc... See the LVM section for additional information.

LVCB - Logical Volume Control Block. A LVM structure, traditionally within the LV, that contains metadata for the LV. See the LVM section for additional information.

MES - Miscellaneous Equipment Specification. This is a change order to a system, typically in the form of an upgrade. A RPO MES is for Record Purposes Only. Both specify to IBM changes that are made to a system.

MSPP - Multiple Shared Processor Pools. This is a capability introduced in Power 6 systems that allows for more than one SPP.

NIM - Network Installation Management / Network Install Manager (IBM documentation refers to both expansions of the acronym.) NIM is a means to perform remote initial BOS installs, and manage software on groups of AIX systems.

ODM - Object Data Manager. A database and supporting methods used for storing system configuration data in AIX. See the ODM section for additional information.

PP - Physical Partition. An LVM concept where a disk is divided into evenly sized sections. These PP sections are the backing of LPs (Logical Partitions) that are used to build volumes in a volume group. See the LVM section for additional information.

PV - Physical Volume. A PV is an LVM term for an entire disk. One or more PVs are used to construct a VG (Volume Group). See the LVM section for additional information.

PVID - Physical Volume IDentifier. A unique ID that is used to track disk devices on a system. This ID is used in conjunction with the ODM database to define /dev directory entries. See the LVM section for additional information.

SMIT - System Management Interface Tool. An extensible X Window / curses interface to administrative commands. See the SMIT section for additional information.

SPOT - Shared Product Object Tree. This is an installed copy of the /usr file system. It is used in a NIM environment as a NFS mounted resource to enable remote booting and installation.

SPP - Shared Processor Pool. This is an organizational grouping of CPU resources that allows caps and guaranteed allocations to be set for an entire group of LPARs. Power 5 systems have a single SPP, Power 6 systems can have multiple.

VG - Volume Group. A collection of one or more PVs (Physical Volumes) that have been divided into PPs (Physical Partitions) that are used to construct LVs (Logical Volumes). See the LVM section for additional information.

VGDA - Volume Group Descriptor Area. This is a region of each PV (Physical Volume) in a VG (Volume Group) that is reserved for metadata that is used to describe and manage all resources in the VG. See the LVM section for additional information.