IBM Power

IBM Power is a well-known and trusted family of high-performance servers designed and manufactured by IBM. Power servers are intended to meet the demanding needs of complex workloads in enterprise environments while providing the flexibility to scale up and down with ease. These servers boast a totally unique architecture — including an innovative chip design — that delivers a comprehensive range of cutting-edge features, enabling users to efficiently and effectively manage resources.

The IBM Power architecture is a unique architecture designed specifically for high-end server workloads. It provides the ability to scale up and down easily, as well as to integrate various hardware and software components seamlessly. This architecture offers a range of features that allow users to manage resources efficiently and effectively.

One of the most critical components of the IBM Power architecture is the IBM Power processor. The Power processor is a highly advanced CPU designed for high-performance computing. It uses a unique RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) instruction set that delivers superior performance, scalability, and reliability. This processor is used in a variety of IBM systems, including IBM i and IBM AIX.

IBM i is a specialized operating system designed specifically for Power Systems. It is a comprehensive, integrated operating system that provides a range of features and tools for managing business applications. IBM i is known for its scalability, reliability, and security features, making it an ideal choice for mission-critical workloads.

IBM AIX is another operating system designed for IBM Power Systems. It is a UNIX-based operating system that provides a comprehensive set of tools and features for managing complex workloads. AIX is known for its scalability, security, and reliability, making it an ideal choice for a wide range of applications.

IBM AS/400 is a legacy system that was once popular in the midrange computing market. It was first introduced in 1988 and was known for its reliability and ease of use. The AS/400 was later rebranded as the IBM iSeries, which was eventually replaced by IBM Power Systems.

So, what is IBM Power, ultimately? IBM Power is a robust and powerful server platform that offers exceptional performance and reliability. Its unique architecture and advanced hardware components make it an ideal choice for enterprise applications, including data analytics, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. With operating systems like IBM i and IBM AIX, IBM Power Systems provide a comprehensive solution for managing complex workloads. While the IBM AS/400 is a legacy system, it remains a testament to the reliability and ease of use of IBM’s midrange computing solutions.

IBM Power Servers

IBM Power servers are designed to deliver outstanding processing capabilities and support complex workloads in enterprise environments. The IBM Power platform offers a range of features that make it suitable for various business applications, including data analytics, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence.

IBM Power 8 was the eighth generation of Power servers. It was designed to deliver outstanding performance and support complex workloads such as data analytics, cloud computing, and artificial intelligence. IBM Power 8 processors use a unique RISC (Reduced Instruction Set Computing) instruction set that delivers superior performance, scalability, and reliability. In November of 2022, IBM announced the end of support for its entire line of Power 8 servers as of 2024. Learn more about IBM Power 8 end of support here and what it means for your business.

IBM Power 9 is the ninth generation of Power servers. It offers a range of features that make it suitable for a variety of business applications, including data-intensive workloads, cloud computing, and AI. IBM Power 9 processors are designed to handle massive amounts of data and provide high-speed processing capabilities.

IBM Power 10 is the tenth generation of Power servers. It was released in 2021 and delivers even better performance and reliability than its predecessors. IBM Power 10 processors use a new microarchitecture designed to handle AI workloads more efficiently and provide better security features.

IBM Power 11 is the next generation of Power servers, and its release date has not been announced yet. However, it is estimated to be released sometime around the mid 2020s and is expected to continue the trend of delivering outstanding performance and scalability while supporting a wide range of business applications.

Overall, IBM Power servers are renowned for their reliability, performance, and scalability. They are designed to handle complex workloads and provide a range of features that make them an ideal choice for enterprise environments. IBM Power 8, Power 9, and Power 10 are among the most popular generations of Power servers, each designed to meet the evolving needs of modern business applications. The upcoming release of IBM Power 11 is highly anticipated, and it is expected to provide even more advanced features and capabilities.

IBM Cloud Migration

IBM Cloud migration is a complex yet critical process that involves transferring various assets such as applications, data, and workloads from an on-premises environment to the cloud. This process is accomplished via the deployment and management of cloud infrastructure and services. IBM cloud migration allows organizations to unlock the full potential of cloud computing by enjoying advantages such as improved scalability, enhanced flexibility, and increased cost-efficiency.

What Is IBM Cloud?

IBM Cloud offers a range of services and tools that enable seamless migration of applications and data to the cloud. It is a comprehensive cloud platform that provides a range of services, including Infrastructure as a Service (IaaS), Platform as a Service (PaaS), and Software as a Service (SaaS). IBM Cloud offers a wide range of cloud infrastructure management services, including automated provisioning and scaling, network management, and security management.

One of the most critical components of IBM cloud migration is legacy application migration. Many organizations have legacy applications running on outdated infrastructure, making it difficult to support modern business requirements. Migrating these legacy applications to the IBM Cloud can help organizations modernize their IT infrastructure and support modern business applications.

In addition to application migration, legacy data migration is another crucial component of the cloud migration process, as a considerable number of organizations possess significant amounts of legacy data stored on outdated infrastructure. This legacy data can pose significant challenges in terms of management and analysis. However, by migrating legacy data to the cloud, organizations can leverage advanced data analytics and machine learning capabilities, leading to better insights, more informed decision-making, and improved business outcomes.

IBM Cloud Migration Use Cases

AS/400 to cloud migration is one use case for IBM cloud migration. Some organizations have AS/400 applications running on outdated infrastructure, making it difficult to support modern business requirements. Migrating these AS/400 applications to the cloud can help organizations modernize their IT infrastructure and support modern business applications.

IBM cloud migration also supports AIX and IBM i on Azure. Many organizations have AIX and IBM i applications running on-premises infrastructure, making it challenging to support modern business requirements. Migrating these applications to the cloud can help organizations modernize their IT infrastructure and support modern business applications.

It’s possible that your traditional applications which run on IBM Power Systems are presently confined within the data center, making it challenging for you to make the most of the versatile and potent capabilities accessible in the cloud. Fortunately, Skytap offers a solution that enables your traditional workloads such as AIX, IBM i (AS/400), Linux on IBM Power, and x86 to run natively in the cloud, specifically on Microsoft Azure or IBM Cloud.

Hybrid cloud usage is another advantage of cloud migration. Many organizations have a mix of on-premises and cloud infrastructure, making it challenging to manage and maintain. Implementing a hybrid cloud solution can help organizations benefit from the scalability, flexibility, and cost-efficiency of cloud computing while maintaining control over their critical workloads.

IBM Power Migration With Skytap

Skytap offers a simple, low-risk way for enterprises to migrate their legacy Power workloads and applications to the public cloud. Workloads can be migrated to Skytap on IBM Cloud or Skytap on Azure. Skytap on Azure provides a fully-managed and integrated environment that includes hardware, software, network resources, and more. Skytap on Azure also supports various programming languages and tools, allowing customers to leverage their existing skills and investments. Learn more about Skytap and how it can make your IBM Power Systems cloud migration possible.