Deploying VIOS and Configuring IBM Power Systems

Setting up a Virtual I/O Server (VIOS) environment correctly is essential for achieving performance, scalability, and high availability on IBM Power Systems. This step-by-step guide walks you through the complete process — from installing VIOS (single or dual) to configuring networking, SEA failover, and client LPAR connectivity using HMC or IVM.

• Install and register VIOS partitions for virtualized network and storage access.
• Configure Shared Ethernet Adapters (SEA) with VLAN tagging for resilient networking.
• Map virtual storage to clients via vSCSI or NPIV.
• Create and configure AIX or Linux client LPARs, attach virtual adapters, and test network failover.

This practical workflow aligns with IBM Redbooks best practices and helps administrators build a robust PowerVM virtualization layer that supports flexible, high-availability enterprise workloads.

1. Obtain VIOS Installation ISO

Download the VIOS DVD ISO from IBM "https://www.ibm.com/servers/eserver/ess/landing/landing-page" for the desired version.

2. Upload ISO to HMC

On the HMC, navigate to:

HMC Management → Templates and OS Images → Add/Upload OS Image

Upload the downloaded ISO. The HMC will store it for VIO installations.

3. Activate VIO LPAR and Start Installation

Power on the Virtual I/O Server LPAR from HMC.

When prompted, choose "VIO Install".

Installation may take over an hour.

The progress bar may hang near the end for ~20 minutes — this is normal.

4. First Login and Initial Setup

# Login as padmin

# Set password for padmin

# Accept license

$ oem_setup_env

$ license -accept

5. Configure Network and Hostname

Configure primary interface

Example: en0

# chdev -l en0 -a netaddr=172.16.10.100 -a netmask=255.255.255.0 -a state=up

Set default route

# chdev -l inet0 -a route=0,172.16.10.1

Set hostname interactively

# smitty hostname

Update /etc/hosts and /etc/netsvc.conf if needed.

Update /etc/resolv.conf with domain, search list, and nameservers.

6. Creating new paging space (if you want a dedicated LV):

# mkps -s <size_in_MB> -n <paging_lv_name> <volume_group>

Example:

# mkps -s 6144 -n paging01 rootvg   # 6 GB on rootvg

Activate Paging Space

# swapon -a

Activates all paging spaces listed in /etc/swap.

Verify Paging Space

# lsps -a

7. Configure Dump Devices

Create lv_dump01 on primary disk

# mklv -t sysdump -y lv_dump01 rootvg 8 hdisk0

# sysdumpdev -Pp /dev/lv_dump01

Create lv_dump02 on second disk

# mklv -t sysdump -y lv_dump02 rootvg 8 hdisk1

# sysdumpdev -Ps /dev/lv_dump02

8. NTP and Time Zone

Create missing NTP files

# touch /home/padmin/config/ntp.conf /home/padmin/config/ntp.drift /home/padmin/config/ntp.log /home/padmin/config/ntp.trace

Sample ntp.conf

# cat > /home/padmin/config/ntp.conf <<EOF

server ntp.mydomain.com

driftfile /home/padmin/config/ntp.drift

tracefile /home/padmin/config/ntp.trace

logfile /home/padmin/config/ntp.log

EOF

Enable NTP at startup

# vi /etc/rc.tcpip

Uncomment/start line:

# start /usr/sbin/xntpd -a '-c /home/padmin/config/ntp.conf' "$src_running"

Set timezone

# vi /etc/environment

TZ=Europe/Vienna

9. Mirror Root Volume

# extendvg rootvg hdisk1

# mirrorios -defer hdisk1

# bosboot -ad hdisk0

# bosboot -ad hdisk1

10. Configure syslog

# vi /etc/syslog.conf

Example:

*.debug  /var/log/messages  rotate size 1m files 10

auth.debug /var/log/auth.log  rotate size 1m files 10

Create log files

# touch /var/log/messages /var/log/auth.log

# refresh -s syslogd

11. SSH Configuration

• Add needed public key to authorized_keys

12. Adding Adapters

• Add network cards or FC adapters as needed.
• Verify device names.

13. Apply Recommended VIOS Rules

View differences

# rules -o diff -s -d

Deploy recommended settings

# rules -o deploy -d

14. Network Configuration (Optional: Dual VIOS / SEA / LACP)

HMC GUI

• Configure link aggregation and SEA.
• Create virtual networks and VLANs via GUI.

Command Line:

Create virtual Ethernet adapters

# chhwres -r virtualio -m p950 -p vio01 -o a -s 100 --rsubtype eth -a "ieee_virtual_eth=1,port_vlan_id=4000,\"addl_vlan_ids=3030,1871\",is_trunk=1,trunk_priority=1"

# chhwres -r virtualio -m p950 -p vio02 -o a -s 100 --rsubtype eth -a "ieee_virtual_eth=1,port_vlan_id=4000,\"addl_vlan_ids=3030,1871\",is_trunk=1,trunk_priority=2"

Save profile

# mksyscfg -r prof -m p950 -p vio01 -o save -n default --force

# mksyscfg -r prof -m p950 -p vio02 -o save -n default --force

Create LACP Etherchannel

# mkvdev -lnagg ent4 ent5 -attr mode=8023ad hash_mode=src_dst_port

Create SEA

# mkvdev -sea ent18 -vadapter ent12 ent14 ent16 ent17 -default ent12 -defaultid 4000

chdev -dev ent20 -attr ha_mode=sharing

15. Performance Tuning

Increase SEA buffer sizes:

# chdev -l ent9 -a max_buf_huge=128 -a min_buf_huge=64 -a max_buf_large=128 -a min_buf_large=64 -a max_buf_medium=512 -a min_buf_medium=256 -a max_buf_small=4096 -a min_buf_small=2048 -a max_buf_tiny=4096 -a min_buf_tiny=2048 -P

Enable large_receive:

# chdev -l ent10 -a large_receive=yes

Adjust FC queue_depth if needed:

# chdev -l hdiskX -a queue_depth=32 -P