RHEL / CentOS 64 bit compatibility for IBM Power Servers

nishith · 12-05-2014, 03:48 AM

Hello,

I am having IBM Power Server P520 (8203-E4A) & till date, I was using IBM AIX 5.3 OS on it.

Now, I would like to install RedHat Enterprise Linux 6/7 on IBM Power Server. My Hardware Specs are as given below.

Model: IBM Power 6 P520
Make: 8203-E4A

1) 28 GB RAM
2) 584 GB HDD (146 GB x 4 HDD)
3) 64 bit CPU
4) 4 NIC's
5) 4 Core Power Processor with 4204 MHz Clock Speed
6) SATA DVD ROM

So, I would like to know whether normal x86_64 bit architecture can be installed on this servers.

The bottom line is, should I go with RHEL Power PC Package subscription or normal RHEL/CentOS will work on it.

Regards,
Nishith N.Vyas

AlucardZero · 12-05-2014, 02:04 PM

x86_64 (aka amd64, EM64T) will NOT work on IBM Power systems. You must use the RHEL for PPC versions.

TB0ne · 12-06-2014, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nishith

Hello,
I am having IBM Power Server P520 (8203-E4A) & till date, I was using IBM AIX 5.3 OS on it. Now, I would like to install RedHat Enterprise Linux 6/7 on IBM Power Server. My Hardware Specs are as given below.

So, I would like to know whether normal x86_64 bit architecture can be installed on this servers. The bottom line is, should I go with RHEL Power PC Package subscription or normal RHEL/CentOS will work on it.

If you were using AIX on it, it may not be ABLE to work with anything BUT AIX. IBM's microcode can be very picky.

And if you want to know what version of Red Hat will work on that IBM server, then CALL RED HAT and ask. You can also ask IBM, since your server is under support with them, isn't it? RHEL is NOT free.

Soadyheid · 12-11-2014, 10:35 AM

The P520 will run Redhat Linux, see a system description here. Note that it would have to be the PPC version RHEL AS3 or RHEL AS4, both of which are well past their sell by date! As the P520 went EOL in 2006, I'd assume that trying to install RHEL 6/7 would be pointless.

Play Bonny!