Differences between Power and x86 VMs

Because of differences between Power A CPU architecture that supports IBM i, AIX, and Linux (on Power) in Skytap. and x86 The most common CPU architecture. x86 CPUs support Windows and Linux VMs in Skytap. hardware and hypervisor, some of the capabilities between Power and x86 VMs are different.

Power states for Power VMs

Power VMs can’t be suspended. This affects the way you might use some Skytap features, like copying an environment or saving an environment as a template. For more information, see Suspend isn’t supported for Power VMs.

Using IBM i on Power VMs

Each each customer IBM i Power VM A Skytap VM that is based on Power hardware. A Power VM can be considered the equivalent of an LPAR. can be configured to use a maximum of four (4) vCPUs.

Power VM settings

Some of the settings that are available through the VMware hypervisor aren’t implemented in Power hardware or are implemented differently.

Hardware settings

Using containers on Power VMs

  • Enable containers – Power VMs don’t support Docker containers or the Skytap VM Agent.

Connecting to Power VMs

  • Connection types – You can access Power VMs with the SRA client, with a published service (using SSH or telnet), or with a sharing portal.
  • SRA client – Because SRA client access is to the Power VM shell only, the SRA client toolbar doesn’t include the fit to window (Fit to Window) or change resolution (Change Resolution) options. Additionally, the clipboard (Clipboard) option is available only for SSH-connected SRA browser sessions.

Power VM networking

  • Change NIC hardware – Power VMs support only one NIC type: Default. You can add additional network adapters but they are all of the Default type.
  • Edit the MAC address – The MAC address of a Power VM can’t be changed.
  • Enable promiscuous modePromiscuous mode isn’t supported for Power VMs.