VMready is a software solution that automates the network configuration of virtual workloads when they are migrated between physical servers. It assigns network settings and security policies to each virtual workload and ensures these settings remain attached to the workload during live migrations. This prevents network issues that could disrupt services and breach security. VMready runs on IBM networking switches and works with IBM PowerVM virtualization software to provide a secure, dynamic network infrastructure that is easier to manage as workloads move in virtualized environments.

1. IBM Systems and Technology
Solution Brief
Automating virtual
workload mobility with
IBM VMready
IBM PowerVM with VMready
Highlights
●● ● ●
Simplifies network control and visibility for
PowerVM® live partition migration
●● ● ●
Prevents security breaches and service
outages that can be caused by improper
network configuration
●● ● ●
Maximizes the benefits of workload virtu-
alization and eliminates the exposure to
error found in traditional static networking
environments
●● ● ●
Enables virtualized networks that are
secure, dynamic and easier to manage
Ten years ago, data center networks were simpler. Workloads were static,
and applications ran on operating systems residing on dedicated physical
servers. Many data centers are now implementing server virtualization to
improve utilization of existing infrastructure, which makes it possible to
implement new IT services quickly and expand the capacity of existing
services. Virtualization hypervisors can consolidate the work of many
servers onto fewer, more powerful systems.
In a virtualized environment, workloads can be stored in separate,
logical partitions or virtual machines. These workloads can migrate
to a different physical server for planned downtime, in the event of a
hardware failure, or when servers become overloaded. However, as sys-
tems become more consolidated through virtualization, the network
becomes more congested, particularly at the server network interfaces and
server edge switches.
Virtualization places new demands on the network and new challenges for
server and network administrators:
●● ●
Each new logical partition (LPAR) created for a virtual workload
needs to be configured and maintained like any physical machine, but
managing the network state of workload before, during and after a live
partition migration is difficult.
●● ●
When an LPAR is migrated to a different physical host, both server and
network administrators need to reconfigure port and network states on
the LPAR, the network switch and at both the source server and the
destination server.

2. 2
Solution Brief
IBM Systems and Technology
●● ●
Many administrators choose to restrict migration of virtual
workloads to physical hosts within the same virtual LAN
(VLAN) to maintain strict isolation strict isolation of data,
operating systems, and applications between different clients,
departments and business units.
●● ●
However, “pooling” servers into different VLANs for
different services can lead to inefficient utilization of system
resources, where some physical servers become less or more
utilized.
A new approach to networking is needed for today’s virtualized
data centers. Virtualized data centers require high bandwidth,
virtualized networks that are secure, dynamic and easy to
manage. As organizations move from islands of virtualization to
data center clouds, maximizing resource utilization requires that
the network to adapt to the workload and not the other way
around.
Network Virtualization for IBM Power
Systems
IBM® VMready® is a patented solution that makes the
network aware of virtualized IBM PowerVM environments.
VMready software, found on IBM System Networking
top-of-rack and embedded Ethernet switches, reduces the
network load from virtualization without adding new burdens
to network administrators. VMready comes pre-installed on
IBM System Networking Ethernet switches at no additional
charge through the standard IBM Networking Operating
System. IBM System Networking switches offer 1-, 10- and
40-Gigabit Ethernet bandwidth options to ease network con-
gestion in virtualized environments.
VMready switches can be paired with IBM Power Systems™
servers running PowerVM to improve reliability and optimize
virtualized public and private cloud environments. Since
VMready resides on the physical switch, it is independent from
the virtualization software, and requires no additional software
licenses or hardware purchases. VMready is compatible with
PowerVM and other major server virtualization hypervisors and
offers unmatched flexibility for mixed-server environments.
Assigning a network personality to each
virtual workload
VMready makes it possible to assign network performance and
security settings (such as Access Control Lists), Quality of
Service (QoS) attributes, VLAN membership, and traffic
shaping and monitoring to a virtual workload LPAR based
on a virtual switch port. LPARs with similar network or
“personality” can be assigned to pre-defined groups for ease
of management.
Keeping track of PowerVM live partition
migrations
VMready automates the network reconfiguration tasks that are
impractical to perform manually in large virtual infrastructures.
After the initial configuration, no user intervention is required
for VMready to automatically monitor the creation, movement,
and network settings of virtual workloads. During live partition
migration, virtual workloads remain secure and connected to
the right networks regardless of physical location.
PowerVM and VMready
PowerVM provides industrial-strength virtualization
for IBM AIX®, IBM i, and Linux environments on
IBM POWER® processor-based systems. IBM Power Systems
servers integrated with PowerVM technology are designed to
allow clients to build a dynamic infrastructure that will help
them reduce costs, manage risk and improve service levels.
PowerVM also offers a secure and resilient virtualization envi-
ronment that is built on advanced reliability, availability and
serviceability (RAS) features, extreme scalability and leadership.
PowerVM’s Live Partition Mobility feature helps avoid down-
time with disruption-free shifting of workloads among servers
for planned outages, as activity levels change and for sudden
incidents like a hardware failure.

3. 3
Solution Brief
IBM Systems and Technology
IBM System Networking switches use VMready to help the
network adapt in real time to changes in virtualized workloads.
Together, PowerVM and VMready reduce complexity, improve
reliability and optimize the investment in today’s virtualized and
cloud environments.
Why IBM?
IBM System Networking is a pioneer and leader in server virtu-
alization and virtualization-aware networking, and provides the
essential network connectivity solutions for servers and storage.
Figure 1: IBM VMready maintains network configuration on PowerVM LPARs through the migration to different physical servers.
IBM offers a compelling alternative for clients who are seeking
more efficient data centers with the greatest business value and
a low total cost of ownership.
Using PowerVM Editions can help simplify and optimize your
IT infrastructure. Available on Power Systems servers and sup-
ported by the AIX, Linux and IBM i operating systems, this set
of comprehensive systems technologies and services are
designed to enable you to aggregate and manage resources via a
consolidated, logical view.
Configuration
follows LPARs in
real-time
VMready
switch
Users can access
Data and Apps
Customers
Data is protected from
unauthorized access

4. Please Recycle
For more information
To learn more about IBM VMready, please contact
your IBM marketing representative or IBM Business
Partner, or visit the following website:
ibm.com/networking/software/vmready/index.html
Additional resources:
Learn more about how IBM VMready
helps secure a virtualized environment:
ibm.com/systems/networking/software/vmready
Learn more about IBM Power Systems virtualization:
ibm.com/systems/power/software/virtualization/index.html
Learn more about IBM Power Systems:
ibm.com/systems/power/index.html
Learn more about how IBM VMready
helps secure a virtualized environment:
ibm.com/systems/networking/software/vmready
Learn more about how to configure
IBM VMready for IBM PowerVM environments:
www.redbooks.ibm.com/redpieces/abstracts/
sg247985.html?Open
Learn more about IBM data center Ethernet switches:
ibm.com/systems/networking/switches/index.html
Learn how IBM VMready enables a hospital to process
patient records securely or a cloud provider to provide
consistent and predictable performance for multi-tenant
workloads: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EobsL-4BAG4
Additionally, IBM Global Financing can help you acquire the
IT solutions that your business needs in the most cost-effective
and strategic way possible. We’ll partner with credit-qualified
clients to customize an IT financing solution to suit your busi-
ness goals, enable effective cash management, and improve your
total cost of ownership. IBM Global Financing is your smartest
choice to fund critical IT investments and propel your business
forward. For more information, visit: ibm.com/financing
© Copyright IBM Corporation 2012
IBM Corporation
IBM Systems and Technology Group
Route 100
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Produced in the United States of America
July 2012
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