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IBM introduced mainframe-inspired Dynamic LPARs on POWER4-based servers in 2001. Later, the POWER5 processor added more capabilities, including micro partitioning. Up to ten LPARs (logical partitions) can be configured per processor, with a single multiprocessor server supporting a maximum of 254 LPARs (and thus up to 254 independent operating system instances).
Memory, CPU capacity, and I/O can be "dynamically" moved between partitions running AIX and i5/OS. The Linux kernel for POWER supports DLPARs, although changes are limited to CPU capacity and PCI devices (not memory).
The System z9 and zSeries mainframes and their operating systems, including Linux on zSeries, support even more sophisticated forms of dynamic LPARs. Relevant LPAR-related features on those mainframe platforms include Intelligent Resource Director, Sysplex, Parallel Sysplex, Geographically Dispersed Parallel Sysplex, and Hipersockets. The System z9 supports up to 60 LPARs on a single server, but mainframes also support an additional level of virtualization using z/VM with the ability to support thousands of operating system instances on a single server.
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