Processor compatibility mode definitions
You can learn about each processor compatibility mode and the servers on which each mode can run.
The following table describes each processor compatibility mode and the servers on which the logical partitions that use each processor compatibility mode can successfully operate.
| Processor compatibility mode | Description | Supported servers |
|---|---|---|
| POWER6® | The POWER6 processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER6 processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER6 processor compatibility mode can run on POWER6, POWER6+™, and POWER7® processor-based servers. |
| POWER6+ | The POWER6+ processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER6+ processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER6+ processor compatibility mode can run on POWER6+ and POWER7 processor-based servers. |
| POWER6 enhanced | The POWER6 enhanced processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER6 processor and also provides additional floating-point instructions to applications that use the POWER6 processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER6 enhanced processor compatibility mode can run on POWER6 processor-based servers. |
| POWER6+ enhanced | The POWER6+ enhanced processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER6+ processor and also provides additional floating-point instructions to applications that use the POWER6+ processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER6+ enhanced processor compatibility mode can run on POWER6+ processor-based servers. |
| POWER7 | The POWER7 processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER7 processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER7 processor compatibility mode can run on POWER7 processor-based servers. |
| POWER8® | The POWER8 processor compatibility mode allows you to run operating-system versions that use all the standard features of the POWER8 processor. | Logical partitions that use the POWER8 processor compatibility mode can run on POWER8 processor-based servers. |
| default | The default processor compatibility mode is a preferred processor compatibility mode that enables the hypervisor to determine the current mode for the logical partition. When the preferred mode is set to default, the hypervisor sets the current mode to the most fully featured mode supported by the operating environment. In most cases, this is the processor type of the server on which the logical partition is activated. For example, assume that the preferred mode is set to default and the logical partition is running on a POWER8 processor-based server. Because the operating environment supports the POWER8 processor capabilities, the hypervisor sets the current processor compatibility mode to POWER8. | The servers on which logical partitions with the preferred processor compatibility mode of default can run depend on the current processor compatibility mode of the logical partition. For example, if the hypervisor determines that the current mode is POWER8, the logical partition can run on POWER8 processor-based servers. |
