Preparing to configure Active Memory Expansion

Before you configure Active Memory™ Expansion for a logical partition, you need to ensure that your system meets the configuration requirements. Optionally, you can run the Active Memory Expansion planning tool.

1. Ensure that your system meets the following configuration requirements:
   • The server on which the logical partition runs is a POWER7® or POWER8® processor-based server.
   • The AIX® operating system that runs in the logical partition is at version 6.1 with Technology Level 4 and Service Pack 2, or later.
   • The HMC that manages the server is at version 7, release 7.1.0, or later.
2. Optional: Run the Active Memory Expansion planning tool, which is the amepat command, from the AIX command-line interface. The planning tool monitors your current workload for a specified amount of time and generates a report. The report provides the following information:
   • Several configuration possibilities for Active Memory Expansion on the logical partition.
   • Recommendation for an initial configuration for Active Memory Expansion on the logical partition.
   For each configuration possibility, and the recommended configuration, the planning tool provides the following configuration information:
   • The amount of memory to assign to the logical partition.
   • The amount of additional processing resources to assign to the logical partition.
   • The expansion factor to set for the logical partition.
   • The amount of memory that you save by configuring Active Memory Expansion on the logical partition. This statistic can help you determine whether Active Memory Expansion is right for your workload. Some workloads benefit more from Active Memory Expansion than others.