IBM Power 11 Specs, Models & Deployment Guide
A technical, deployment-focused reference for IBM Power11 (E1180, E1150, S1124, S1122)—covering CPU, memory, I/O, storage, RAS, OS/virtualization, and infrastructure compatibility.
Overview: What is Power11
IBM Power11 is the successor to Power10, designed for mission-critical, highly available workloads: large enterprise databases (IBM i, AIX), SAP, analytics, AI inference, and hybrid-cloud footprints. Highlights include increased CPU scalability, a DDR5-based OMI memory subsystem with very high bandwidth, PCIe Gen5 I/O, reinforced RAS features (including spare-core failover), and enhanced security (e.g., quantum-safe cryptography and ransomware resilience).
E1180—flagship, multi-node rack-scale system for maximum cores, memory, and I/O.
E1150—4U platform that balances density, performance, and capacity.
S1124/S1122—compact 4U/2U systems for distributed or edge deployments.
Models & Specifications
*Values shown are representative of commonly described maximums; verify exact options/configs during sizing.
| Model | Form Factor / Scale | CPU Topology (Max) | Memory (Max) & Tech | Internal Storage & PCIe | Core RAS Highlights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| E1180 | Rack-scale (multi-node, control unit) | Up to 16 sockets / ~256 cores | Up to ~64 TB DDR5 (OMI), very high per-socket bandwidth | NVMe U.2 bays across nodes; PCIe Gen5 (many slots) | Spare-core failover, memory mirroring, live maintenance |
| E1150 | 4U rack, mid-to-high scale | Up to 4 sockets / ~120 cores | Up to ~16 TB DDR5 (OMI) | Multiple U.2 NVMe bays; PCIe Gen5 expansion | Spare cores, memory RAS, zero-planned-downtime updates |
| S1124 | 4U rack, scale-out | 2 sockets / up to ~60 cores | Up to ~8 TB DDR5 (OMI) | Up to ~16 U.2 NVMe; PCIe Gen5 (HHHL/FHHL mix) | Standard Power11 RAS (mirroring, ECC, spare-core options) |
| S1122 | 2U rack, compact / edge | 2 sockets / up to ~60 cores (bin-dependent) | Up to ~4 TB DDR5 (OMI) | ~8 U.2 NVMe; PCIe Gen5 slots | RAS feature set scaled for 2U form factor |
Memory Architecture & Bandwidth
- DDR5 with OMI (Open Memory Interface)—“Odyssey” style memory cards and more OMI channels drive substantially higher bandwidth versus prior gen.
- Two-port differential DIMMs and expanded channels deliver very high per-socket throughput (order of ~terabytes/sec class on top bins).
- Protection: ECC, scrubbing, memory mirroring, predictive failure analytics help prevent unplanned outages.
I/O & Internal Storage
Power11 platforms expose PCIe Gen5 for NICs, HBAs, and accelerators, and offer generous U.2 NVMe drive bays. Scale-up systems (E1180) provide the most aggregate slots and bandwidth; scale-out models (S1124/S1122) deliver strong density for distributed estates.
Typical Options
- Ethernet 25/100/200 GbE, RoCE-capable NICs
- Fibre Channel HBAs for SAN (16/32 Gb)
- NVMe SSDs for low-latency internal tiers (write-intensive bins for logs/redo; read-intensive for data)
- Optional AI / accelerator cards (see model guidance)
Storage Patterns
- Tiered: NVMe for hot data/logs, SAN/NAS for capacity; leverage VIOS for virtualization sharing.
- Data protection: Snapshots + Off-box immutable copies; integrate with Cyber Vault-style workflows.
- Queue depth: Size HBA/NIC counts to sustain peak IOPS and throughput without head-of-line blocking.
RAS, Security & Maintainability
- Spare-core failover: Reserved cores allow automatic substitution upon fault to avoid downtime.
- Live maintenance: Firmware/OS update strategies minimize planned outages; coordinate HMC and VIOS levels.
- Security posture: Secure boot, hardware crypto, quantum-safe algorithms (planning horizon), and ransomware detection/recovery workflows.
- Telemetry & predictive analytics: Monitor thermals, memory correctables, PCIe error counters; act before faults escalate.
OS, Virtualization & Hybrid Cloud
- Operating systems: IBM i, AIX, and Linux on Power (validate specific release levels per model/firmware).
- Virtualization: PowerVM with VIOS for virtualized I/O; LPARs with Live Partition Mobility for maintenance without outage.
- Hybrid cloud: Integration with Power Virtual Server; align on image formats, network overlays, and backup target compatibility.
- Containers: Typical path uses Linux on Power with OpenShift/Kubernetes; confirm distro/kernel enablement for your node type.
Deployment & Compatibility Checklist
- Power & Cooling: Confirm per-rack circuit capacity, PDU layout, and HVAC headroom for peak thermal draw.
- Physical fit: Depth/weight for E1180 nodes and control units; rail kits; hot-aisle airflow.
- Network fabric: Ensure 25/100/200 GbE or FC fabrics can sustain aggregate throughput; design for redundancy (A/B fabrics).
- Storage: Validate SAN zoning/firmware, multipath, queue depths; for NVMe, ensure backplane power/air and firmware alignment.
- Management stack: Required HMC versions, microcode bundles, monitoring integrations (log shipping, SNMP/Redfish where applicable).
- Licensing: Recalculate by core/socket; consider capping cores where economical without starving workloads.
- Security: Enable secure boot, TPM/crypto inventories; align key management and backup immutability (e.g., vault tiers).
- Migration: Dry-run LPAR moves; driver parity for HBAs/NICs; pre-stage OS TL/SP or PTF levels for AIX/IBM i.
IBM Redbooks & Planning Aids
- IBM Power E1180 System — Introduction / Technical Overview (Redpiece / Redbook)
- IBM Power11 E1150 — Introduction and Technical Overview
- IBM Power11 Scale-Out Servers — S1124 / S1122 overview and configuration guidance
- PowerVM / VIOS Best Practices — LPM, virtual I/O performance tuning
- Security & Cyber Resilience — Ransomware recovery patterns (Cyber Vault-style workflows)
➤ IBM Power 11 Cost
➤ IBM Power 11 CPU
Quick FAQ
Which model is right for SAP HANA or very large RDBMS?
E1180 for maximum cores/memory/I&O. Consider E1150 if you need high scale in a single 4U chassis.
Does Power11 support IBM i, AIX, and Linux on Power?
Yes—validate specific OS release levels and firmware/HMC requirements during planning.
What changed vs Power10?
DDR5/OMI bandwidth uplift, more cores at the top bins, PCIe Gen5, reinforced RAS (incl. spare-core failover), and stronger security posture.
Any “gotchas” for day-one installs?
HMC/VIOS level mismatches and fabric under-sizing are the most common blockers. Pre-stage firmware, confirm optics/cabling, and test LPM early.