How similar are Power10 and Power11?

Some will say this release is more like Power10+ than a whole new Power11. Others will say that the processor inside is Power11, so that’s what it is. 

We need to look at the big picture, and there are no significant changes for those items. These include: 

PCIe slots are still Gen5 and Gen4

Is this a problem? Since most of the available cards are Gen4 and even Gen3, it’s likely that Gen6 slots would be wasted today. I expect Gen6 slots and cards to debut in the PowerNext generation of servers. 

Memory module locations and interfaces remain the same as Power10

This IBM-designed interface provides twice as many connections per CPU as competing processors. It also moves the DDR logic from the CPU to the memory module. This allowed Power10-based servers to upgrade from DDR4 to DDR5 without CPU changes. 

Logically, Power11 servers should be able to upgrade from DDR5 to DDR6 if the DDR6 specification becomes available soon. For the record, I’m not holding my breath on this! While some lesser systems may try out pre-spec DDR6 memory, it makes no sense for IBM to release anything that isn’t entirely up to the final specifications, and DDR6 is nowhere near completed. 

Before assuming all memory is the same, consider that most memory capacities doubled from Power10 to Power11 with the new higher-density chips on the modules. 

The most prominent feature now delivers 512GB of memory on a single module. That one feature has more than a thousand times the storage of the largest hard drive of the original AS/400! It’s also cheaper, faster, smaller and uses less power. Who knew? 

Looking inside the server

Many visible features are the same as Power10. These include the number and speed of slots, the number of sockets and the number of DIMM slots. Beyond the cabinet, nearly all the I/O cards and NVMe modules are also identical. There’s a new 200Gbps Ethernet adapter for those who feel the need for speed! 

One conspicuously absent member of the Power11 family is the very popular 41A single CPU socket server model. Less surprisingly, the S1012 half-wide 2U edge-level server, announced only last year, hasn’t been refreshed for Power11. 

Other physical system changes include removing support for external drawers that hold old-fashioned spinning disk drives. These couldn’t have been ordered with Power10, but they were at least supported on those servers. Power11 disk choices include NVMe and external storage. Would you like to see that list again? 

If you’ve absorbed everything I’ve said so far, you might be thinking, “Ho hum. It was time for IBM to release a new machine, so they added 1, got 11 and here we are.” 

If you think that way, you haven’t read far enough! 

How does Power11 outperform Power10?

Higher memory frequencies with lower latency

In addition to increased memory capacity in Power11, these servers significantly improve memory throughput using higher memory frequencies with lower latency. Memory in Power11 servers is all DDR5 with frequencies up to 4800 MHz. Compared to Power10 DDR5 memory, speeds are often 50% faster. From Power10 servers with DDR4, the DDR5 on Power11 operates as much as 80% faster! 

An enhanced processor chip

As mentioned previously, the processor chip is Power11, and while it has the same shape and number of pins as Power10, it’s enhanced! The Power11 processor is based on Power10, which is true, but there are updates. 

These include more active cores per socket, two spare cores per socket in most configurations and higher core frequencies. Despite having more cores and higher frequencies, they still achieve improved energy efficiency. The system’s energy efficiency mode can also be scheduled to maximise throughput during peak workload times but scale back energy use during periods of low utilisation. 

Reliability and zero planned downtime

Another focus IBM has for Power11 servers is improving uptime for the server line. We all know that Power servers have been the most reliable servers for running your business for years, but IBM isn’t resting on its laurels regarding reliability. With Power11, IBM aims for zero planned downtime, leveraging capabilities like Live Partition Mobility (LPM) for the increasingly rare cases when a server outage is required to perform an update. 

Automated data collection

Starting in the AS/400 days, IBM i gained the ability to “phone home” to report hardware and operating system issues. That capability has improved with every release. With Power11, IBM has automated even more data collection, not just from the operating system, but from all areas across the hardware and supporting components, so that when an issue arises, IBM will automatically have the needed troubleshooting data at its fingertips. For the customer, this means less work to report issues and less time for resolution. 

So, is it Power11 or Power10+?

I’d say you could call it either way, as long as it’s Power10 with more memory, faster memory, more cores and more GHz — thus, better overall system performance with greater efficiency! Additionally, increased reliability, quality and timely reporting, spare cores and reaching Six 9’s of availability. Quantum-safe encryption for Secure Boot and LPM offers improved security. And it wouldn’t be 2025 if the system didn’t gain more AI capabilities. 

While there may not have been any surprises in the naming, one thing remains clear: Power11 is IBM’s next-generation Power server. 

A renowned, research-led hospital invested in a multi-year migration of its applications to a hybrid cloud environment. However, the rise of COVID-19 increased demands for data collection and processing. The hospital’s team decided to repurpose its on-premises, non-production IBM Z mainframe as a dynamic data collection system that enabled efficient and cost-effective management, storage, analysis and archiving. 

Addressing healthcare data collection and capacity challenges

Due to increasing demand for data processing, the institution required additional capacity, leading to an estimated upgrade cost of over $1 million. While exploring options, the team discovered that IBM had ceased offering upgrades for its legacy Z systems. The team began to discuss alternative solutions to source hardware and support legacy mainframe systems. 

The hospital discovered Service Express when searching for a single vendor to assist with hardware and support. Relying on guidance from the Service Express team, the institution embraced an alternative hardware upgrade strategy that leveraged a pre-owned mainframe rather than purchasing new hardware or undergoing a total refresh. 

Partnership yields an integrated and cost-effective solution

Through this new partnership, the hospital integrated migration, transition and onsite installation services for the upgrade. In addition, Service Express provided IBM mainframe maintenance and Virtual Tape Library (VTL) support for its production and backup environments. 

By utilising previous-generation hardware, the hospital doubled its capacity and reduced CapEx by over $980,000 in three years. In addition, the organisation saved an additional $300,000 in OpEx by leveraging third-party maintenance (TPM) for its legacy IBM system. 

Insurance companies are rapidly embracing insurtech solutions to attract new customers, improve efficiency and enhance customer experience. However, like many organisations undergoing digital transformation, they often face the challenge of funding new initiatives without redirecting resources from other business areas. Implementing new technology solutions while facing pressure to reduce policyholders’ costs is an ongoing challenge for all insurance providers. 

Maintaining performance amid rising operational costs

A national insurance company was tasked with finding ways to reduce operational costs without affecting its workforce and performance. Upon further discovery, the company’s IT and procurement teams reviewed OEM maintenance contracts to better understand increased costs for post-warranty hardware. 

OEM maintenance costs associated with the company’s IBM mainframe and Dell EMC storage systems were clear targets for cost reduction. The insurance company had relied on OEM support for decades. To control costs, the IT team determined it was time to gain buy-in to explore third-party maintenance (TPM) as an alternative. 

Strategic solutions enable fund reallocation and OpEx savings

After conducting thorough technical evaluations of leading global maintenance providers, Service Express ranked number one. The combination of in-house engineering expertise, multivendor capabilities and a long-standing track record of IBM mainframe support delivered the confidence needed for the insurer to transition support to Service Express. 

The company transitioned from OEM post-warranty maintenance to TPM, successfully achieving its primary objective of reducing costs. In addition, the insurance provider utilised Service Express’ ExpressConnect^® Monitoring platform, which streamlined maintenance, automated support and increased productivity. 

The partnership with Service Express helped the insurer reallocate $250,000 in OpEx to other insurtech initiatives. The business achieved 75% savings on its contracted services by utilising a TPM provider instead of OEM support without compromising performance. 

What are containers?

Think about the last time you tried to move a project from one computer to another. Maybe it worked perfectly on your laptop but failed to run on a colleague’s machine or the company data centre. Containers put an end to that headache. Imagine packing up your app, all its code and everything it needs, like libraries and settings, into a neat box. No matter where you take that box, it works. Developers can stop worrying about hidden system differences and start building essential features. 

This isn’t just theory. Picture a team at Netflix rolling out new features to millions of viewers. They can’t afford downtime or glitches. By using containers, their engineers can build and test new ideas on their laptops, knowing those containers will behave the same way in production. It’s like having a universal plug for every socket — no more fiddling with adapters or hoping things will fit. 

How are containers used?

Before containers, we relied on virtual machines (VMs). VMs were like renting an entire flat for every guest, complete with a kitchen, bathroom and all the amenities; great but cumbersome and slow to set up. Containers are more like giving each guest their own room in a shared house. They share the basics but still get their own space. This makes containers much lighter and quicker, allowing you to fit more on the same hardware. 

Of course, with more moving parts, you need to be careful. Security is always essential. It’s like double-checking that every box you send out is locked, labelled and tracked. We ensure that only trusted boxes are used, monitor who can open them and regularly check for any signs of tampering. When done correctly, containers can be just as safe, if not safer, than the old ways. 

Why containers are the right choice for your organisation

For many IT teams, containers have become the solution to persistent challenges, such as software functioning in one environment but not another, slow updates and the struggle to scale quickly when demand spikes. We built our platform to alleviate these headaches. You can seamlessly move workloads, reduce wasted resources and adapt to changes in your business without missing a beat. 

We’ve designed our Managed Containers Platform to be easy to adopt, whether you’re a small startup or a large company with outdated systems to modernise. There’s no need to lock yourself into one vendor or way of working. The goal is to provide you with choice and control, not additional obstacles to navigate. 

What’s exciting is how containers open doors for everyone involved. Developers can build and test faster, operations teams can implement changes smoothly and businesses deliver new features to customers sooner and with fewer hiccups. It’s no wonder that more and more organisations, from online shops to banks, are making the switch. 

Getting started shouldn’t be a chore. We’ve made it easy for you to deploy our platform wherever you need it — on your servers, in the cloud or a mix of both. With straightforward guides and automation, you’ll spend less time setting up and more time building what matters. 

Ultimately, containers aren’t just another tool; they’re a means to deliver better software, faster. They help teams work together, keep things secure and ensure you’re ready for whatever comes next. That’s why containers are shaping the future of technology, one simple, powerful box at a time. 

The global manufacturing industry faces numerous challenges, including significant disruptions due to supply chain interruptions, assembly plant closures and a limited workforce. Even the most resilient organisations struggle to adapt in uncertain times. 

Economic uncertainty brings unforeseen IT challenges 

A global manufacturer identified an urgent need to increase its mainframe computing power to deliver sustainable performance amid unplanned production requirements and improve its business continuity capacity. However, economic uncertainty caused budget constraints and created a barrier, along with the impending expense of new IBM hardware. 

Confronted with OEM production backorders and extended lead times, the company’s procurement team sought a solution to meet their needs while minimising IT spending. They identified Service Express as a potential partner because of its inventory of IBM mainframe hardware, technical expertise and third-party maintenance (TPM) services. 

Cost-effective hardware solution addresses capacity demands 

After understanding the company’s hardware goals, Service Express identified, configured, delivered and installed an IBM Z system that provided an additional 10,000 MIPs capacity. Rather than undergoing a costly hardware refresh, the company opted for the previous generation of equipment, resulting in over $1 million in CapEx savings. Additionally, leveraging TPM support saved the company over $300,000 in OpEx annually. 

Service Express helped sustain performance during a period of disruption, uncertainty and pressure to cut costs. Now, the manufacturer can seamlessly scale its computing power to address unexpected fluctuations in production cycles with trusted infrastructure and reliable support from Service Express. 

For decades, a mass media company has remained at the forefront of world events, finance, entertainment and more, with millions of digital and magazine subscribers accessing its content. The organisation continuously creates and publishes content highlighting real-time events. To ensure it maintains operations, the company enforces a zero-tolerance policy for service delays and downtime for its partners. 

Maintenance provider skill gap extends outage and recovery timelines 

Before partnering with Service Express, the media company relied on another maintenance provider for a small portion of its infrastructure. Only one critical incident underscored the risks associated with providers lacking experienced engineers and systems that automatically identify hardware failures. 

The gap in technical capabilities resulted in extended production and recovery downtime. This experience demonstrated that not all maintenance providers are well-equipped for mission-critical support. 

Solving downtime concerns with proactive and reliable support 

As a result, the company decided to find a new maintenance provider with technical proficiency and automated support. The company needed a provider capable of supporting its diverse Dell EMC, HPE, Oracle/Sun and Hitachi infrastructure. 

The global media company decided to partner with Service Express for third-party maintenance (TPM). Service Express provides access to L1, L2 and L3 engineers with multiplatform knowledge and responsive service callbacks within 30 minutes. Along with multivendor expertise, Service Express offers 24/7 hardware support monitoring that automatically opens a service ticket using real-time alerts. The IT team has peace of mind that ExpressConnect^® Monitoring will immediately place a ticket when a hardware failure occurs to reduce downtime. 

The company also consolidated its maintenance service agreements, simplifying and streamlining contract management through coterminous agreements. 

Switching to Service Express saved time by proactively identifying hardware failures, placing service tickets and simplifying maintenance agreements. Leveraging TPM support helped the company save over $750,000 in maintenance costs within three years. 

What are some slick features inside IBM i 7.6?

Security is finally at the forefront of everyone’s minds, rightfully so. With breaches, ransomware and cyberattacks making daily headlines, companies are under increasing pressure to tighten how they protect their data. Just yesterday, I sat in a CFO’s office describing a Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) proposal. His biggest question? “How do you protect my data?” 

My most favourite new feature? Well, there’s two: 

Built-in multi-factor authentication (MFA)

First, IBM i 7.6 offers built-in multi-factor authentication (MFA).

That means you can now require users to confirm their identity with a secondary factor, like with an app on their phone. The integrated MFA is an additional layer that validates a user is who they say they are and strengthens the IBM i overall security posture. This extra layer of protection doesn’t cost one penny extra or require any additional software. It just works right out of the can.

Auxiliary storage pool (ASP)

Second, we now can encrypt the system Auxiliary Storage Pool (ASP).

Before this, to encrypt the system ASP, you’d need to purchase external storage and encrypt those disks before presenting logical unit numbers (LUNs) to the IBM i. Customers on the smaller end of the spectrum can’t usually justify purchasing a SAN, so this feature is tipping the hat to the smaller shops. The only requirement to encrypt the system ASP is option 45 of the operating system licensed programme, Encrypted ASP Enablement. The feature is accessed from inside Service Tools and doesn’t require any downtime to enable.

Additional honourable mentions

The CFGHOSTSVR command

Another cool feature is the CFGHOSTSVR command, which enables and even forces encrypted connections to IBM i host servers, such as database, file, network print and sign-on servers.

Previously, to prevent your host servers from operating on unencrypted ports, you’d have to mess around with TCP/IP port restrictions; this has never been a simple or straightforward task for the average administrator.

IBM Navigator for i

IBM Navigator for i (the main web-based interface for managing the system) continues to improve steadily. It’s become a clean, more intuitive interface. It includes helpful wizards for setting up things like TLS encryption, managing digital certificates, enabling those new MFA options and managing the host servers we just discussed. Administrators will love how much easier it is to see what’s happening at a glance, especially when managing multiple systems. Some significant new dashboards track license expirations, security events and performance trends.

Is that all there is? Not in the slightest!

In fact, there are a whole bunch of features that I haven’t even touched on here, including many related to security. Digital Certificate Manager had a facelift. IBM Debugger clients can now secure their connections. The ability to view (not change) specific system parameters previously required *IOSYSCFG special authority.

Stronger AES encryption is enabled out of the gate instead of the older DES and triple-DES encryption for Kerberos and Enterprise Identity Mapping configurations. The security PTF group apply date is visible on the WRKPTFGRP screen to show you how old your security fixes are.

However, because of the two main features (in my opinion) of System ASP encryption and multi-factor authentication, the question shouldn’t be whether you should upgrade to IBM i 7.6. It should be when.

And the answer is: yesterday.

Faced with rising costs, one of America’s largest energy providers committed to delivering reliable electricity solutions identified an opportunity to optimise its increasing IT spending. Maintaining hundreds of specialised servers had become increasingly expensive, prompting the company to reassess its support strategy. The energy provider partnered with Service Express to control costs and identify new opportunities for efficiency. 

Challenges in maintaining in-house systems

The company’s specialised infrastructure is vital for ensuring local communities and businesses have electricity, but servicing the equipment became expensive and complex for several reasons: 

• Maintaining systems was challenging due to their remote locations and lack of in-house support staff. 
• The company was having trouble finding parts for the customized systems. 
• Extended lead times on parts led to longer disruptive outages. 
• Refreshing systems was no longer an option due to a limited IT budget. 

Implementing change required a shift in its current maintenance and hardware strategy. Previously, the company relied on the OEM for equipment support and hardware. In addition to leveraging OEM maintenance, systems were refreshed every three years regardless of current performance or needs. These practices placed a strain on the company’s IT budget. 

Navigating new maintenance strategies

The energy provider had never worked with a company like Service Express. The company’s leadership team was cautious initially since the systems are vital to its operations. Service Express alleviated concerns by providing detailed equipment analysis using Maintenance Navigator, identifying opportunities to leverage third-party maintenance (TPM). In addition, Service Express’ access to previous-generation parts required for the company’s customised systems granted its teams peace of mind. 

Experienced service team members were available to support the company’s most remote locations, reducing service times. 

The energy provider’s transition to TPM and refined hardware strategy reduced support costs by 20%, saving several million dollars without compromising uptime or performance. 

Workload environment and distribution

Infrastructure strategy is no longer about choosing between cloud and on-premises. Although it never really was that simple, the stakes are higher today, and the choices are more deliberate. In a business landscape of volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), organisations are designing systems that do more than just run workloads; they’re building environments that can adapt. 

The latest survey data reflects this shift. On-prem data centres still play a vital role, offering the control and compliance many sectors demand. But we’re seeing a clear move toward cloud-based models. Businesses are investing in a mix of hosted private cloud, public cloud and colocation services, a measured approach that balances innovation with risk, scale with governance. 

Demand for private cloud services continues to rise as companies look for scalable infrastructure that doesn’t compromise reliability or security. At the same time, cloud management platforms have become essential for leaders managing hybrid and multicloud estates, offering control without complexity. 

It’s no longer just about where the infrastructure is located; it’s about how effectively it moves, supports growth and adapts to changing conditions. 

The 5% of environments classified as “Other” is also worth watching. This likely includes edge computing and emerging architectures, both of which are gaining traction as organisations move data processing closer to users and endpoints. 

In short, demand reshapes infrastructure: systems must be flexible, stable and ready for whatever comes next. 

Off-premises drivers

Disaster recovery / Business continuity: 60% 

The primary driver for moving workloads off-premises is ensuring robust disaster recovery and business continuity. Organisations are increasingly prioritising the need to safeguard their operations when disruptions and attacks eventually occur. By leveraging cloud solutions, companies can achieve higher redundancy and recovery capabilities crucial for maintaining seamless business operations.

Lower capital costs: 41%

The shift towards cloud computing is also driven by the need to reduce capital expenditure. Moving workloads off-prem allows companies to transform their IT infrastructure costs from CapEx to OpEx. This financial flexibility is vital, especially in uncertain economic climates, enabling organisations to invest in innovation and growth rather than being tied down by heavy upfront infrastructure costs. 

Improved security: 40%

The number and sophistication of cyber threats continue to increase. This third key driver is the quest for improved security. Cloud providers invest heavily in state-of-the-art security measures and protocols, often surpassing what companies can achieve independently. This enhanced security posture is a significant factor driving the migration to off-prem environments as organisations seek to protect their data and maintain customer trust. 

These insights point to a strategic focus on resilience, cost-efficiency and security as the primary factors influencing the migration of workloads to cloud environments. This alignment with current market trends underscores the importance of adopting flexible, scalable and secure IT solutions to stay competitive and resilient in dynamic business landscapes. 

Public cloud challenges

Organisations’ challenges with public cloud solutions reflect the maturity of cloud adoption and the complexity of managing cloud environments at scale. 

1. Predicting costs

One of the most significant concerns is the difficulty of accurately forecasting cloud costs. Organisations scaling their cloud usage find that the complexity of pricing models, usage fluctuations and unpredictable workloads can lead to cost overruns. Cloud financial management is becoming a priority for many organisations as they strive to optimise their spending while leveraging cloud resources. 

2. Internal staff skill set

The rapid pace of cloud technology evolution has left many organisations facing limitations due to skill gaps. Internal teams may lack the specialised knowledge required to fully utilise cloud services, leading to inefficiencies and slower adoption of new capabilities. Businesses must upskill staff and find talent proficient in cloud technologies to maximise the value of their cloud investments. 

3. Complexity

Managing the complexity of multicloud environments, integration with legacy systems and navigating the vast array of cloud services and configurations present significant hurdles. Organisations find it difficult to manage this complexity while ensuring smooth operations and consistent performance. 

These challenges point to a need for better cloud cost management tools, investment in workforce training, and solutions that reduce the complexity of cloud operations. As cloud adoption continues to accelerate, addressing these issues will be critical for organisations to fully realise the benefits of the cloud while managing risks and costs effectively. 

Read our 2025 Data Centre & Infrastructure Report today for more survey results and expert insights.