IBM PowerVM Reviews

Vendor: IBM

4.3 out of 5

36 reviews
96% willing to recommend

2,322 followers

What is IBM PowerVM?

Power is server virtualization without limits. Businesses are turning to PowerVM server virtualization to consolidate multiple workloads onto fewer systems, increasing server utilization and reducing cost. PowerVM provides a secure and scalable server virtualization environment for AIX, IBM i and Linux applications built upon the advanced RAS features and leading performance of the Power Systems platform.

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IBM PowerVM is the #10 ranked solution in best Server Virtualization Software. PeerSpot users give IBM PowerVM an average rating of 8.6 out of 10. IBM PowerVM is most commonly compared to Proxmox VE: IBM PowerVM vs Proxmox VE. IBM PowerVM is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 61% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 20% of all views.

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Featured IBM PowerVM reviews

Atif Najam

Chief Information Officer and Program Lead at Gatron Industries Ltd

The only problem with the IBM system is improving its hardware licensing model. For example, when you procure a server with 40 physical codes, you must also procure licenses to activate the codes. In Dell or any system, you procure the hardware and have the full right to use the hardware. For IBM, it's different because when you procure a 40-code processor and have 40 physical codes, you only have a license to use 20. As a result, the 20 alert codes will always be in activated mode. Hence, the hardware licensing model could be improved because the licensing model is a bit different from the standard hardware procured.

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Atif Najam

Chief Information Officer and Program Lead at Gatron Industries Ltd

PowerVM is likely one of the most stable hypervisors available, albeit highly specialized. However, it is solely command-line based. When someone manages virtualization as a whole, they typically expect a graphical user interface (GUI) for configurations. This is the case for Hyper-V, XenServer, and VMware. But with PowerVM, you need to understand and memorize commands to operate the hypervisor. I believe PowerVM should have a GUI; that would be a significant improvement.

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Desianto Abdillah

System Administrator at Japfa Comfeed Indonesia

The practicality of IBM PowerVM is a crucial feature, especially with the help of HMC (Hardware Management Console). The Live Partition Mobility help us handle virtual adapters effectively when we need to upgrade firmware or the system, and LPM helps us transfer workloads with minimal downtime. This feature ensures that our systems remain online even during maintenance, significantly minimizing any potential disruptions.

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IBM PowerVM mindshare

As of April 2025, the mindshare of IBM PowerVM in the Server Virtualization Software category stands at 1.3%, up from 1.2% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.

Server Virtualization Software

PeerResearch reports based on IBM PowerVM reviews

Type	Title	Date
Category	Server Virtualization Software	Apr 29, 2025	Download
Product	Reviews, tips, and advice from real users	Apr 29, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM PowerVM vs Proxmox VE	Apr 29, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM PowerVM vs VMware vSphere	Apr 29, 2025	Download
Comparison	IBM PowerVM vs Hyper-V	Apr 29, 2025	Download

Title	Rating	Mindshare	Recommending
Proxmox VE	4.3	18.1%	98%	62 interviews Add to research
VMware vSphere	4.4	17.3%	94%	454 interviews Add to research

Valuable Features

IBM PowerVM is valued for ease of configuration, versatility, and security. It provides robust stability and flexibility in managing hardware resources like RAM and CPU. Users appreciate dynamic resource allocation, high availability with dual virtualization instances, shared processor pools, and active memory sharing. It offers exceptional performance for database workloads and is suitable for Oracle databases due to its efficient licensing model. PowerVM supports multiple operating systems and allows seamless cloud migration.

"I rate IBM PowerVM a ten out of ten for its capabilities in the cloud environment."
"PowerVM stands out for me as a hardware-based hypervisor, which is optimized with less overhead."
"PowerVM excels in efficiently managing all systems and environments, including development, UI, and production."

Room for Improvement

IBM PowerVM's management and interface require enhancement, with an emphasis on more user-friendly platforms and additional automation features. Its cloud focus and virtualization capabilities need strengthening. The tool's pricing is high, affecting its competitiveness against alternatives like VMware. Users seek better clustering options and wider operating system compatibility. The licensing model could be improved. Enhancements in disaster recovery tools like SRM and the addition of a graphical user interface are desired. Integration with platforms such as VMware's vCenter could provide better management.

"PowerVM should integrate some capabilities of VMware vCenter to improve its management features."
"PowerVM should integrate some capabilities of VMware vCenter to improve its management features."
"The pricing is expensive, which poses a financial challenge, especially in Argentina."

ROI

IBM PowerVM offers a higher ROI than non-IBM products. Oracle charges only for the cores allocated to the VM, saving costs on Oracle licensing. Its scalability and easy administration are notable advantages, allowing users to add resources efficiently. It provides reliability with reduced downtime and maintenance needs. Over five years, it is 30 to 40% more cost-effective than physical servers, despite higher initial costs.

Pricing

IBM PowerVM pricing is case-specific, often negotiated per project, and generally considered high compared to alternatives. Costs are bundled with IBM Power Systems, avoiding additional license fees typical with competitors like VMware. Pricing structures offer flexibility with monthly, annual, or one-time payments, often including hardware and software costs. Despite high initial expenses, users identify long-term cost-effectiveness for large workloads and reliability, with a 30-40% cost reduction over five years. Pricing competitiveness remains a factor.

"The tool is competitively priced, especially right now."
"The cost is on the higher side. Typically, we invest in the machine and support for two, three, or five years."
"IBM PowerVM's pricing is cheap."

Popular Use Cases

Users primarily employ IBM PowerVM for virtualization, particularly in business-critical operations such as banking systems, SAP, and Oracle databases. It supports creating dynamic partitions on IBM Power Servers, offering stability, high availability, disaster recovery, and efficient resource management. Organizations leverage its ability to handle heavy workloads, migrate servers, and enhance system performance. PowerVM is integral for managing both on-premises and cloud environments, necessitating specific expertise in virtualization technology.

Service and Support

IBM PowerVM's customer service and support receive praise for being knowledgeable, responsive, and proactive. Users find IBM's technical support team quick to respond, with effective solutions. Their strong support structure, coupled with a proactive stance, is appreciated globally. While most users express high satisfaction, a few note room for improvement, especially for those without support subscriptions. The reliability of the platform often reduces the need for frequent support interactions, making users satisfied.

Deployment

Initial setup experiences with IBM PowerVM vary. Some find the process straightforward, while others note complexity, especially when compared to VMware. Deployment times range from hours to weeks, often requiring skilled technical personnel. IBM vendors provide support, which can ease the setup. Visual aids and guides improve efficiency, but finding experts can be challenging. Implementation often involves multiple phases, including partitions and configuration, affecting overall complexity. Automated tools and newer versions simplify the process.

Scalability

IBM PowerVM is widely praised for its scalability, offering seamless integration and ease of scaling both vertically and horizontally. Users appreciate its ability to handle demanding workloads and its flexibility in adjusting resources on the fly. It supports large-scale deployments and allows for easy resource expansion. Many users rate its scalability highly, noting it accommodates substantial users without performance issues. Its 'pay as you grow' model is seen as cost-effective, allowing for incremental resource allocation.

Stability

IBM PowerVM exhibits outstanding stability, often operating for years without requiring a reboot. Users consistently rate its performance very high, citing no bugs, glitches, or crashes. Notable for reliability, it is preferred for high-performance workloads and is considered secure against threats. Users gratefully manage hardware effectively and see PowerVM as among the top stable virtualization platforms, surpassing competitors like Nutanix and VMware. Many give its stability a perfect ten out of ten rating.

These insights are based on the in-depth reviews provided by peers to help you make a better buying decision.

Download our IBM PowerVM Buyer's Guide for additional reliable information.

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Computer Software Company

20%

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14%

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Compare IBM PowerVM with alternative products

Learn more about IBM PowerVM

IBM PowerVM was previously known as PowerVM.

IBM PowerVM customers

Sto, Soitec, SNO, Bundesrechenzentrum GmbH, Al Mansour Holding, Baptist Health of Northeast Florida, Huhtamaki, ELK Group, IT-Informatik, Arkansas Tech University, Pneuhage