If you’re running IBM Power today, you know it’s not just another server platform—it’s the backbone of critical systems that demand uptime, scalability, and performance. With IBM Power11 now here, the question isn’t “should I upgrade right now,” but rather: what’s changed, and what does it mean for your environment over the next 12–24 months?
This article breaks down the architectural advancements, operational improvements, and security enhancements in Power11, compared to Power10, so you can start planning based on facts, not hype.
1. Zero Planned Downtime: Live Kernel Updates Built-In
One of the most meaningful changes in Power11 is its ability to deliver zero hours of planned downtime for patching and updates.
Power11 introduces:
- Live Kernel Updates (LKU): Apply OS updates without rebooting the system
- Rolling firmware upgrades: Update Power firmware without taking LPARs offline
- Autonomous patching: Combine Ansible automation with IBM Concert and watsonx to maintain compliance in real time
This is particularly critical when:
- Maintaining 99.999% SLAs
- Meeting compliance for SOC2, PCI DSS, or ISO 27001
- Running 24/7 production workloads in healthcare, finance, retail, or logistics
Power10 allowed Live Partition Mobility—but full-stack downtime patching was more limited and manual.
2. Performance Gains: Up to 2x Better AI and Analytics Throughput
Power11 is based on the Power11 processor (Telum-class), delivering:
- Up to 2x better AI inferencing performance compared to Power10 (due to on-chip AI acceleration)
- Higher SMT efficiency (Simultaneous Multithreading) with improved thread scheduling
- Enhanced I/O bandwidth, with PCIe Gen5 and NVMe adoption standard
- More granular power/performance tuning at the core level
Example: Power11 supports up to 16 cores per socket, with 8 SMT threads per core, delivering 128 threads per socket — ideal if you need highly concurrent workloads.
This is especially relevant if you require capability for:
- Real-time fraud detection
- Predictive maintenance analytics
- ERP or SCM workloads with built-in AI inference
3. Hybrid Cloud by Design: Built for IBM Power VS and Private Cloud
Power11 supports deployment across:
- On-premises (LPAR-based partitioning)
- Private cloud (via partners like Meridian IT)
- IBM PowerVS (IBM’s Power-based public cloud)
- Multi-region DR with live replication support
Combined with Red Hat Ansible and OpenShift support, it allows:
- Unified automation across x86 and Power
- Containerised AI or microservices alongside core IBM i workloads
- Consistent patching and provisioning from a single playbook
This means Power11 is better positioned for hybrid orchestration than Power10, especially when integrating into cloud-native architectures.
4. Security: Quantum-Safe by Default
Power11 introduces Quantum-Safe Cryptography (QSC) at the platform level, aligning with upcoming standards from NIST and government bodies like:
- US Quantum Safe Act (2030)
- Anticipated post-quantum standards for regulated industries
Built-in protections include:
- Post-quantum TLS algorithms
- Hardware-based cryptographic acceleration
- Support for confidential computing models
This is crucial for sectors like defence, banking, and utilities where regulatory shifts are coming faster than many expect.
5. watsonx, OpenShift AI, and the Real Path to AI Integration
Power11 integrates directly with:
- watsonx Code Assistant for i – to help developers modernise or extend RPG workloads without rewriting them
- Red Hat OpenShift AI – for containerised, GPU-accelerated AI applications
- watsonx.data – IBM’s open lakehouse platform coming to Power11 by late 2025
This tight integration makes it easier to:
- Embed AI into core applications (e.g., invoice classification, NLP-driven automation)
- Use pre-trained models without massive replatforming
- Run AI workloads securely on-prem or hybrid
Power10 did not support this level of integration natively.
6. Smarter Software Bundling
IBM is reintroducing bundled software offerings with Power11:
- Enterprise Bundle (P30 software band): includes enhanced backup, monitoring, automation tooling
- Standard Bundle (P20 band): tailored for mid-sized IBM i and AIX environments
This simplifies procurement and ensures best-practice tooling is in place from day one—particularly for customers using Power in a managed service context.
Power11 vs Power10
Should You Move Now?
If you’re on Power10, you’re not behind — but you should be evaluating:
- How often do you patch? Can you afford downtime?
- Are you planning for AI, even in small use cases?
- Do you need to prove quantum-readiness or compliance in the next 2–3 years?
- Is hybrid cloud integration on your roadmap?
Power11 is about future-proofing your architecture while continuing to run stable, performant workloads.
How Meridian IT can support your Power Environment:
At Meridian IT, we’ve helped enterprises across Australia run IBM Power environments at scale: on-prem, in cloud, and across hybrid models. We have a deep heritage, expertise and commitment to IBM Power as a platform, offering:
- mPower: Meridian Managed Power systems (IBM i, AIX, Linux)
- Automation frameworks via mAutomate
- Security and compliance services (SOC, ISO-aligned)
- PowerVS hybrid integration