AIX

yeah, you need the PowerVM / VIOS Virtualization feature code on the machine, otherwise it will not work. The FC is encoded in the Serial Number of the machine.
There is no way around.

You wont be able to do this on your 51A, but it can be done provided you don't need to use VIOS.

If your system has the ability to attach more than one disk controller, then you can run as many LPARs as you have disk controllers. These can be fibre channel on a SAN somewhere or internal SCSI split backplanes.

Your 51A cannot function as a split backplane. You would need a larger machine such as a 52A, 55A, 570.

If you have a SAN you can create LUNs on, then you could put in a stack of FC adapters and use disks on your SAN as boot drives for the LPARs.

thanks

I also have a p520 (9111-520) Power5

will that work?

Sure, maximum of two LPARs though. You will need to obtain the hardware to enable split backplane. I can give you the feature codes for them if you need them.

Thanks.. that would be great

another requirement as far as I remember PowerVM VIOS virtualization to work you need atleast a two way processor