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IBM PowerVM Reviews

Vendor: IBM
4.3 out of 5
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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 #9 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 VMware vSphere: IBM PowerVM vs VMware vSphere. IBM PowerVM is popular among the large enterprise segment, accounting for 58% of users researching this solution on PeerSpot. The top industry researching this solution are professionals from a computer software company, accounting for 18% of all views.
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IBM PowerVM
July 2025
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IBM PowerVM mindshare

As of August 2025, the mindshare of IBM PowerVM in the Server Virtualization Software category stands at 1.3%, up from 1.1% compared to the previous year, according to calculations based on PeerSpot user engagement data.
Server Virtualization Software

PeerResearch reports based on IBM PowerVM reviews

TypeTitleDate
CategoryServer Virtualization SoftwareAug 1, 2025Download
ProductReviews, tips, and advice from real usersAug 1, 2025Download
ComparisonIBM PowerVM vs Proxmox VEAug 1, 2025Download
ComparisonIBM PowerVM vs VMware vSphereAug 1, 2025Download
ComparisonIBM PowerVM vs Hyper-VAug 1, 2025Download
Suggested products
TitleRatingMindshareRecommending
VMware vSphere4.416.4%94%456 interviewsAdd to research
Proxmox VE4.317.0%98%62 interviewsAdd to research
 
 
Key learnings from peers

Valuable Features

IBM PowerVM is praised for its stability, versatility, and portability. Users value its robust security, flexibility in managing hardware resources, and shared processor pools. Features like Live Partition Mobility, dynamic resource allocation, and high availability enhance performance. It supports multiple operating systems and ensures compliance with Oracle licensing. PowerVM offers efficient resource utilization, real-time migration, and 99.999% uptime. Users appreciate its integrated virtualization capabilities and the ability to manage systems comprehensively.
  • "IBM PowerVM provides robust virtualization capabilities, integrated within the machine itself."
  • "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."

Room for Improvement

IBM PowerVM needs enhancements in management and interface usability, expanded cloud focus, and more automation. Users find the pricing high and suggest better clustering and performance. Compatibility with various operating systems and better integration with other platforms could be improved. A GUI for easier management, clearer cloud roadmap, and lower licensing costs are also desired by many. Compared to competitors, price and automation features require attention to remain competitive.
  • "From a product perspective, I would like to see faster certification of open-source products on IBM Power Systems. While the product has robust features and functionalities, the availability and certification of certain open-source products could be improved to avoid potential challenges."
  • "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."

ROI

IBM PowerVM yields significant cost savings, especially for large database systems like Oracle, due to efficient core allocation. Users find PowerVM scalable and secure, easily accessible for adding resources and taking backups. The system reduces downtime and maintenance costs, enhancing reliability and cost-effectiveness, becoming 30 to 40% more economical than physical servers over five years, despite potentially higher initial expenses. While other platforms might offer better returns, PowerVM remains a strong option.

Pricing

IBM PowerVM pricing is generally higher than competing solutions, with costs exceeding similar Intel-based systems. While users appreciate unlimited licensing and flexible subscription terms, many find the initial investment and associated hardware expenses significant. Additional costs can arise from required software, maintenance, and support services. Although the overall cost of ownership may be lower in the long term, negotiation for project pricing is necessary, and the lack of pricing transparency can be a concern for enterprises.
  • "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

Organizations primarily use IBM PowerVM for virtualization of Power Servers in on-premises deployments, focusing on business-critical operations like core banking systems, SAP, and Oracle databases. It is valued for its stability, high availability, and efficiency in creating logical partitions and dynamic resource management. PowerVM aids in server consolidation, migration to virtual environments, and supports multiple operating systems, offering reliable performance for hardware-based applications with features like shared processor pools.

Service and Support

IBM PowerVM customer service and technical support are consistently praised for being timely, knowledgeable, and proactive. Many highlight quick response times and effective problem-solving, often outperforming competitors like Oracle. Global coordination ensures seamless incident resolution. Some users note areas for improvement, particularly in non-contracted cases, with support occasionally directing users to external resources. Overall, clients benefit from the stable platform and predominately efficient support, although a few instances exhibit the need for enhancement.

Deployment

Some find IBM PowerVM's initial setup complex, especially for virtual environments, while others describe it as straightforward with a good interface and easy protocols. Setup time varies from a few hours to weeks, depending on expertise and project scale. Technical knowledge is necessary for configuration. Adequate vendor support simplifies the process. It's less complex than VMware, allowing for faster configuration, often completed by IBM's experts or with their guidance.

Scalability

IBM PowerVM offers impressive scalability, accommodating extensive users globally with ease. Users praise its ability to handle large workloads and seamless integration across various environments. It provides flexible scaling options, allowing for adjustments in memory and processor capacity. With a robust architecture, it supports significant resource upgrades, ensuring performance remains strong. Many organizations appreciate its adaptability for enterprises, ranking its scalability highly due to its virtualization features and efficient resource allocation processes.

Stability

IBM PowerVM exhibits exceptional stability. Clients report high reliability, minimal issues, and impressive uptime. Users mention no significant incidents or bugs, even with continuous usage. Many note its superior performance compared to other platforms, like Nutanix and VMWare. Organizations find it resistant to cyber threats, requiring little to no maintenance. Several rate it nearly perfect due to its consistent operation without needing frequent reboots, aligning with industry recognition as a leading stable platform.
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.

Review data by company size

By reviewers
By visitors reading reviews

Top industries

By visitors reading reviews
Computer Software Company
18%
Financial Services Firm
11%
Manufacturing Company
7%
Government
6%
Healthcare Company
5%
Educational Organization
4%
Non Profit
4%
Consumer Goods Company
4%
Insurance Company
4%
University
3%
Transportation Company
3%
Construction Company
3%
Retailer
3%
Performing Arts
3%
Comms Service Provider
3%
Real Estate/Law Firm
2%
Energy/Utilities Company
2%
Media Company
2%
Outsourcing Company
2%
Legal Firm
2%
Wholesaler/Distributor
2%
Hospitality Company
1%
Pharma/Biotech Company
1%
Logistics Company
1%
Non Tech Company
1%
Marketing Services Firm
1%
Aerospace/Defense Firm
1%
Mining And Metals Company
1%

Compare IBM PowerVM with alternative products

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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

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IBM PowerVM reviews

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AS
IT Specialist at Saudi Business Machines - SBM
Verified user of IBM PowerVM
Dec 30, 2024
Achieves cost efficiency with optimized hardware-based virtualization

Pros

"PowerVM stands out for me as a hardware-based hypervisor, which is optimized with less overhead. "

Cons

"PowerVM should integrate some capabilities of VMware vCenter to improve its management features. "

What is our primary use case?

I use PowerVM for workloads that require hardware-based visualization. It is especially valuable for running Oracle workloads due to its shared processor pool feature, which allows me to limit the number of core usages for Oracle instances, thus reducing licensing costs. I also use PowerVM for SAP HANA databases, allowing larger storage capacities per VM compared to alternative solutions.

What is most valuable?

PowerVM stands out for me as a hardware-based hypervisor, which is optimized with less overhead. It supports specific workloads, like Oracle and SAP HANA, much better due to its shared processor pool feature which reduces licensing costs. In visualization, it offers a built-in accelerators feature to handle AI inference effectively while minimizing power requirements.

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Read full review (418 words)
MR
Solution Sales Specialist at TD SYNNEX
Verified user of IBM PowerVM
Mar 27, 2025
Product version discussed: Power 10
Seamless migration and versatility enhance cloud transition experience

Pros

"I rate IBM PowerVM a ten out of ten for its capabilities in the cloud environment."

What is our primary use case?

I primarily use IBM PowerVM to create and manage servers in a cloud environment. Customers who previously used Power Servers on-premises can now migrate seamlessly to Power Virtual Servers on the cloud. We serve clients transitioning from on-premises to cloud using IBM PowerVM for hosting and application migration.

What is most valuable?

IBM PowerVM supports multiple operating systems such as IBM i, AIX, and Linux, allowing users to run various applications seamlessly in a cloud environment. The Live Partition Mobility feature, although not detailed in my experience, supports versatile deployment. IBM PowerVM's seamless cloud migration and operating system support make it valuable for clients willing to transition to cloud environments while maintaining reliability.
*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Reseller
Read full review (598 words)
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MB
Drirector at a construction company with 201-500 employees
Verified user of IBM PowerVM
Nov 20, 2024
Efficient across environments with good management

Pros

"PowerVM excels in efficiently managing all systems and environments, including development, UI, and production."

Cons

"The pricing is expensive, which poses a financial challenge, especially in Argentina. "

What is our primary use case?

The primary use case is in the banking industry. We utilize PowerVM in products such as IBM Content Manager. The platform is integrated into both development and production environments.

What is most valuable?

PowerVM excels in efficiently managing all systems and environments, including development, UI, and production. This comprehensive management is crucial for my organization. We use PowerVM in a product like IBM Content Manager and other corresponding products.

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Read full review (405 words)
WA
Data Center Manager at Family-bank
Verified user of IBM PowerVM
Jun 30, 2024
A scalable solution to run our applications and services with reliability

Pros

"It offers stability, resilience, and reliability. They handle the workloads very easily. "

Cons

"The biggest challenge is the limited flexibility in operating system compatibility. PowerVM, for instance, supports only a select few operating systems, which can restrict the types of workloads deployed. "

What is our primary use case?

We use the solution to run our applications and services.

What is most valuable?

It offers stability, resilience, and reliability. They handle the workloads very easily. 

*Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Read full review (658 words)
PeerSpot user
Brand Leader at a tech services company with 1,001-5,000 employees
Verified user of IBM PowerVM
May 7, 2025
Virtualization provides robust control and seamless customer service

Pros

"IBM PowerVM provides robust virtualization capabilities, integrated within the machine itself."

Cons

"From a product perspective, I would like to see faster certification of open-source products on IBM Power Systems. While the product has robust features and functionalities, the availability and certification of certain open-source products could be improved to avoid potential challenges."

What is our primary use case?

I handle IBM PowerVM, Power SE, and the enterprise edition of AIX, including the cloud private cloud edition of AIX. I am involved with IBM systems, Red Hat Linux, and OpenShift on Power. I take care of platform software, including operating systems, virtualization layers, and security solutions for systems like IBM and Z.

What is most valuable?

IBM PowerVM provides robust virtualization capabilities, integrated within the machine itself. It includes features like shared processor functionality, offering control over licensing of databases such as Oracle. Features like partition mobility enhance the machine's capabilities, making it an ideal tool for virtual environments with reliability, availability, and serviceability.
*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. Partner
Read full review (472 words)
Atif Najam - PeerSpot user
Chief Information Officer and Program Lead at Gatron Industries Ltd
Verified user of IBM PowerVM
May 24, 2024
Offers mobility and you can seamlessly move a VM between different PowerVM instances

Pros

"PowerVM is perhaps the only virtualization platform that offers 99.999% availability."

Cons

"It is solely command-line based. "

What is our primary use case?

PowerVM is a specialized hypervisor designed for IBM PowerSystems, which are risk-based systems. In a typical business or CIS systems landscape, you might use VMware or Hyper-V, but for IBM PowerSystems, PowerVM is the only available hypervisor.

In IBM systems, there's a unique use case. Unlike standard Intel-based servers or other platforms where all cores are readily available, in IBM systems, you must procure licenses for both the cores and the core activation. 

PowerVM offers the additional functionality of moving these licenses along with the virtual machine (VM). This is where the mobility feature comes in – you can seamlessly move a VM between different PowerVM instances.

How has it helped my organization?

I use IBM PowerVM for our ERP, which runs group-wide systems. Several critical systems are running on top of PowerVM. The first benefit is workload consolidation—you can run a lot of workloads on a single server. Second, the platform is highly stable, leading to higher availability, scalability, and uptime. This has a direct, positive impact on the business.

*Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Read full review (728 words)
Desianto Abdillah - PeerSpot user
System Administrator at Japfa Comfeed Indonesia
Verified user of IBM PowerVM
Jun 17, 2024
A practical virtualization environment with a Live Partition Mobility feature that help us handle virtual adapters effectively

Pros

"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 during maintenance, significantly minimizing potential disruptions. "

Cons

"The pricing of the solution is on the higher side. "

What is our primary use case?

We utilize it mainly for RCM and virtualization. It aids us in our CRM and central operations and supports our CIOs and their operations, ensuring everything runs smoothly. We also support iOS and DevOps through PowerVM, managing all our virtual machines and utilization needs.

What is most valuable?

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.

*Disclosure: My company does not have a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer.
Read full review (327 words)
Sujeet-Kumar - PeerSpot user
Project Manager Cloud Infrastructure at Path Infotech ltd
Verified user of IBM PowerVM
Jan 22, 2024
Enables straightforward management over other operating systems but is expensive

Pros

"Managing other operating systems is also straightforward with IBM PowerVM."

Cons

"As understand it, IBM sells all its hardware to Lenovo, and only PCs servers are managed by IBM. It's uncertain how much longer IBM will continue in this way, especially with the current trend of transitioning from on-premises to cloud and hybrid models. The market is evolving. Given this market shift, it's essential to identify areas for improvement. IBM has introduced the PowerVM Series, including Linux, which is a positive step. However, customers are already moving towards x86 servers due to cost considerations. The cost of PowerVM compared to x86 servers appears to be a significant factor. "

What is our primary use case?

IBM PowerVM is a stable operating system, and we haven't experienced any performance impact in AIX. It is very reliable. Currently, the main purpose for using it is customer migration to Linux or server consolidation based on their requirements. The market is changing with more customers shifting towards Linux.

What is most valuable?

Managing other operating systems is also straightforward with IBM PowerVM.       

*Disclosure: My company has a business relationship with this vendor other than being a customer. MSP
Read full review (675 words)