IBM PowerVS vs. hosted Power cloud
Both get you off owned Power hardware. The difference is how much you operate yourself, PowerVS is self-run IaaS; hosted and managed Power hand more to a provider.
IBM Power Virtual Server (PowerVS) is IBM's own infrastructure-as-a-service for Power: IBM owns the hardware, you run the operating system, patching, and DR. A partner-hosted or managed Power cloud puts a specialist provider between you and the platform, in the fully managed tier, they run AIX/IBM i administration, backup, and DR for you. The right choice comes down to how much you want to operate.
Side by side
| Dimension | IBM PowerVS | Hosted / managed Power |
|---|---|---|
| Owns the hardware | IBM | Provider |
| Runs the OS | You | You or provider |
| Billing | Consumption | Contract + service |
| Operations burden | Higher (on you) | Lower |
| Disaster recovery | You design it | Often bundled |
| Best for | In-house Power admins | Lean teams |
Pros and cons
IBM PowerVS
Hosted / managed Power
How to choose
Choose PowerVS if you keep your own Power administrators and want IBM's cloud directly, with OpEx billing and the most control. Choose hosted or managed Power if your Power skills are thin or you'd rather hand operations, backup, and DR to a specialist. Many teams blend the two, self-run production on PowerVS with managed DR, for example. We'll model both against your team and budget.
Frequently asked questions
What is the core difference between PowerVS and hosted Power?
PowerVS is IBM's self-run infrastructure-as-a-service, you operate the OS, patching, and DR. Hosted and managed Power put a provider between you and the platform, who can run operations, backup, and DR on your behalf.
Which is cheaper, PowerVS or hosted Power?
It depends on your operations cost. PowerVS bills by consumption but you staff the operations; managed Power bundles operations into a service fee. The cheaper option turns on your team size and utilization, which is why we model both.
Can I use both PowerVS and hosted Power?
Yes. Hybrids are common, for example self-run production on PowerVS with managed DR, or different workloads placed on each model based on how much you want to operate.
Who handles disaster recovery in each model?
On PowerVS you design and run DR yourself. With managed Power, DR is often bundled into the contract, which is a major reason lean teams choose it.
How the PowerVS-vs-hosted decision resolves
The right model follows your team, not a brochure. Two representative outcomes.
Situation. A strong internal Power team wanting IBM's cloud directly and OpEx billing.
Approach. PowerVS for production, with DR designed in-house against modeled RTO/RPO.
Outcome. Maximum control retained, the hardware refresh cycle ended, and costs governed by the existing team.
Situation. A small team, scarce IBM i skills, and no desire to run DR.
Approach. Fully managed Power cloud with backup and DR bundled into the contract.
Outcome. Operations and resilience offloaded to the provider, predictable monthly cost, and no second site to build.
Representative scenarios reflect common IBM Power migration patterns and typical ranges, not specific named client engagements.
PowerVS or hosted Power: decide it yourself first
The right model comes down to how much you want to operate. Score your team against these before you ask anyone to quote.
Not sure which model fits?
We'll weigh PowerVS and hosted Power against your team, budget, and DR needs.
No obligation. A Foretel Power advisor responds within one business day.