Linux on Power cloud options
Unlike AIX and IBM i, Linux on Power is portable. You can keep it on cloud Power next to your other Power workloads, or move it to x86 and the hyperscalers.
Linux on Power is the flexible member of the Power family. Because Linux runs on both Power and x86, you are not locked to Power hardware the way AIX and IBM i are. That makes the decision less about feasibility and more about consolidation strategy: keep Linux on Power to sit beside your AIX and IBM i estate, or move it to x86 and the hyperscalers like any other Linux workload.
Your two broad options
Stay on cloud Power
Replatform to x86 / hyperscaler
How to decide
- How much Linux on Power you actually run today
- Whether it integrates tightly with your AIX and IBM i systems
- The cost of Power vs x86 for your specific workload profile
- The skills and tooling your team already has
Frequently asked questions
Is Linux on Power locked to Power hardware?
No. Unlike AIX and IBM i, Linux runs on both Power and x86, so you can keep it on cloud Power or replatform it to x86 and the hyperscalers. The decision is about strategy, not feasibility.
Should I keep Linux on Power or move it to x86?
It depends on how tightly it integrates with your AIX and IBM i systems, your cost profile, and your team's skills. Staying on Power simplifies operations; x86 opens the full cloud-native market.
How hard is it to move Linux from Power to x86?
It's a real migration with testing per workload, but far simpler than an AIX or IBM i move, because the operating system itself is portable, you're not rewriting the platform underneath.
Where can Linux on Power run in the cloud?
On IBM PowerVS, Skytap, or a hosted/managed Power cloud if you keep it on Power, or on any hyperscaler if you replatform it to x86 Linux.
How Linux on Power decisions resolve
Because Linux on Power is portable, the answer is about strategy, not feasibility. Two representative paths.
Situation. Linux on Power9 running beside an AIX core the business is keeping on Power.
Approach. Keep Linux on cloud Power so both tiers share one platform, region, and operating model.
Outcome. A single Power footprint in the cloud, with lower operational overhead than splitting across two platforms.
Situation. Linux on Power with most tooling and staff oriented around x86.
Approach. Replatform the Linux tier to x86 / cloud-native, leaving no Power dependency behind.
Outcome. Consolidated onto one mainstream stack, with the trade-offs weighed openly rather than assumed.
Representative scenarios reflect common IBM Power migration patterns and typical ranges, not specific named client engagements.
Stay or move: a Linux on Power checklist
Linux on Power is the portable one, so the decision is strategy and cost, not feasibility. These questions point you toward staying on Power or replatforming to x86.
Place your Linux on Power workloads right
We'll weigh staying on cloud Power against an x86 move on cost, integration, and skills.
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