IBM Power Architecture: Processors, Software and System Compatibility
Yenra | Updated September 17, 2026
Article: https://yenra.com/power-chips/

Purpose: Establish whether a specific Power system can run and support a specific application. Fill every layer; record unknowns rather than inferring compatibility from the family name.
Source / target system models and processor generations:
Firmware / hypervisor / partition settings:
Configured and effective processor compatibility mode, if applicable:
Required ISA features and evidence:
OS product / release / updates / support-map URL and check date:
Application package version and delivery form (source, binary, VM image):
ABI / byte order / compiler target:
Native libraries, plug-ins and device dependencies:
Supported combination evidence and exclusions:

Acceptance workload, input and expected output:
Correctness result / duration / resource allocation:
Recovery or rollback test:
Unconfirmed dependency / owner / next action:
Future update and rebuild owner:


SOURCE REFERENCES
OpenPOWER Power ISA specification
https://openpower.foundation/specifications/isa/
Power Architecture Platform Reference
https://openpower.foundation/specifications/papr/
processor compatibility modes in its POWER7-era partition-mobility documentation
https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/power7/9119-FHB?topic=opm-processor-compatibility-modes
IBM Power Virtual Server’s operating-system support page
https://cloud.ibm.com/docs/power-iaas?topic=power-iaas-operating-systems-powervs