IBM Power L1122 (9856-22H)
The Linux-optimized sibling of the S1122: a dual-socket 2U server with the same hardware ceiling but licensed for Linux-first environments, with limited AIX/IBM i core use.
The 9856-22H is the machine type of the IBM Power L1122, the Linux-first member of the Power 11 2U scale-out line. It is the same silicon, the same chassis and the same core counts as the 9824-22A S1122. What differs is not the hardware, it is what IBM expects you to run on it and how the licensing is positioned.
The L-series exists because Linux on Power buyers were paying for a licensing posture built around IBM i. If your estate is Linux, the 9856-22H is the correct machine type and the price reflects that. If IBM i is a meaningful share of the workload, the S1122 at 9824-22A is the machine you actually want, however attractive the L1122 hardware price looks on a quote.
L1122 at a glance
Processor options
L1122 processor feature codes
| Feature Code | Cores | Clock Speed | CPW |
|---|---|---|---|
| ERGF | 16-core | 3.0-4.2 GHz | 236,400 |
| ERGG | 24-core | 2.65-4.15 GHz | Not published |
| ERGH | 30-core | 2.4-3.95 GHz | 124,400 |
| ERGF | 32-core | 3.0-4.2 GHz | 124,400 |
| ERGG | 48-core | 2.65-4.15 GHz | 124,400 |
| ERGH | 60-core | 2.4-3.95 GHz | 124,400 |
IBM i and AIX partitions on the L1122 can only consume up to 25% of total activated cores, and IBM i must run behind VIOS as a secondary OS rather than the primary workload. If your workload is IBM i or AIX-primary, the S1122 is almost always the correct model instead.
L1122 vs S1122
Choosing between L1122 and S1122
| Factor | L1122 | S1122 |
|---|---|---|
| Primary OS target | Linux, Red Hat OpenShift | IBM i, AIX, Linux (balanced) |
| IBM i / AIX core limit | Up to 25% of activated cores | No special limit |
| Typical use case | Open-source databases, containers, edge OpenShift | IBM i ERP, AIX enterprise apps, mixed workloads |
| Hardware ceiling | Identical: 60 cores, 4 TB memory | Identical: 60 cores, 4 TB memory |
IBM 9856-22H datasheet
IBM Power L1122 (9856-22H) published specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| Machine type-model | 9856-22H |
| Generation | IBM Power 11 |
| Sockets | 2 |
| Maximum cores | 60 in a dual-socket build |
| Memory | 64 GB to 4 TB DDR5 across 32 DDIMM slots |
| Internal storage | 122.4 TB NVMe (8x 15.3 TB) or 51.2 TB (8x 6.4 TB) |
| PCIe | 4 direct slots, Gen4 x16 or Gen5 x8 mix |
| I/O expansion | 1 NED24 NVMe drawer and 1 Gen4 I/O drawer (24 slots) |
| Total CPW | 990,400 total, 15,475 CPW per core |
| Maximum CPW per LPAR | 61,900, with a 4-core maximum LPAR size |
| Positioning | Linux-first |
| Software tier | P10 |
Figures are the published maximums for this machine type. A specific installed system is defined by its processor feature code and activated core count, not by the machine type alone.
How to confirm you have a 9856-22H
From IBM i
DSPSYSVAL QMODEL returns the model portion and DSPSYSVAL QPRCFEAT returns the processor feature code. Together those two values identify a 9856-22H build exactly, which is more than the L1122 name alone tells a vendor.
From AIX, Linux or VIOS
lsconf reports the machine type and model on the first lines of output. prtconf gives the same alongside processor implementation and clock speed.
From the HMC
Managed system properties shows the machine type-model and serial together, plus installed against activated cores. This is the view to screenshot when requesting a quote.
From the bezel
A 9856 prefix marks the Linux-focused L-series. The visually identical S1122 carries a 9824 prefix, and the two are separate machine types in every parts and support lookup.
Next steps for a 9856-22H
Feature codes are compared against the S-series equivalents on the Power 11 CPU page, with the full listing at IBM Power L1122. If IBM i turns out to be more of the workload than expected, compare against the 9824-22A S1122 before ordering.
Sources
- IBM Power 11 Scale-Out Servers Redbook ... IBM Redbooks
Reference Documents
Related
IBM Power S1122 (9824-22A)
A dense, dual-socket 2U scale-out server offering up to 60 Power 11 cores and 4 TB of DDR5 memory, IBM's mainstream choice for growing IBM i, AIX, and Linux environments.
IBM Power L1124 (9856-42H)
The Linux-optimized sibling of the S1124: a high-throughput scale-out server for open-source databases and Red Hat OpenShift, with the same DCM processor ceiling as the S1124.
IBM Power S1112 (9242-21B / 9242-21T)
The entry point into the IBM Power 11 generation: a single-socket, half-width 2U rack or tower system built for branch, edge, and smaller IBM i, AIX, and Linux deployments.
IBM Power S1124 (9824-42A)
A quad-socket-capable, high-performance 4U scale-out server offering up to 60 Power 11 cores and 8 TB of DDR5 memory, built for enterprises and regional data centers.
Related Reading
PowerVM and VIOS on Power 11: What You Need to Know Before Migrating
PowerVM and VIOS underlie every Power 11 partitioning design. Here is what changed, what stayed the same, and what to check before migrating existing partitions.
IBM i Licensing and Software Tiers on Power 11: P05, P10, P20, P30 Explained
IBM i software cost on Power 11 is set by the processor feature code's software tier, not the model name. Here is how P05 through P30 map across every current model.
Frequently Asked
What are the IBM Power 11 model numbers?
There are seven current IBM Power 11 models: the entry S1112 (machine type 9242-21B rack, 9242-21T tower), the scale-out S1122 (9824-22A) and S1124 (9824-42A), the Linux-optimized L1122 (9856-22H) and L1124 (9856-42H), and the enterprise scale-up E1150 (9043-MRU) and flagship E1180 (9080-HEU). See our full Power 11 model directory for structured specs on each.
What is the difference between S-series and L-series Power 11 models?
S-series (S1112, S1122, S1124) and L-series (L1122, L1124) models share nearly identical hardware, but carry different machine-type licensing. L-series machines are Linux and Red Hat OpenShift-first, with IBM i and AIX capped at roughly 25% of activated cores. If your workload is primarily IBM i or AIX, choose the equivalent S-series model instead.
Can IBM i run on the Power L1122 or L1124?
Yes, but only on up to roughly 25% of the system's total activated cores ... the L-series machine-type licensing is built around Linux and OpenShift as the primary workload. If IBM i is your primary or majority workload, the equivalent S1122 or S1124 is almost always the better fit.