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 Power L1122 shares its physical chassis and processor ceiling with the S1122, but carries different machine-type licensing (9856 instead of 9824) built around Linux and OpenShift workloads. IBM i and AIX remain available on the L-series but are capped at roughly a quarter of the system's activated cores, which is the key trade-off buyers need to understand before choosing L over S.
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 | -- |
| 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 |
Sources
- IBM L1122 9856-22H product listing — Midland Information Systems
- 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.