IBM Power 11 Machine Types
Every IBM Power 11 machine type-model number in one place: 9242-21B, 9242-21T, 9824-22A, 9824-42A, 9856-22H, 9856-42H, 9043-MRU and 9080-HEU, with the model each one identifies.
IBM identifies a machine by its machine type-model, not by its marketing name. The S1124 is a 9824-42A. Quotes, support contracts, parts lookups, firmware levels and service entitlement all key on that number, and the marketing name is frequently ambiguous where the MTM never is. This page maps every Power 11 machine type to what it actually is.
Power 11 machine types
| Machine type | Model | Sockets | Max cores | Max memory | Software tier |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 9242-21B / 21T | IBM Power S1112 | 1 | 10 | 512 GB | P05 or P10 |
| 9824-22A | IBM Power S1122 | 1 or 2 | 60 | 4 TB | P10 |
| 9824-42A | IBM Power S1124 | Up to 4 | 60 | 8 TB | P20 or P30 |
| 9856-22H | IBM Power L1122 | 2 | 60 | 4 TB | P10, Linux-first |
| 9856-42H | IBM Power L1124 | 2 | 60 | 8 TB | Linux-first, IBM i capped at 25 percent of cores |
| 9043-MRU | IBM Power E1150 | 1 to 4 per node | 120 | 16 TB per node | AIX and Linux only |
| 9080-HEU | IBM Power E1180 | 4 per node, to 16 | 256 | 64 TB | IBM i, AIX, Linux |
The 9242-21B and 9242-21T are the rack and tower forms of the same machine. They are separate machine types and are not interchangeable in a parts lookup.
Machine type pages
9242-21B / 9242-21T
The compact single-socket S1112, added to the line in July 2026. The only Power 11 configuration that reaches software tier P05.
9824-22A
The two-socket 2U S1122. The widest processor range of any Power 11 machine type, 4 to 60 cores, all at a flat P10 tier.
9824-42A
The 4U S1124. Highest CPW per core in the scale-out line, and the one machine type where the processor feature moves the software tier.
9856-22H
The Linux-first L1122. Same silicon as the S1122 with a different licensing posture and a 4-core maximum LPAR size.
9856-42H
The Linux-first L1124. Matches the S1124 on hardware, caps IBM i and AIX at 25 percent of activated cores.
9043-MRU
The four-socket E1150 enterprise system, 120 cores and 16 TB per node. Does not support IBM i.
9080-HEU
The flagship E1180. Up to four nodes, sixteen sockets, 256 cores, 64 TB and the highest clock in the line at 4.4 GHz.
Why the prefix alone is not enough
Machine type prefixes are reused across generations, and that is where parts and support lookups go wrong. A 9080 prefix is a Power 9 E980 (9080-M9S), a Power 10 E1080 (9080-HEX) or a Power 11 E1180 (9080-HEU) depending entirely on the suffix. A 9043 prefix is a Power 10 E1050 (9043-MRX) or a Power 11 E1150 (9043-MRU). Always read and quote the full machine type-model.
The machine type tells you what the chassis is. It does not tell you what is in it. The processor feature code and the activated core count define an installed system, and two machines sharing a machine type can differ by a factor of fifteen in throughput and by a full software tier.
Where to go next
For the processor feature codes behind every machine type, see the Power 11 CPU page. For configuration ceilings, the Power 11 specs page. For what drives cost, Power 11 pricing. Each model also has a full directory entry with per-feature CPW and rPerf detail: all Power 11 models. The term itself is defined at machine type-model.