Abstract: Configuring processors in a target system includes' prompting a user to select workload units to use in the configuration, prompting the user to input a quantity of processing power required in terms of partition workload capacity required, obtaining a system work capacity for the target system in the appropriate units from a look-up table, and calculating the number of partition processors. The number of partition processors equals the total number of system processors, times the partition workload capacity divided by the system work capacity. The calculated number of partition processors is tested to see if it is within a predetermined percentage of the next full processor increment. If within the predetermined percentage, then using dedicated processors is recommended, otherwise using shared processors is recommended. The calculated number of partition processors and the recommended use of shared or dedicated processors is displayed to the user for validation or changing of the values.