diff --git a/arch/powerpc/platforms/powernv/memtrace.c b/arch/powerpc/platforms/powernv/memtrace.c
index 248a38ad25c7..5d08db87091e 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/platforms/powernv/memtrace.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/platforms/powernv/memtrace.c
@@ -54,9 +54,9 @@ static const struct file_operations memtrace_fops = {
 	.open	= simple_open,
 };
 
-static int check_memblock_online(struct memory_block *mem, void *arg)
+static int check_memblock_boot_and_online(struct memory_block *mem, void *arg)
 {
-	if (mem->state != MEM_ONLINE)
+	if (mem->type != MEM_BLOCK_BOOT || mem->state != MEM_ONLINE)
 		return -1;
 
 	return 0;
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ static bool memtrace_offline_pages(u32 nid, u64 start_pfn, u64 nr_pages)
 	u64 end_pfn = start_pfn + nr_pages - 1;
 
 	if (walk_memory_range(start_pfn, end_pfn, NULL,
-	    check_memblock_online))
+	    check_memblock_boot_and_online))
 		return false;
 
 	walk_memory_range(start_pfn, end_pfn, (void *)MEM_GOING_OFFLINE,
@@ -233,7 +233,8 @@ static int memtrace_online(void)
 			ent->mem = 0;
 		}
 
-		if (add_memory(ent->nid, ent->start, ent->size)) {
+		if (add_memory(ent->nid, ent->start, ent->size,
+			       MEMORY_BLOCK_BOOT)) {
 			pr_err("Failed to add trace memory to node %d\n",
 				ent->nid);
 			ret += 1;
diff --git a/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/hotplug-memory.c b/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/hotplug-memory.c
index 2a983b5a52e1..5f91359c7993 100644
--- a/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/hotplug-memory.c
+++ b/arch/powerpc/platforms/pseries/hotplug-memory.c
@@ -651,7 +651,7 @@ static int dlpar_memory_remove_by_ic(u32 lmbs_to_remove, u32 drc_index)
 static int dlpar_add_lmb(struct drmem_lmb *lmb)
 {
 	unsigned long block_sz;
-	int nid, rc;
+	int nid, rc, type = MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM;
 
 	if (lmb->flags & DRCONF_MEM_ASSIGNED)
 		return -EINVAL;
@@ -667,8 +667,11 @@ static int dlpar_add_lmb(struct drmem_lmb *lmb)
 	/* Find the node id for this address */
 	nid = memory_add_physaddr_to_nid(lmb->base_addr);
 
+	if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MEMORY_HOTREMOVE))
+		type = MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM_UNREMOVABLE;
+
 	/* Add the memory */
-	rc = __add_memory(nid, lmb->base_addr, block_sz);
+	rc = __add_memory(nid, lmb->base_addr, block_sz, type);
 	if (rc) {
 		invalidate_lmb_associativity_index(lmb);
 		return rc;
diff --git a/drivers/acpi/acpi_memhotplug.c b/drivers/acpi/acpi_memhotplug.c
index 8fe0960ea572..f841113b450d 100644
--- a/drivers/acpi/acpi_memhotplug.c
+++ b/drivers/acpi/acpi_memhotplug.c
@@ -177,6 +177,13 @@ static unsigned long acpi_meminfo_end_pfn(struct acpi_memory_info *info)
 
 static int acpi_bind_memblk(struct memory_block *mem, void *arg)
 {
+	/* switch the type of memory block if this memory was already present */
+	if (mem->type == MEMORY_BLOCK_BOOT) {
+		if (IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MEMORY_HOTREMOVE))
+			mem->type = MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM;
+		else
+			mem->type = MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM_UNREMOVABLE;
+	}
 	return acpi_bind_one(&mem->dev, arg);
 }
 
@@ -191,6 +198,7 @@ static int acpi_bind_memory_blocks(struct acpi_memory_info *info,
 static int acpi_unbind_memblk(struct memory_block *mem, void *arg)
 {
 	acpi_unbind_one(&mem->dev);
+	mem->type = MEMORY_BLOCK_BOOT;
 	return 0;
 }
 
@@ -203,10 +211,13 @@ static void acpi_unbind_memory_blocks(struct acpi_memory_info *info)
 static int acpi_memory_enable_device(struct acpi_memory_device *mem_device)
 {
 	acpi_handle handle = mem_device->device->handle;
-	int result, num_enabled = 0;
+	int result, num_enabled = 0, type = MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM;
 	struct acpi_memory_info *info;
 	int node;
 
+	if (!IS_ENABLED(CONFIG_MEMORY_HOTREMOVE))
+		type = MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM_UNREMOVABLE;
+
 	node = acpi_get_node(handle);
 	/*
 	 * Tell the VM there is more memory here...
@@ -228,7 +239,8 @@ static int acpi_memory_enable_device(struct acpi_memory_device *mem_device)
 		if (node < 0)
 			node = memory_add_physaddr_to_nid(info->start_addr);
 
-		result = __add_memory(node, info->start_addr, info->length);
+		result = __add_memory(node, info->start_addr, info->length,
+				      type);
 
 		/*
 		 * If the memory block has been used by the kernel, add_memory()
diff --git a/drivers/base/memory.c b/drivers/base/memory.c
index c42300082c88..c5fdca7a3009 100644
--- a/drivers/base/memory.c
+++ b/drivers/base/memory.c
@@ -394,6 +394,21 @@ static ssize_t type_show(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 	case MEMORY_BLOCK_BOOT:
 		len = sprintf(buf, "boot\n");
 		break;
+	case MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM:
+		len = sprintf(buf, "dimm\n");
+		break;
+	case MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM_UNREMOVABLE:
+		len = sprintf(buf, "dimm-unremovable\n");
+		break;
+	case MEMORY_BLOCK_BALLOON:
+		len = sprintf(buf, "balloon\n");
+		break;
+	case MEMORY_BLOCK_BALLOON_MOVABLE:
+		len = sprintf(buf, "balloon-movable\n");
+		break;
+	case MEMORY_BLOCK_S390X_STANDBY:
+		len = sprintf(buf, "s390x-standby\n");
+		break;
 	default:
 		len = sprintf(buf, "ERROR-UNKNOWN-%ld\n",
 				mem->state);
@@ -538,7 +553,8 @@ memory_probe_store(struct device *dev, struct device_attribute *attr,
 
 	nid = memory_add_physaddr_to_nid(phys_addr);
 	ret = __add_memory(nid, phys_addr,
-			   MIN_MEMORY_BLOCK_SIZE * sections_per_block);
+			   MIN_MEMORY_BLOCK_SIZE * sections_per_block,
+			   MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM_UNREMOVABLE);
 
 	if (ret)
 		goto out;
diff --git a/drivers/hv/hv_balloon.c b/drivers/hv/hv_balloon.c
index 47719862e57f..f502ea6cd255 100644
--- a/drivers/hv/hv_balloon.c
+++ b/drivers/hv/hv_balloon.c
@@ -741,7 +741,8 @@ static void hv_mem_hot_add(unsigned long start, unsigned long size,
 
 		nid = memory_add_physaddr_to_nid(PFN_PHYS(start_pfn));
 		ret = add_memory(nid, PFN_PHYS((start_pfn)),
-				(HA_CHUNK << PAGE_SHIFT));
+				 (HA_CHUNK << PAGE_SHIFT),
+				 MEMORY_BLOCK_BALLOON);
 
 		if (ret) {
 			pr_err("hot_add memory failed error is %d\n", ret);
diff --git a/drivers/s390/char/sclp_cmd.c b/drivers/s390/char/sclp_cmd.c
index 37d42de06079..0ca6f77e7e1d 100644
--- a/drivers/s390/char/sclp_cmd.c
+++ b/drivers/s390/char/sclp_cmd.c
@@ -406,7 +406,8 @@ static void __init add_memory_merged(u16 rn)
 	if (!size)
 		goto skip_add;
 	for (addr = start; addr < start + size; addr += block_size)
-		add_memory(numa_pfn_to_nid(PFN_DOWN(addr)), addr, block_size);
+		add_memory(numa_pfn_to_nid(PFN_DOWN(addr)), addr, block_size,
+			   MEMORY_BLOCK_S390X_STANDBY);
 skip_add:
 	first_rn = rn;
 	num = 1;
diff --git a/drivers/xen/balloon.c b/drivers/xen/balloon.c
index 5d2d7a917b4e..953ff86d609b 100644
--- a/drivers/xen/balloon.c
+++ b/drivers/xen/balloon.c
@@ -352,7 +352,7 @@ static enum bp_state reserve_additional_memory(void)
 	mutex_unlock(&balloon_mutex);
 	/* add_memory_resource() requires the device_hotplug lock */
 	lock_device_hotplug();
-	rc = add_memory_resource(nid, resource);
+	rc = add_memory_resource(nid, resource, MEMORY_BLOCK_BALLOON);
 	unlock_device_hotplug();
 	mutex_lock(&balloon_mutex);
 
diff --git a/include/linux/memory.h b/include/linux/memory.h
index 9f39ef41e6d2..a3a1e9764805 100644
--- a/include/linux/memory.h
+++ b/include/linux/memory.h
@@ -59,12 +59,57 @@ int set_memory_block_size_order(unsigned int order);
  *  specific device driver takes care of this memory block. This memory
  *  block type is onlined automatically by the kernel during boot and might
  *  later be managed by a different device driver, in which case the type
- *  might change.
+ *  might change (e.g. to MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM).
+ *
+ * MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM:
+ *  This memory block is managed by a device driver taking care of DIMMs
+ *  (or similar). Once all memory blocks belonging to the DIMM have been
+ *  offlined, the DIMM along with the memory blocks can be removed to
+ *  effectively unplug it. This memory block type is usually onlined to the
+ *  MOVABLE zone, to make offlining and unplug possible. Examples include
+ *  ACPI DIMMs and PPC LMBs if the kernel supports removal of memory.
+ *
+ * MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM_UNREMOVABLE:
+ *  This memory block is managed by a device driver taking care of DIMMs
+ *  (or similar). There is either no HW interface to remove the DIMM or
+ *  the kernel does not support offlining/removal of memory, so this memory
+ *  block can never be removed. Examples include ACPI DIMMs and PPC LMBs
+ *  when removal of memory is not supported by the kernel, as well as
+ *  memory probed manually from user space.
+ *  This memory block type is usually onlined to the NORMAL zone.
+ *
+ * MEMORY_BLOCK_BALLOON:
+ *  This memory block was added by a balloon device driver (or similar)
+ *  that does not require a specific zone for optimal operation
+ *  (e.g. unplug memory using balloon inflation on this memory block on
+ *  page granularity). Examples include memory added by the XEN and Hyper-V
+ *  balloon driver.
+ *  This memory block type is usually onlined to the NORMAL zone.
+ *
+ * MEMORY_BLOCK_BALLOON_MOVABLE:
+ *  This memory block was added by a balloon device driver (or similar)
+ *  that suggests to online this memory block to the MOVABLE zone for
+ *  optimal operation (a.g. unplug using balloon inflation on this memory
+ *  block in bigger chunks than pages). There are no examples yet.
+ *  This memory block type is usually onlined to the MOVABLE zone.
+ *
+ * MEMORY_BLOCK_S390X_STANDBY:
+ *  The memory block is special standby memory on s390x. As long as
+ *  offline, no memory will be allocated to the system for this memory
+ *  block. Onlining memory will result in memory getting allocated to the
+ *  system and memory can usually not be offlined again. The memory block
+ *  will never be removed. This memory type is usually not onlined
+ *  automatically but explicitly by the administrator.
  */
 enum {
 	MEMORY_BLOCK_NONE = 0,
 	MEMORY_BLOCK_UNSPECIFIED,
 	MEMORY_BLOCK_BOOT,
+	MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM,
+	MEMORY_BLOCK_DIMM_UNREMOVABLE,
+	MEMORY_BLOCK_BALLOON,
+	MEMORY_BLOCK_BALLOON_MOVABLE,
+	MEMORY_BLOCK_S390X_STANDBY,
 };
 
 /* These states are exposed to userspace as text strings in sysfs */
diff --git a/include/linux/memory_hotplug.h b/include/linux/memory_hotplug.h
index 667a37aa9a3c..7c8895299e8c 100644
--- a/include/linux/memory_hotplug.h
+++ b/include/linux/memory_hotplug.h
@@ -326,9 +326,9 @@ static inline void __remove_memory(int nid, u64 start, u64 size) {}
 extern void __ref free_area_init_core_hotplug(int nid);
 extern int walk_memory_range(unsigned long start_pfn, unsigned long end_pfn,
 		void *arg, int (*func)(struct memory_block *, void *));
-extern int __add_memory(int nid, u64 start, u64 size);
-extern int add_memory(int nid, u64 start, u64 size);
-extern int add_memory_resource(int nid, struct resource *resource);
+extern int __add_memory(int nid, u64 start, u64 size, int type);
+extern int add_memory(int nid, u64 start, u64 size, int type);
+extern int add_memory_resource(int nid, struct resource *resource, int type);
 extern int arch_add_memory(int nid, u64 start, u64 size,
 			   struct vmem_altmap *altmap, int type);
 extern void move_pfn_range_to_zone(struct zone *zone, unsigned long start_pfn,
diff --git a/mm/memory_hotplug.c b/mm/memory_hotplug.c
index 7246faa44488..f109002d6e6e 100644
--- a/mm/memory_hotplug.c
+++ b/mm/memory_hotplug.c
@@ -1071,7 +1071,7 @@ static int online_memory_block(struct memory_block *mem, void *arg)
  *
  * we are OK calling __meminit stuff here - we have CONFIG_MEMORY_HOTPLUG
  */
-int __ref add_memory_resource(int nid, struct resource *res)
+int __ref add_memory_resource(int nid, struct resource *res, int type)
 {
 	u64 start, size;
 	bool new_node = false;
@@ -1080,6 +1080,9 @@ int __ref add_memory_resource(int nid, struct resource *res)
 	start = res->start;
 	size = resource_size(res);
 
+	if (type == MEMORY_BLOCK_NONE)
+		return -EINVAL;
+
 	ret = check_hotplug_memory_range(start, size);
 	if (ret)
 		return ret;
@@ -1100,7 +1103,7 @@ int __ref add_memory_resource(int nid, struct resource *res)
 	new_node = ret;
 
 	/* call arch's memory hotadd */
-	ret = arch_add_memory(nid, start, size, NULL, MEMORY_TYPE_UNSPECIFIED);
+	ret = arch_add_memory(nid, start, size, NULL, type);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		goto error;
 
@@ -1141,7 +1144,7 @@ int __ref add_memory_resource(int nid, struct resource *res)
 }
 
 /* requires device_hotplug_lock, see add_memory_resource() */
-int __ref __add_memory(int nid, u64 start, u64 size)
+int __ref __add_memory(int nid, u64 start, u64 size, int type)
 {
 	struct resource *res;
 	int ret;
@@ -1150,18 +1153,18 @@ int __ref __add_memory(int nid, u64 start, u64 size)
 	if (IS_ERR(res))
 		return PTR_ERR(res);
 
-	ret = add_memory_resource(nid, res);
+	ret = add_memory_resource(nid, res, type);
 	if (ret < 0)
 		release_memory_resource(res);
 	return ret;
 }
 
-int add_memory(int nid, u64 start, u64 size)
+int add_memory(int nid, u64 start, u64 size, int type)
 {
 	int rc;
 
 	lock_device_hotplug();
-	rc = __add_memory(nid, start, size);
+	rc = __add_memory(nid, start, size, type);
 	unlock_device_hotplug();
 
 	return rc;
