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Market Roundup October 27, 2006 Making It Mainstream: Dell Adopts Opteron Acopia Promotes Tier Zero Storage |
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Making It Mainstream: Dell Adopts Opteron
Dell has announced two
new PowerEdge servers that feature AMD Opteron processors: the PowerEdge 6950
and PowerEdge SC1435. The Dell PowerEdge 6950 is a four-socket server designed
for demanding enterprise applications such as database, server consolidation,
and virtualization, as well as migration efforts from legacy RISC-based
systems. The PowerEdge SC1435 is a two-socket, rack-dense server optimized for
high-performance compute clusters, distributed Web serving, and SMBs. Both
servers feature PowerEdge enhancements including: SAS (Serial Attached SCSI)
hard drives for fast, reliable data transmission with less thermal output; a
TCP/IP Offload Engine to help reduce traffic on host processors; enhanced
virtualization technology for improved performance, management and utilization
in virtualized workloads; and PCI-Express I/O for high-performance Ethernet,
RAID, InfiniBand, and Fibre Channel interconnects. In addition, Dell and Oracle
have integrated Dell OpenManage and Oracle Enterprise Manager to provide for
simplified management of the Oracle application infrastructure through the
ability to manage Dell PowerEdge servers within a single management console
that is familiar to Oracle database administrators. This integration includes
support for lifecycle management of Dell PowerEdge servers through features
such as system discovery, reporting, and configuration; managing server
hardware health; cross-platform system event notification; and event-driven
policy execution. The PowerEdge 6950 and PowerEdge SC1435 with dual-core,
next-generation AMD Opteron processors are priced from $6,499 and $1,299
respectively and are now available worldwide.
During the past couple
of years, AMD has managed to challenge the perception of being the little guy
in the world of x86-based processors. The release of the Opteron brought x86-compatible
64-bit computing to the marketplace long before industry leader Intel deigned
to do so. Despite the notable reluctance of many ISVs and systems vendors to
give the burgeoning Opteron its due, The Not So Little Processor That Could has
managed to force Intel to scurry to market with 64-bit Xeon EMT, IBM to truly
embrace the processor within its System x family, and others to take the
Opteron seriously. The announcement that Dell has jumped on the Opteron
bandwagon illustrates that AMD has done what others thought unlikely and has
broken out of the artificial Opteron pigeonhole so many tried to force this
chip into. From a technological innovation viewpoint, Dell is one of the most trailing
companies in the marketplace. Dell’s margin-driven direct sales approach leaves
little room for the risk inherent in unproven leading edge technologies; thus
the company almost never embraces the latest and greatest, but rather waits
until others have worked the kinks out of new technology and then enters the
marketplace en masse. This is what we are seeing happen with this announcement.
Dell’s decision to
embrace Opteron gives customers with an aversion to risk clear guidance that
AMD-based servers are safe to deploy. While it is said that no one is ever
fired for buying IBM, it is rare that anyone is chastised for spending too much
acquiring a Dell solution. With its legions of customers and an important place
in the pocketbooks of SMBs, Dell is in a good position to sell AMD-based
solutions into these organizations where others may have not been able. Given Opteron’s penchant for energy efficiency, Dell can also
ride the green bandwagon by promoting its up to 20% reduction in energy
consumption while delivering more than double the performance per watt of its
past servers. Nevertheless, most SMBs are not in the business of buying
technology; rather they are buying solutions to business problems. Any further
significant inroads that Opteron will make in this market will be dependent of
the availability of business solutions, i.e., ISV software targeted to various
organizations’ needs. Although some more pioneering ISVs have been creating
64-bit versions of their applications, the blessing from Dell on Opteron should
help more application providers make the choice to take advantage of AMD’s
64-bit solution.
Overall, we believe that AMD has successfully overcome the initial marketplace resistance to its 64-bit processor and has made it to the mainstream of server computing. Although this does not spell imminent doom for Intel’s position, we believe it does show that the marketplace has spoken loud enough for those who eschew the leading edge for the comfort of tried, tested, and true to step up and embrace Opteron as a viable server solution for masses.
Acopia Promotes Tier Zero Storage
This week Acopia
Networks announced a file virtualization solution that automatically places
specified file sets on a pool of high-performance storage devices using its
Acopia Adaptive Resource Switches (ARX) intelligent file virtualization system.
The storage devices utilized serve file sets at memory speeds to deliver very
high performance. Acopia is, among others, tentatively identifying such high-performance
storage pools as Tier Zero storage. ARX are typically
deployed to front-end file server platforms, more often than not NAS devices,
to build a virtualization layer between applications and storage platforms.
Acopia’s switches employ a patented architecture with dedicated memory and
processing resources handling three independent functions: packet processing,
virtualization policy, and system management. Each processing plane (data path,
control path, and management path) can then support high workloads with little
if any impact on other functions and without introducing significant latency.
In this way it becomes possible to separate the physical storage infrastructure
from a more flexible logical mapping of information resources with ARX switches
adding sophisticated data management, data migration, replication, and load-balancing
capabilities. Organizations using ARX switches can then administer their file
server infrastructure flexibly and cost effectively in line with business
driven service level objectives.
In laboratory tests
Acopia has used very simple storage to provide the Tier Zero platform. Rather
than purchase one of the very high-capacity, very high-speed and high-cost
storage platforms now available from specialist suppliers the company created a
Tier Zero storage pool using a standard server running dual Intel processors
configured with 32GB of memory. Tests using this solution indicate that some
applications can have performance increased by up to thirty times versus using
an NAS platform to host the files.
Clearly Tier Zero
storage will not be appropriate, nor affordable, for
every file set but may well suit certain business requirements where very fast
access to specific data sets provides real business advantage. Indeed, recent
months have witnessed a renaissance of very high-performance storage solutions.
This is indicative of both a maturing in storage platforms and, more
importantly, organizations beginning to identify areas of business that can utilize
storage solutions that supply tiered performance characteristics.
When considering tiered storage it is essential that clearly defined objectives and data sets are identified. Attempting to implement a tiered solution covering the entire storage infrastructure in one step is not a good way to move. “Boil the ocean” projects usually just succeed in creating large, stormy rain clouds from which few benefits are delivered but from which everyone gets very wet. Creating and operating tiered storage systems is now achievable at a technological level with the requisite management tools being available. All that is required is to identify which data sets will benefit from such an approach. This will consume time and resources but it can be very beneficial.
Intel Endorses the Latest Energy Star Spec
Intel has announced its
support for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) newly announced
ENERGY STAR computer specifications. The company plans to deliver processors,
including its new Core2 Duo, and other system components that will help enable
PC and laptop suppliers to deliver ENERGY STAR qualified systems when these new
specifications go into effect in mid-2007. Intel will work jointly with the EPA
to provide energy efficiency design expertise to smaller system vendors and channel
partners to help enable their offerings to meet the specifications. This effort
will culminate with publishing a white paper detailing a “recipe” system
vendors can follow to ensure their products will qualify under the new
specification. The newly published Version 4.0 Tier 1 specification for
computers will go into effect on July 20, 2007 and will replace the Version
3.0, Tier 2 specification that has been in effect since July 2000. The new
version is intended to continue to differentiate the market for
energy-efficient computers and accelerate the market penetration of
energy-efficient technologies.
After spending the last
few years boggling the minds of the marketplace with ever-increasing
price/performance figures, Intel must have grown tired of all that advertising
from AMD about energy efficiency. While Intel has been actively involved with
ENERGY STAR related matters for more than a decade, recently it has not been a
mainstay of the company’s advertising and other messages to the market. Clearly,
Intel’s reading of the marketplace tea leaves suggest that now is a good time
to talk the green story once again. While AMD has been busy making noise about
energy savings, Intel did release the Xeon 5100 series chip a few months back
with energy efficiency as one of its main selling points. Although energy
prices have backed down somewhat from their recent highs, there are few market-priced
economies where energy is inexpensive. Combined with the physical limitations
that many data centers are facing with respect to energy and cooling supplies,
the market remains ripe for energy efficiency focused discussions.
While servers suck considerable
juice, desktops are big consumers as well, especially with the typical
utilization rates achieved on this platform. By continuing to invest in
reducing power consumption at the desktop and the data centers, organizations
win on several fronts. Not only is power consumed by the computer reduced, so
are environmental factors such as HVAC, air quality, and ambient noise levels.
Additionally, many of the newer and more energy-efficient display technologies
are less burdensome on the eyes. Organizations should reap these benefits as
they refresh their technology over its lifecycle, and in some cases, the
savings might encourage earlier refresh of equipment that may still be
functional, but less efficient. If power utilities would to embrace power
savings programs for computer technologies, like many do with older household
appliances, lighting, heating, and cooling equipment, the economic value of
ENERGY STAR V 4.0 would be bolstered even further.
Of course, one unintended consequence we must be aware of is that decommissioning of older technology, especially monitors, but motherboards and power supplies as well, must be undertaken in an ecologically friendly fashion. If not, then the energy savings from upgrading will be offset or worse by toxic environmental hazards. While some markets such as California and certain EU countries already mandate responsible disposal of used gear, such is not yet the norm everywhere. Nevertheless, we are pleased to see that Intel has again raised the issue of energy efficiency to the forefront and is poised to work with its partners to help spread the word, but more importantly to assist in making compliance with the new specifications the norm, not the exception.
Itheon Networks Opens U.S.
Office
Itheon Networks, a
networked applications performance monitoring and testing company based in
Welwyn Garden City just north of London, has announced that it has opened a new
office in Reno, NV to meet strong demand for its performance monitoring and
testing tools. The new office will focus on supporting corporate customers and
users throughout the Americas. New sales in Itheon Network solutions in 2005–2006
were up by more than 80% over 2004–2005, including wins with several
prestigious U.S. organizations in the financial, defense, and hi-tech sectors.
The company indicated that the growth in its North American user community,
together with the increased demand for affordable Network and Applications
Performance Management systems across industry sectors, led the firm to start
up direct operations in the U.S.
It is very common
for software companies based in the U.S. to expand into Europe, often taking
the UK as their EMEA launch point. It is not so often that one hears of a
software house reversing the trend, especially one focused in the areas of
network applications performance monitoring, testing, and management. Itheon
supplies a range of software solutions providing Storage Utility Billing
Management and Automated Availability Management, but the company is best known
for its Application and Network Performance tools. At the heart of these
offerings are the Itheon Portable Network Consultant (PNC) and Itheon QoS
(Quality of Service). PNC is a non-intrusive technology based on a Laptop PC
that captures analyses and displays data to provide network profiling
information. PNC is connected to any network segment (10/100/1000) and utilizes
Itheon’s flow-based monitoring software to rapidly deliver key network activity
data in organized, easy-to-understand views. Itheon QoS measures, in a
non-intrusive fashion, the time taken to be completed by Business Service
transactions. The company also supplies Itheon Network Emulator that allows organizations
to model conditions likely to be encountered in an application rollout thereby
reducing the potential for failure through network service problems when
applications are released in production networks.
There is a growing
recognition of the need to establish the true level of service that is being
experienced by users of live production systems. There is a demand from
business users to establish that appropriate levels of service are being
delivered to users by their IT service providers, be they Internal IS
departments or external suppliers. With more IT systems now being centralized
the need has never been greater to ensure that services being delivered over
increasingly complex networks are meeting ever tighter quality of service
demands.
In addition, it should be recognized that accurate information on application service quality could also play a key role in establishing good systems management. Accurate, timely, and granular service quality information can also help speed the resolution of service problems as they arise and, potentially, before they cause service levels to degrade below acceptable levels. There is no doubt that the use of application availability information and the deployment of good application availability management tools will grow. It will be fascinating to see how quickly Itheon can establish its North American office and to note the reaction of the company’s competition, both real and perceived, to the establishment of a European systems management vendor on the continent.