Posts tagged with AMD-V
Simply Spectacular Virtualization with 4P Six-Core AMD Opteron™ Processor-based Systems
Posted by Margaret Lewis in 4:40 PM
Loading ...When I was attending VMworld in September, one of the most frequently asked question was “how do I decide whether to use 2P Intel Xeon 5500 processor-based servers or 4P Six-Core AMD OpteronTM processor-based servers for virtualization?” Over the past few weeks I have done a lot of research and put together a solid picture of where a 4P server can provide an amazing amount of value and efficiency.
Low and behold – I was not the only person working on this thought thread. We recently sent Johan De Gelas with AnandTech a 4P Six-Core AMD Opteron processor-based system. And in his review, “Expensive Quad Sockets vs. Ubiquitous Dual Sockets,” Johan focuses on some interesting points on the same topic (which my colleague John Fruehe discusses on the @Work blog as well). While he compares a number of workloads on 2P servers versus 4P servers- my interest was drawn to the section where Johan discusses one of my most favorite topics – virtualization (surprise, surprise).
In my research I have been taking a look at the pricing of 2P and 4P servers with larger memory configurations. Here is a snapshot of system costs using processors with similar specifications. Note how steeply the system price climbs for the 2P servers as the memory configurations grow.
| HP ProLiant DL385 G6 Server | HP ProLiant DL380 G6 Server | HP ProLiant DL585 G6 Server |
| 2 Six-Core AMD OpteronTM Processors Model 2431 (”Istanbul”), 2.4GHz, 75W ACP | 2 Quad-Core Intel® Xeon® Processor Model E5530 (”Gainestown”), 2.40GHz, 80W TDP | 4 Six-Core AMD OpteronTM Processors Model 2431 (”Istanbul”), 2.4GHz, 75W ACP |
| 64GB REG PC2-6400 16×4GB Dual Rank Memory | 64GB PC3-10600R 16×4GB 2Rank Memory |
64GB REG PC2-6400 16×4GB Dual Rank Memory |
|
$5,560.00 |
$7,272.00 |
$16,120.00 |
| 96GB Reg PC2-5300 12×8GB Memory | 96GB PC3-8500R 12×8GB 2Rank Memory |
96GB REG PC2-6400 24×4GB Dual Rank Memory |
|
$14,282.00 |
$15,922.00 |
$17,156.00 |
| 128GB Reg PC2-5300 16×8GB Memory | 128GB PC3-10600R 16×8GB 2Rank Memory | 128GB REG PC2-6400 32×4GB Dual Rank Memory |
|
$17,880.00 |
$31,242.00 |
$18,192.00 |
Johan came to a similar conclusion ”A very large database or virtualization consolidation scenario requiring more than 72GB of RAM will probably push you towards the quad Istanbul – once you need more than 64-72GB, memory gets really expensive on the Intel dual socket platform. There are two reasons for this: 8GB DIMMs are five times more expensive than 4GB DIMMs, and DDR3 is still more costly than DDR2 (especially in large DIMMs).”
OK – this is a compelling cost message. But what about performance? Johan gives two examples of performance – current VMmark scores with systems that have memory configurations ranging from 64GB to 128GB, and vApus Mark I, their own in-house developed virtualization benchmark, designed to measure the performance of “heavy” performance-critical applications and done in cooperation with the Sizing Servers Lab.
For performance details, latest results, and system configurations see http://www.vmware.com/products/vmmark/results.html.
So compelling performance - and more importantly – very compelling price/performance.
I did one other exercise during my research. Instead of just comparing server to server – I took a look at comparing a 42U rack of 2P servers versus a 42U rack of 4P servers. Using the system costs from the example above here is another snap shot
|
HP ProLiant DL380 G6 Server Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor (”Gainestown”) |
HP ProLiant DL585 G6 Server Six-Core AMD Opteron processor (”Istanbul”) |
|
| Total Number of Servers |
21 |
10 |
| Total Number of Processors |
42 |
40 |
| Total Number of Cores |
168 |
240 |
| Cost of servers with 64GB RAM |
$152,712 |
$161,200 |
| Cost of servers with 96GB RAM |
$334,362 |
$171,560 |
| Cost of servers with 128GB RAM |
$656,082 |
$181,920 |
The price difference of servers to fill a 42U rack is less than $10,000 when comparing 2P and 4P servers with 64GB of RAM – and over $400,000 more for 2P with 128GB of RAM compared to similarly configured 4P servers.
So the take away from my research – 4P servers running Six Core AMD Opteron processors provide the cores, memory and price to achieve simply spectacular virtualization! And, as I noted, to get some additional insights on the same topic, check out my colleague John Fruehe’s recent blog “AMD Opteron Processor – Delivering True Value, Not Just Benchmarks.”
Margaret Lewis (@margaretjlewis) is a Product Marketing Director at AMD.
Her postings are her own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.
New Efficiencies with AMD and Microsoft – How Silicon and Software Make Virtualization Happen
Posted by Margaret Lewis in 4:12 PM
Last week I was in San Francisco at the kick-off of the Microsoft New Efficiency Launch where Steve Ballmer showcased the new releases of three key products used by the businesses around the world: Windows® 7, Window Server® 2008 R2, and Exchange 2010. AMD is a sponsor of this launch and we are excited about the excellent alignment of AMD OpteronTM processor-based servers and AMD Business Class technology-based clients.
If you look at the products Microsoft is launching you see a lot of features designed to help businesses streamline and optimize their IT infrastructure. One point of interest at the launch event was the strong focus on virtualization with both Windows Server 2008 R2 and Windows 7.
Enterprise customers at the San Francisco event were talking about their implementations of Windows Hyper-V – something you might not have heard a year ago. Features like live migration and support for AMD VirtualizationTM (AMD-VTM) technology Rapid Virtualization Indexing (RVI) are new functionalities in Hyper-V R2. This is the result of the on-going collaboration between AMD and Microsoft on an engineering level – and the value it brings to customers is a virtualization platform that can efficiently and effectively run demanding applications such as database, web serving, and virtual desktops.
Virtualization with Windows 7 was showcased with a demo showing XP mode – a virtual machine running Windows XP that allowed seamless access to an older applications using Windows 7 capable machines. AMD-V technology again plays a role here – helping to improve performance to maintain a solid user experience. And virtual desktop technology – the streaming of applications and entire desktops from central servers to clients – is enhanced with Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2.
There are a number of events in progress throughout North America – check out if there is an event near you so you can see the products in action first hand. If you can’t attend the events alive and in person – visit the AMD booth at the Microsoft New Efficiency Virtual Experience.
Margaret Lewis (@margaretjlewis) is a Product Marketing Director at AMD.
Her postings are her own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.
A New Window on Client Virtualization
Posted by AMD in 4:00 PM
(12 votes, average: 4.67 out of 5)Congratulations to Microsoft as Windows 7 has reached an important milestone with its “release to manufacturing” (RTM), which means it is on its way to becoming pre-loaded on new hardware or a box on a retail shelf. In addition to a sleek interface and a number of new features, this new operating system continues the maturation of the client virtualization and also makes use of AMD innovations.
There are a lot of neat features in Windows 7 that should please consumers. If upgrading from Windows XP, the most noticeable difference for most users will be the new Aero interface. In addition to the rich graphics and intuitive design, there are features built in such as Aero Snap and Aero Clip that allow users to compare windows side by side, or quickly look at inactive windows without minimizing the entire desktop.
If you’re an IT Administrator, there are also features that can make your life a bit easier. If upgrading to Windows 7 and Windows Server 2008 R2 (which also announced RTM this week), a new feature called DirectAccess will allow you to manage remote PCs over the internet. And this same feature will allow your remote users to access network resources such as file servers and intranet sites without having to go through a Virtual Private Network (VPN) connection.
And speaking of remote users, if you are a mobile user who is looking to squeeze every minute of battery life out of your notebook, Windows 7 comes with a number of advanced power management features designed to help you realize power savings whether you are doing email during a layover or watching a movie on a long flight.
But, maybe one of the coolest features in Windows 7 is support of Windows Virtual PC and Windows XP Mode. With XP Mode, Microsoft has built in client virtualization technology that makes it easy to install and run Windows XP applications directly from a Windows 7-based PC, allowing users to enjoy the benefits of Windows 7 while maintaining support for legacy applications. Whether those applications are children’s educational games or Line of Business (LoB) applications for the enterprise – Windows XP mode is easy to install and use.
To run Windows XP Mode you will need to have a processor with hardware-based virtualization capabilities. All currently shipping AMD CPUs, with the exception of very low-end AMD SempronTM processors, include AMD-V TM a hardware-based virtualization technology needed to support XP mode.
Just remember that when using Windows Virtual PC (XP mode), you are essentially running two separate operating systems on your computer. If you don’t lock down that Virtual PC instance, you risk exposing your entire computer to a number of security risks. So remember to apply patches, turn on the Windows firewall, Windows Defender and install anti-virus software. In other words – whatever precautions you used to lockdown your Windows 7 environment? Take those same precautions for your Windows XP instance.
Microsoft has made a number of optimizations for the Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI) environment. Notable is an enhanced version of the Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) that allows for remote video playback in Windows Media Player 7, multi-monitor support and the ability to print local, without having to install drivers on the server. AMD has worked closely with Microsoft to deliver highly optimized virtualization platforms. Keep in mind that a senior Gartner analyst has predicted that the fastest growing server workload running in the data centre over the next two to three years is going to be the desktop.
In addition to virtualization, AMD has provided very strong support in the graphics arena. In fact, AMD just announced the release of the company’s first WHQL-certified ATI CatalystTM graphics drivers for Windows 7 RTM this week. We’re excited for the new OS here at AMD. How about you?
Matthew Kimball is a Product Marketing Director at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.
Midsummer Night’s Virtualization
Posted by Margaret Lewis in 10:01 AM
I am a die-hard Shakespearean – my daughter is even named Miranda for one of the main characters in
“The Tempest.” So while it is not exactly mid-summer – it is close enough to borrow from the Bard while I give you a virtualization update.
So what is hot this summer? Besides Texas – we are setting records with triple digit temperatures – there is Client Virtualization. This emerging area promises to become even hotter as we move into the fall. There are several approaches to Client Virtualization – virtual desktops, streaming applications, and client hypervisors. Before you get mired in the methodology – the key take away is that client virtualization offers you an alternate way to secure, manage, and add flexibility to your client infrastructure. I just did an interview with All Tech Radio on the topic of Client Virtualization so follow the link if you want to listen to some deeper thoughts while you are basking by the pool.
One of the gurus of application and desktop virtualization is Brian Madden. AMD is thrilled to be a sponsor of BriForum 2009 in Chicago July 21 – 23 in collaboration with Wyse Technology, a leader in thin client technology, including technology based on AMD hardware. It is well worth checking out Brian’s thoughts on advances in Client Virtualization – and we will report back to you our experiences at BriForum – hopefully the topic will sizzle but the weather will be cooler in Chicago.
When we speak of client virtualization we should not forget Windows 7 XP mode. This exciting new feature provides you with a Windows XP virtual machine where you can run XP-based applications. You do need a client system with hardware virtualization technology– and lucky for you all AMD client processors (with the exception of AMD Sempron™ processors) currently ship with our hardware assisted virtualization – AMD-V™ technology.
Server virtualization has not cooled down. Windows Server 2008 R2, which includes Hyper-V R2, is marching towards a planned release later this year. We have just posted a new live migration video with showing the ability of Hyper-V R2 to migrate a running VM from our Quad-Core to Six Core AMD Opteron™ processors. This kind of flexibility is a result of AMD’s dedication to a stable platform and our cooperative engineering effort with Microsoft. Check out the video on YouTube. And don’t forget that this release also supports our Rapid Virtualization Indexing (RVI) technology.
This summer also has AMD in planning mode for VMworld in San Francisco August 31 through Sept 3. We view our sponsorship at this industry leading event as a perfect close out to a “summer of virtualization.“ We are evaluating showcasing demos that push the next wave of innovation in virtualization –like virtual desktop with VMView, enhanced hypervisor security, and I/O virtualization. And of course we will also be showcasing energy efficient version of our Six-Core AMD Opteron™ processor . We already have a booth in the VMworld On-Line Virtual Conference so check us out as we ramp up to VMworld Conference.
So not only do we find Texas hot – virtualization is also heating up the summer. Hopefully we will see you at some of these activities.
Margaret Lewis, director, AMD commercial software and solutions
Margaret Lewis (@margaretjlewis) is a Product Marketing Director at AMD.
Her postings are her own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.
@margaretjlewis
Virtual Machines on the Move
Posted by Margaret Lewis in 5:15 AM
As you can imagine, migrating virtual machines without downtime is considered a core technology for building flexible and highly availability virtualized environments. So there were many questions around whether a hypervisor could gain widespread acceptance if it did not offer live migration capabilities. Fast forward to Spring 2009, and it is clear that Hyper-V has made a significant impact on the market.
In fact, a March article by Stephen Sowyer of Virtualization Review, highlights research by industry analyst firm, Gartner, who reported within the next five years “Microsoft and VMware will vie for bragging rights in the server virtualization infrastructure segment.” This builds on the October 2008 Worldwide Quarterly Server Virtualization Tracker from industry analyst firm, IDC, which concluded, “In its first quarter of general availability Microsoft Hyper-V delivered a strong showing, and when combined with Virtual Server 2005, Microsoft’s market share is 23% of new shipments.” These findings are truly significant given Microsoft entered the world of virtualization less than a year ago.
With today’s release of Hyper-V Server 2008 R2, Microsoft will offer live migration capabilities, enabling users to virtualize their IT environment in the most cost effective manner while having full access to enterprise-class features.
Now, a lot of folks new to virtualization don’t quite understand all the factors involved in making live migration a reality (in fact, I’m sure some of you are wondering why we keep blogging on the topic). To perform live migration with Hyper-V 2008 R2, you are required to have the failover clustering role added and configured on the servers running Hyper-V. Failover clustering requires shared storage for the servers in the cluster nodes so that all virtual machines can be stored in the shared storage area and running virtual machine state can be managed by one of the nodes (check out this great step-by-step guide on TechNet here).
An advantage for folks with a data center full of Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors—even various generations—is our stable platform approach enables folks to do live migration between the processor family (“Barcelona” to “Shangahi” to our upcoming six-core “Istanbul” processors) without losing any functionality—see for yourself as we migrate across all three generations with Hyper-V 2008 here.
This stable platform approach is something we also use for power efficiency. You may have seen that we recently announced our new low power (EE) processors which provide the same level of functionality as other versions but with a lower power envelope.
As you can imagine, I’m very excited about the live migration demonstration with Microsoft and its upcoming Hyper-V 2008 R2 technology. Working with the virtualization team over there has been a rewarding experience and I’m impressed with the inroads they have made on the virtualization market since the release of Hyper-V. I look forward to continuing to working with the team to push us all towards the “holy grail” of virtualization as it is a technology that truly enables a powerful and dynamic virtualization experience for customers.
Margaret Lewis (@margaretjlewis) is a Product Marketing Director at AMD. Her postings are her own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites are provided for convenience and unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such linked sites and no endorsement is implied.
Margaret Lewis, director, AMD commercial software and solutions
@margaretjlewis