Intel Xeon 5500 Series Processors for Servers and Workstations

There are a few key things you have to know about the 5500 series before you design your next server or workstation.

First you need to know that they are an order of magnitude better than the 5400 series, offering over 100% better performance with signicantly lower power consumption. Why its faster, is not the purpose of this article, but that information can be found here. Helping you understand the models, and how to architect a system around them is the purpose of this article.

There are a number of models, that fall into three categories.

1) The models that start with 550 are entry level models with 4MB L3 Cache and use DDR3 800 memory. They all have four cores except for the 5502, which has two.

2) The Models from the 5520 to the 5540 have 8MB L3 cache, use DDR3 800 or 1066 memory, and have the added benefit of Turbo Boost and Hyperthreading.

3) The top models starintg with the 5540 also can use DDR3 1333 memory, and have significantly more potential benefit from Turbo Boost.

Before we discuss the memory architecture, a quick summary of the other features.

Hyperthreading, as you might recall from prior processors, is the abilty to run two threads per core, to better saturate the processor with work. With two Quad Core 5500 series processors and hyperthreading, you get 16 threads. This is really helpful for Virtualization.

Turbo Boost is a new concept. Turbo Boost allows the processors to overclock automatically if doing so will not cause the processor to exceed its rated power consumption and thermal footprint. For example if an application that runs on one or two cores is running, the processor will power down the unused cores, and boost the performance of the remaining cores. The bottom line, is the better the thermal design of the server and the better cooled the environment, the more effective Turbo Boost will be.

Memory architecture is very important when planning systems around the 5500 series. Here is how it works.

Each processor has three paths to memory, so it peaks its performance if you purchase 3 DIMMS per processor. In a dual processor system you should consider 6, 12, and 24GB to be top performance for the dollar, using 1GB, 2GB, or 4GB modules.

Another key concept is that each processor can have up to three banks of memory, but there is a substancial performance penalty if you use banks two and three. If you use one bank of 3 modules per processor, and if you use one of the top category processors, then can benefit from the purchase of DDR3 1333MHz memory.

But, if you place even one more module in the system, all of the memory drops down to 1066. If you place any memory in a the third bank, your memory will all operate at 800MHz.

Because expanding beyong the first bank (3 per processor, 6 in total DIMMs) causes a serious reduction in speed, I recommend purchasing the largest modules that make finanfial sense (2 or 4GB), and populate as many sockets as you need in the first bank. Go to 8GB modules if you need lots of memory, but they are currently very expensive.

If performance really matters then populate all six sockets in a 2 processor system. If performance is not an issue yet, its better to buy fewer higher capacity modules now so you can upgrade later without reducing performance.

Most servers don't require the top processors. For those servers, using more banks of memory will not necessarily entail a loss of perfomance. The 550X processors only support 800MHz memory anyway, so they suffer no penalty from using all the memory banks. The next level support up to 1066MHz, so they suffer no penalty from using 2 banks or 6 DIMMs per processor.

In all cases you maximize your data path by using exactly three DIMMS per bank per processor.

Finally when a motherboard has only one processor, make sure you do not populate the second processor's memory banks, as they will not be available. Conversely if you have two processors, make sure you distribute the memory evenly between them.

Best of all let Ashlin help you design your servers based on your specific requirements, both now, and in the future.

Tripp Lite Introduces New KVM Switches with Built-In IP Access

Tripp Lite’s new NetDirector® Cat5 IP and Console KVM Switches enable remote control of connected computers by up to 5 independent, simultaneous users (1 local, 4 remote). Cascade additional KVMs to control up to 256 computers or servers from a single console. RJ45 connectors facilitate efficient, economical installation with inexpensive Cat5e cabling. Console KVM Switches include an integrated 17“ LCD monitor, keyboard and touchpad in a 1U retractable, sliding housing.

Seagate BlackArmor NAS 440 and 420

The Seagate® BlackArmor® NAS 440/420 storage server is a complete, small-business-specific network storage solution designed to provide optimum uptime and data integrity to ensure business continuity for up to 50 workstations. Continuously and automatically protect business-critical data with incremental and full-system backup, bare metal restore (full-system restore) and individual file to entire volume encryption. Enhance data integrity and/or performance with RAID 0/1/5/10 & JBOD configuration options. Access files securely over the internet from any popular web browser — no special software required. Includes four energy efficient, reliable Seagate® hard drives. All four drives are easily removable without tools and hot-swappable to optimize uptime and data availability. Backed by a 3-year limited warranty from Seagate, the world leader in storage technology.
BlackArmor NAS 420

The BlackArmor NAS 420 storage server has the same hardware and software features as the BlackArmor NAS 440 storage server, but has two hard drives preinstalled instead of four. As your business grows, add two more hard drives to the system to take advantage of RAID 5/10 configurations and increase storage capacity.
Highlights:
• User-configurable RAID 0/1/5/10 & JBOD
• Four USB 2.0 ports for external drives, printers and UPS (uninterrupted power supply)
• Offers the level of security that is right for your business – from individual files to entire volume encryption
• On-board LCD screen for quick status info
• Microsoft® Active Directory support
• Multi-volume management
• Event email notification
• DLNA and iTunes® media streaming
• 3-year limited warranty
• Designed for small business to provide optimum uptime and data integrity for up to 50 workstations
• Supports Windows® XP, Windows Vista® operating systems and Mac OS® X 10.4.11 or later
• Includes energy efficient, reliable Seagate® hard drives
• Incremental and full-system, scheduled, automatic backup for network connected PCs using Windows® XP and Windows Vista® operating systems
• Secure internet access from any popular web browser – no special software required
• Hot-swappable, user-replaceable drives — no tools required
• Two Ethernet ports for local network connection, port failover and NAS to NAS replication
• Includes 10 software licenses, additional licenses available at www.seagate.com
Here is how the BlackArmor NAS lines up against the competition.

VMWare Enables Server Consolidation and Cost Containment

Many organizations today are finding that server virtualization is an important tool in reducing current hardware costs and containing future hardware costs.

The common practice of dedicating a single server to each x86 application and sizing it for peak loads has led to severe underutilization of server assets in most data centers. Servers typically run at 5-15% CPU utilization, but business process and technology limitations make it difficult to improve on those figures.

VMWare is the market leading software solution which enables companies to realize reduced hardware costs and efficiencies through server virtualization. VMWare is in use by 99 out of the top Fortune 100 companies. VMWare makes it possible to create a server as a virtual hardware-independent `machine` which can share a physical server with other virtual machines. This has several important benefits:

• Dramatic reduction in server costs. Customers report savings of anywhere between 30% and 70%
• Significantly improved managability. Fewer servers to manage mean less complexity
• Boost in Server Utilization. Instead of 5% to 15%, 80% utilization is now possible.
• Increased IT Efficiency. Common administrative tasks, such as hardware provisioning, are simplified.
• Greater responsiveness and Ability to Respond to Future Growth. Because servers are now virtual, it`s easier to respond to requests for new servers, to monitor growth and to plan capaicity increments more effectively.

Companies are discovering that they can achieve consolidation ratios ranging from a modest 4:1 all the way to 30:1 (e.g Qualcomm). In Canada, Société de Transport de Montréal achieved a consolidation ratio of 15:1, as documented in an August 2006 article in Computing Canada. This is just one of many companies which have realized success. Visit the VMWare site to browse Success Stories in Server Consolidation.

VMWare is not just for large enterprises. If you have as few as 5 to 10 servers, you can realize benefits.

Download VMWare`s Server Consolidation brief from their web site for more information.

For more information on VMWare, contact John Mason, VMWare Sales Professional, at 416-256-3096 ext 1002.