new technologies in server storage
TRANSCRIPT
Future Server and Storage Technology
Brian Minick, Infrastructure Design Leader - GE
High Performance Computing
Current Architecture
NAS Storage
Client Two Racks of Clustered Server
The Challenge
Funding Secured To Create Next Gen Storage and Server Platforms
Brick and Mortar Manufacturing Business
New storage platform requirements– Cost Cost Cost– Data center space– Power restrictions– Improve storage performance
The New Technology
Clustered Storage– Storage and processing in each unit– Units are aware of each other and cluster
together– Disk allocation works like your hard drive
Standard NAS– Processing and storage are separate– Processing units do not cluster– Disks are partitioned in to LUNs, LUNs are
combined to create volumes, files systems are created out of volumes, directories are within file systems
Which Way To Go?
The Results
Clustered Storage– Job scheduling time improves by 80%– Job processing time improves by 40%– Maintenance costs are reduced by 20%– Data center space reduced by 10% – Power consumption remains the same– 20% Maintenance reduction allows your
team to meet cost out target – you get $2,000 recognition award and a promotion
The Results
Standard NAS– Job scheduling time improves by 5%– Job processing time improves by 2%– Maintenance costs are remain the same– Data center space remains the same– Power consumption remains the same– Project is a success, life goes on as usual
The Challenge
Funding Secured To Create Next Gen Storage and Server Platforms
Brick and Mortar Manufacturing Business
New server platform requirements– Cost Cost Cost– Data center space– Power restrictions
The New Technology
Blade Servers– Large reduction in power consumption – Reduced heat generation– Proprietary– Cheaper than rack after purchasing 8 or 10
blades
Standard Rack Servers– Small reduction in power consumption – Same heat generation
Which Way To Go?
The Results
Blade Servers– Power consumption reduced from 260 amps to 60– Heat generation reduced by 15%– Total environment cost down 10%– Server backplane created spanning tree issues on
data center network resulting in complete center outage
– Customers are leaving our site– Layoffs are eminent
The Results
Standard Rack Servers– Power consumption reduced from 260 amps to 220– Same heat generation– Total environment cost remains the same– Server backplane created spanning tree issues on
data center network resulting in complete center outage
– Project is a success, life goes on as usual
Next Generation Web Server
Current Architecture
Internet
Load Balancer Server Farm NAS Storage
The Challenge
Current server platform is discontinued by vendor
Online research firm
New server platform requirements– Cost Cost Cost– Data center space– Power restrictions
The New Technology
Multi-Core– Two 1.0Ghz 8 core processors (off chip floating point)– 8 GB Ram– 292 GB Internal Disk– Two PCI-x and two PCIe slots
Next Gen Single Core– Two 1.5Ghz single core processors– 8 GB Ram– 292 GB Internal Disk– Two PCI-x and two PCIe slots
Which Way To Go?
The Results
Multi-Core– Two for one server swap out
• Maintenance costs lowered by 50%• Lowered power consumption by 70%• Data center space reduced by 50%
– More throughput, but each transaction is slower• Transactions previously over 20 seconds are noticeably
slower• Customers are leaving our site• Layoffs are eminent
The Results
Next Gen Single Core– One for one server swap out
• Maintenance costs lowered by the same• Lowered power consumption by 20%• Data center space remains the same
– Same throughput, but each transaction is faster• Transactions previously over 20 seconds are noticeably
faster• New customers are coming to the site• Profit sharing checks are especially good this year
What’s the Point
• Know when to take technology swings– Technology decisions have business impact– Technology decisions impact careers
• Technology means different things for different businesses– Core product is IT– Core product relies on IT– IT is a productivity tool
• Successful technologist know how to walk the line between “technology for technology sake” and “technology for business sake”