Broadcom s Integrated Solutions For Cloud Scale Computing with Windows Server 2012

Transcription

1 White Paper Bradcm s Integrated Slutins Fr Clud Scale Cmputing with Windws Server 2012 By Bb Laliberte, Senir Analyst September 2012 This ESG White Paper was cmmissined by Bradcm and is distributed under license frm ESG. 2012, Enterprise Strategy Grup, Inc. All Rights Reserved

2 White Paper: Bradcm s Integrated Slutins fr Clud Scale Cmputing with Windws Server Cntents Bringing Clud-Scale Architectures t the Masses... 3 Clud Scale Requirements... 4 Bradcm Slutins fr Windws Enhanced Perfrmance... 8 Mving Frward... 8 The Bigger Truth... 9 All trademark names are prperty f their respective cmpanies. Infrmatin cntained in this publicatin has been btained by surces The Enterprise Strategy Grup (ESG) cnsiders t be reliable but is nt warranted by ESG. This publicatin may cntain pinins f ESG, which are subject t change frm time t time. This publicatin is cpyrighted by The Enterprise Strategy Grup, Inc. Any reprductin r redistributin f this publicatin, in whle r in part, whether in hard-cpy frmat, electrnically, r therwise t persns nt authrized t receive it, withut the express cnsent f the Enterprise Strategy Grup, Inc., is in vilatin f U.S. cpyright law and will be subject t an actin fr civil damages and, if applicable, criminal prsecutin. Shuld yu have any questins, please cntact ESG Client Relatins at

3 White Paper: Bradcm s Integrated Slutins fr Clud Scale Cmputing with Windws Server Bringing Clud-Scale Architectures t the Masses Pineers in clud cmputing like Ggle and Amazn Web services have designed and built clud scale architectures. Hwever, because they culdn t find prducts and slutins frm existing vendrs t serve their needs, they had t build their wn. While this ensured massive scalability, multi-tenancy, and tightly integrated slutins running ver readily accessible infrastructure, it has nt cme withut a cst. By creating their wn IT envirnment, they als must maintain a large staff f develpers t build and supprt these slutins fr the business. In cntrast, mst enterprises d nt staff t custm build an IT envirnment. They need integrated slutins frm existing technlgy partners. Tday, many mainstream enterprise data centers are starting t lk a lt mre like thse f service prviders, as illustrated by ESG research. Fr example, increased use f server virtualizatin has been either the number ne IT pririty reprted by respndents, r tied fr number ne, fr the last three years in ESG s annual IT spending survey (see Figure 1). 1 As these virtualized envirnments mature, rganizatins realize that much mre can be accmplished than just cnslidating infrastructure, and when prperly deplyed, they can lead t much higher levels f IT agility fr the business. As a result f IT needing t be mre respnsive t the business, ESG research indicates that mre enterprises are lking t build ut private clud envirnments. In fact, in the 2012 spending intentins survey, it became a tp ten pririty. Figure 1. Tp IT Pririties fr 2012 Which f the fllwing wuld yu cnsider t be yur rganizatin's mst imprtant IT pririties ver the next mnths? (Percent f respndents, N=614, ten respnses accepted) Imprve data backup and recvery Increased use f server virtualizatin Majr applicatin deplyments r upgrades Manage data grwth Infrmatin security initiatives Business cntinuity/disaster recvery prgrams Data center cnslidatin Desktp virtualizatin Mbile wrkfrce enablement Deplying a "private clud" infrastructure 30% 30% 29% 27% 27% 25% 24% 23% 22% 22% 0% 10% 20% 30% 40% Surce: Enterprise Strategy Grup, In additin t data center cnslidatin ranking as a tp ten pririty in the annual IT spending reprt, ESG als cnducted a data center netwrking trends survey f Nrth American enterprises in which respndents indicated that 63% had either just cmpleted r were in the middle f a data center cnslidatin prject. 2 Even mre telling 1 Surce: ESG Research Reprt, 2012 IT Spending Intentins Survey, January Surce: ESG Research Reprt, Data Center Netwrking Trends, January 2012.

4 White Paper: Bradcm s Integrated Slutins fr Clud Scale Cmputing with Windws Server was the fact that almst half f thse respndents (48%) stated that they were building ut multi-tenant envirnments. The greater the level f cnslidatin, cnvergence, and multi-tenancy, the harder it will be t manage and perate these at clud scale. Furthermre, it will becme mre imprtant fr trusted vendrs t step up and deliver tightly integrated slutins t help them build and manage these envirnments, and extract the mst value pssible frm them. Frtunately, technlgy vendrs have been develping new perating systems, prcessrs, server architectures, and server I/O technlgies t better enable the enterprise t build ut high perfrmance clud scale architectures. One such example can be seen with Dell and HP wrking clsely with Micrsft (O/S), Intel (prcessr), and Bradcm (server I/O) t ensure balanced and ptimized perfrmance fr clud scale envirnments that take advantage f Windws Server 2012, Intel Xen E5 ( Rmley ), and Bradcm NetXtreme family technlgy. Althugh each f the parts can deliver value n its wn, the verall value t the enterprise is amplified when the slutins are tightly integrated. This paper will fcus n the imprvements and tight integratin Bradcm has develped with tier-1 Server vendrs (Dell, HP, IBM, and thers) and Micrsft t help enterprise and emerging service r clud prviders create clud scale envirnments. Clud Scale Requirements Clearly, data centers are grwing much larger and mre cmplex in rder t supprt the larger and mre cmplex envirnments rganizatins require. They need t have the fllwing capabilities. Supprt fr multi-tenancy Every service and clud prvider with external custmers will need a multitenant envirnment, and nw mre and mre enterprises are lking t deply multi-tenant envirnments t supprt different business units and prvide secure links. Technlgy nw exists at the I/O level t virtualize data paths fr better islatin, quality f service, and security. Better management It is clear that with the increased scale, rganizatins need t find ways t simplify and autmate management in fact ne f the biggest challenges listed in ur data center netwrking reprt was t many manual prcesses. Organizatins need t find management slutins that are simple and intuitive, s that certificatins are nt required. Als, the management slutins need t ensure that the envirnment is ptimized fr perfrmance yet cnscius f pwer cnsumptin. This is especially imprtant in many pwer cnstrained gegraphies. Better management als requires the ability t remediate prblems faster. Deplying staff t cmb thrugh remte data centers is t time cnsuming, and errr prne. Slutins shuld be enabled fr remte cnnectin. Tight integratin Clud envirnments are all abut agility and perfrmance nt individual perfrmance, but end-t-end perfrmance. Because an envirnment will nly be as strng as its weakest link, it is imprtant when building ut clud envirnments that the cmplete slutins have been tested and verified t wrk tgether under lad. The ther benefit f tight integratin is that supprt fr the implemented devices is already preladed, and desn t require any additinal actins t g nline and dwnlad drivers. High bandwidth With all the increased use f virtualizatin technlgy, rganizatins are creating higher levels f VM density that is, the number f VMs per physical hst. ESG research indicates that rganizatins are averaging between five and ten VMs tday, but heading t 25 r mre ver the next 24 mnths, and will need t have high bandwidth slutins deplyed. Frtunately, ESG research als highlights the fact that almst half (47%) f respndents are actively transitining frm 1GbE-t-10GbE (see Figure 2). 3 3 Surce, Ibid.

5 White Paper: Bradcm s Integrated Slutins fr Clud Scale Cmputing with Windws Server Figure 2. Transitin t 10GbE Which f the fllwing best represents yur rganizatin's server-t-netwrk I/O interface standards? (Percent f respndents, N=280) Our current standard server-tnetwrk I/O interface is 10GbE, 20% Dn't knw, 2% Our current standard server-tnetwrk I/O interface is 1GbE, 31% Our current standard server-tnetwrk I/O interface is 1GbE, but we are actively mving t 10GbE, 47% Surce: Enterprise Strategy Grup, Quality f service Because these envirnments will inevitably hst multiple different wrklads, it will be imperative t ensure that the missin-critical applicatins can get pririty service levels. This will require the netwrk t understand and be aware f the applicatins that reside n the virtual machines (VMs). In additin, the CPU shuld be dedicated t handling mre VMs and nt t transprt prtcl fflad prcesses. Organizatins need t find netwrk r I/O slutins capable f handling thse tasks. Multi-prtcl supprt Netwrk cnvergence can help t dramatically reduce csts and cmplexity in the data center, and rganizatins can better match the needs f the applicatin t the prtcl delivering it, regardless f whether it is FC, FCE, ISCSI etc. Bradcm Slutins fr Windws 2012 Bradcm understands the imprtance f having tightly integrated slutins t enable highly virtualized and clud envirnments. It has wrked with industry leaders such as Dell, HP, IBM, and thers n new server architectures (Rmley), and t ensure its custmers can extract the full value f new perating systems, Bradcm als wrked clsely with Micrsft t tightly integrate its cnverged netwrk adapter technlgy int Micrsft s Windws Server 2012.

6 White Paper: Bradcm s Integrated Slutins fr Clud Scale Cmputing with Windws Server Figure 3. Integrated Slutins Surce: Enterprise Strategy Grup, T better enable scalable multi-tenant clud envirnments, Bradcm has intrduced several new integratin pints with Micrsft Windws Server 2012 when deplyed n tier-1 servers. The integratin pints include: Single Rt I/O Virtualizatin (SR-IOV) This technlgy enables Bradcm server I/O cards t supprt highly virtualized envirnments by making it appear as thugh there are up t 128 dedicated interfaces available t the perating system residing n a virtual machine, in this case Windws Server This technlgy enables each OS t have its wn lgical adapter and prvides higher levels f perfrmance, flexibility, and scalability. Mre imprtantly fr clud and multi-tenant envirnments, it prvides islatin and security. Fr rganizatins expanding their virtualizatin ftprint r building ut clud envirnments, this will be very cmpelling technlgy. Quality f Service (QS) leveraging Data Center Bridging (DCB) In these highly virtualized and clud envirnments with increasing VM densities and varying wrklads, it will be imperative t establish sme frm f quality f service t ensure that missin-critical applicatins are given pririty. Bradcm and Micrsft have accmplished this by leveraging DCB t establish multiple classes f QS which can be integrated with the Windws stack t prvide end-t-end QS. The QS functins can apply nt nly t virtualized envirnments, but als t differentiate services n cnverged netwrks (FCE and iscsi) and multi-tenant envirnments. Receive Side Calescing (RSC) Windws Server 2012 can leverage Bradcm s RSC capable NICs t help reduce the I/O traffic prcessing verhead n the server, especially fr a large number f small packets. Bradcm netwrk adapters leverage hardware fflads t perfrm this stateless RSC fflad. Essentially, RSC-enabled adapters wrk with Windws 2012 t reduce the verhead assciated with data transmissin.

7 White Paper: Bradcm s Integrated Slutins fr Clud Scale Cmputing with Windws Server This prcess will help t dramatically reduce the amunt f CPU pwer required t prcess each f these packets. This will free up the CPU t hst additinal VMs. iscsi and FCE Strage Offlads Bradcm Cntrllers prvide a full suite f strage fflads with Windws Server 2012, enhancing verall perfrmance and reducing ttal cst f deplyment. Bradcm Ethernet cntrllers have full supprt f iscsi and FCE fflad strage prtcls, and Bradcm claims they are capable f delivering up t 1.5 millin iscsi input/utput peratins per secnd (IOPS), r 2.5 millin FCE IOPS with superir CPU efficiency. iscsi & FCE Driver integratin (Inbx) T enable rapid installatin and accelerate time t value, the Bradcm adapter drivers are preinstalled in Windws Server This integratin will simplify set up times when deplying server infrastructure fitted with Bradcm adapters. Dynamic Virtual Machine Queues (D-VMQ) In rder t better take advantage f CPU resurces and I/O virtualizatin, Micrsft intrduced VMQ in 2008 R2, which allwed a VMQ capable adapter t statically assign a fixed number f I/O paths and prcessrs t distribute a heavy wrklad. (Withut this, a single CPU culd easily becme verwhelmed with a high vlume f traffic.) In Windws 2012, Micrsft has advanced this capability t dynamically adapt netwrk prcesses (queues) acrss as many CPUs as needed, and then return thse resurces t the pl when they are n lnger required. As a result, rganizatins leveraging Bradcm s D-VMQ capable adapters will be able t see increased netwrk perfrmance. Cnsistent Device Naming The ability t simplify the naming cnventin will dramatically help administratrs keep track f and manage their envirnments. Organizatins will be able t save time and mney by leveraging intuitively bvius and cnsistent device naming cnventins, and eliminate the need t lk up prts in a spreadsheet t determine their lcatin r functin. Kernel Debugging ver Netwrk (KDNet) This allws rganizatins t trublesht the envirnment remtely instead f having t rely n slw serial cable cnnectivity, USBs requiring special hardware r lack f 1394 (Firewire) availability. As envirnments grw in scale, the ability t remtely access and trublesht a rapidly grwing envirnment will greatly accelerate the time t repair. Multiple KGROUPs A KGROUP is an arbitrary cllectin f 64 Prcessrs. In Windws 2012, rganizatins will be able supprt multiple KGROUPS. This will serve t better enable clud scale envirnments. Wake packet detect This technlgy enables rganizatins t better handle pwer management fflad. Enabled in the OS and netwrk interface cards, rganizatins will be able t autmatically pwer servers back n by detecting a wake packet. This allws rganizatins t cnserve pwer in ff hurs and pwer back up t meet anticipated demand befre it is actually needed, fr example the start f a wrk day, etc. In additin, t the new features listed abve, Bradcm cntinues t ffer the fllwing key features: NIC Partitining (NPAR) NPAR enables rganizatins t make better use f mixed wrklad and multi-tenant envirnments. This partitining enables QS t ensure that VMs hsting missincritical applicatins always have sufficient thrughput. Virtual Cnnect Bradcm supprts HP s Virtual Cnnect Flex-10 prgram at all levels including LAN-n-mtherbard, mezzanine cards, and server adapter cards. Adapter Fabric Extender (AFEX) The Bradcm slutins supprt Cisc s AFEX fabric virtualizatin prgram t the end pint. This allws guest virtual machines the ability t cnnect with the fabric extensin prtcl. Receive Side Scaling (RSS) This technlgy distributes mnitring interruptins acrss multiple prcessrs, reducing the burden n any ne prcessr. High-end cmputers can leverage this technlgy t spread the lad acrss lgical prcessrs. TCP/IP Offlad Engine (TOE) Bradcm leverages a silicn chip apprach t transfer any prcessing verhead frm hst CPU t a NetXtreme BCM57810S r BCM67800S 10GbE cntrller.

8 Enhanced Perfrmance White Paper: Bradcm s Integrated Slutins fr Clud Scale Cmputing with Windws Server This enables the prcessr cres and memry resurces t fcus slely n btaining higher thrughput and I/Os per secnd, while reducing CPU utilizatin and pwer usage. By wrking clsely with Micrsft, Bradcm was able t bring advanced technlgies t enable greater inbx supprt and functinality fr virtualizatin, netwrking, and strage. Bradcm claims these integrated slutins will be able t increase netwrk thrughput perfrmance by as much as 77% and reduce CPU verhead by as much as 42%. Mving Frward Regardless f where yur rganizatin is n the path twards highly virtualized private cluds, it can leverage integrated slutins featuring Bradcm technlgy. Organizatins ften struggle t piece tgether best-f-breed technlgies, and in mst cases it takes a great deal f time and mney t fully validate cmpatibility and architectural fit, s tightly integrated slutins can help t accelerate time t value. Highly virtualized envirnments These are fr thse rganizatins still in the prcess f virtualizing their server envirnment. The ability t quickly turn up services with inbx drivers and leverage QS t better handle multiple different wrklads while increasing VM densities will help t guarantee service levels and technlgies like SR-IOV, and will reassure applicatin wners that the virtual I/O paths are islated and secure. Private cluds Organizatins that have matured their virtualized server envirnments t mre dynamic clud envirnments will nt nly benefit frm the features mentined abve, but als the Dynamic Virtual Machine Queues shuld prve t be highly valuable in envirnments that sustain rapid grwth r perids f bursty perfrmance. The ability t match cmpute-t-netwrk traffic will help rganizatins t adjust n the fly, and enable the true prmise f clud cmputing. Hybrid cluds ESG research indicates that rganizatins will nt nly take advantage f private cluds, as indicated n the tp IT pririty list, but will als leverage public cluds. In fact, when asked abut areas f increased budget spend, respndents chse public clud cmputing as their number ne respnse, with 74% indicating that they wuld spend mre this year. 4 This pens up the pssibility fr rganizatins t leverage bth private and public cluds in a hybrid envirnment. The best way t prepare fr such an envirnment is t build ut a rbust private clud. 4 Surce: ESG Research Reprt, 2012 IT Spending Intentins Survey, January 2012.

9 The Bigger Truth White Paper: Bradcm s Integrated Slutins fr Clud Scale Cmputing with Windws Server Enterprise rganizatins are building ut highly virtualized envirnments and evlving them int clud cmputing envirnments. The data als indicates that as data center cnslidatin cntinues t be a tp trend, enterprise data centers are beginning t lk a lt mre like service prvider data centers. They are becming multi-tenant and, due t all the cnslidatin, rapidly appraching massive r clud scale. Organizatins lking t make the transitin easier shuld lk fr vendrs that have created tightly integrated slutins t help accelerate the transitin int clud mdels. By wrking tgether t validate and integrate technlgies that enable better netwrk islatin and security, it will be easier fr rganizatins t create flexible and dynamic IT envirnments. Bradcm, an industry leader in server I/O technlgy, has wrked with Micrsft, Dell, HP, IBM, and thers t ensure ptimal perfrmance and tightly integrated feature sets t help accelerate the transitin t bth highly virtualized and private cluds. The integratin highlighted in this paper will help rganizatins t take advantage f Micrsft s new perating system, Dell, HP, IBM, and ther tier-1 server vendr s advanced server architectures featuring Intel prcessrs, and Bradcm s NetXtreme cnverged adapters which supprt the latest I/O technlgy t enable multi-tenant clud scale cmputing envirnments. While each f these vendrs prvides valuable technlgy, the ability t tightly integrate it ensures that the value exceeds the sum f the parts.

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