Cloud Platform Selection Guide x86 architecture is condense deployment cornerstone

Is the so-called "world trend, a long time must be divided, long time will be combined", the enterprise's IT architecture development also experienced a long evolution, from the initial mainframe era after the minicomputer dominated for a moment, now the development of cloud computing has injected new vitality into the enterprise's IT architecture.

The implementation of cloud computing can support IT systems to respond more quickly to business changes and development, and to quickly implement new business processes based on new business requirements. In terms of architecture, cloud computing concentrates the underlying computing resources into a pool of infrastructure resources and provides users with a flexible multi-tenant approach that dramatically increases system utilization and cost-effectiveness while shortening the deployment cycle.

As the support of the upper application, the resource pool is often the guarantee and foundation of the operation of cloud services, and will directly affect the quality of cloud computing services, it can be said that enterprises to deploy cloud computing, choose the appropriate cloud computing platform architecture to build resource pool is the first problem to be solved.

Principles for building cloud computing platforms

The implementation of cloud computing infrastructure is not a simple software and hardware integration project, but the change of enterprise's IT strategy and delivery mode, the enterprise will also encounter a series of complex problems when building cloud computing platform, some purchase brand-new hardware platform equipment, and some are to integrate the original system.

Therefore, before the implementation of cloud computing, the cloud computing platform to evaluate, the overall planning will appear particularly important, only in order to avoid detours, and then fully enjoy the benefits of cloud computing, in the construction of cloud computing platform often have some of the principles of hardware considerations and choices.

Since cloud computing platforms tend to run more than one or even a single type of application, it is necessary to choose the appropriate device. For example, when running internet-based, or value-added applications, usually open architecture of the x86 server will be better applicability.

However, when running some complex applications, database applications, high security and stability needs, the use of high-end x86 server or UNIX server is the appropriate choice. The implementation of this principle will help cloud computing platform to achieve computing power and computing resources optimization. From a storage product perspective, choosing a fibre based SAN storage approach is a good choice for complex applications, but SCSI is more adaptable to some relatively independent, less complex applications. Therefore, applicability is the primary principle for building a successful cloud computing platform.

The cloud computing platform is an important feature of the traditional data center, which is open to application. Specifically, in the cloud computing platform, there may be different types of applications, services are connected, although the interface types and so on have specific standards to standardize, but the use of relatively mainstream, open hardware architecture, operating system, the new application of seamless access is necessary.

The compatibility of cloud computing platform hardware system is shown in the aspects of server interface, chip type, storage interface and architecture. Because cloud computing often uses virtualization technology to achieve dynamic management, improve server and storage utilization, but CPU support for virtualization technology is different, at this time, you need to choose the mainstream virtualization software compatible with the server and CPU to support virtualized deployment. Similarly, in network devices, if you want to implement the free migration of virtual machines across the network segment, routers also need to be able to have a good support for this function and compatibility.

Cloud computing platform hardware selection, also need to consider the environment and space layout. Traditional servers take up a lot of racks, space, and consume a lot of cables and auxiliary materials. In addition, space occupancy will also bring management difficulties, increase maintenance costs, in order to create an efficient cloud computing platform, the hardware needs to consider how to increase the density of deployment, the use of blade server or similar high-density system is a reference to the solution.

Finally, for the cloud computing platform, implementing green It is an important building principle. Poorly planned platforms consume more servers, storage, and network equipment, increasing the amount of precision air conditioners that provide cooling for these devices, and consuming a lot of power. These costs are completely avoidable for cloud computing platforms through planning. In addition, in addition to the selection of hardware products with low energy consumption, the cooling system itself, in the planning of air duct, wind mode, hardware pattern, etc., also need to carry out reasonable planning.

x86 server becomes the cornerstone of building cloud computing

Unlike previous IT hardware centralized deployments, cloud computing is no longer as demanding as it used to be, and a more cost-effective and versatile platform is favored in the cloud computing era, with distributed x86 servers taking the lead.

Of course, this is not to say that cloud computing lowers the demand for infrastructure, because the essence of cloud computing is to emphasize the focus of core data and applications, which puts higher demands on the performance and reliability of hardware platforms that support core applications such as databases.

The choice of hardware platform is undoubtedly closely related to the enterprise's own situation and the operating workload. It is worth emphasizing that the x86 architecture is not the only choice to build a cloud computing platform, but from the current case, whether private cloud or public cloud, many are based on the x86 architecture server platform, including some large enterprises , as well as key industries such as finance.

In addition to its own universal and extensibility advantages, with the continuous development and maturity of x86 technology, x86 server in performance and reliability has been gradually closer to high-end servers, with a comparable RISC minicomputer, RAS features, now performance, Reliability and scalability These advantages are no longer the patents of previous mainframe and RISC minicomputer.

In terms of cost, cloud computing spawned a large-scale deployment of the server, the cost of the server, energy consumption put forward new requirements, x86 server in terms of price and energy consumption of the advantages also won the cloud market favor.

As we all know, virtualization is an important cornerstone of cloud computing, and if you leave virtualization, cloud computing will be impossible to talk about. Cloud environments require a huge amount of server and storage resources, as simple servers and storage expands, either up or out, it often increases the complexity and cost of the infrastructure, and virtualization can be integrated and managed with hardware resources to improve resource utilization and reduce it complexity and cost.

Today, based on x86 virtualization development is in full swing, almost all virtualization solution providers Choose x86 this standard platform, and even the whole new product will be built on the x86 architecture.

In building the cloud computing platform, whether it is technical performance, or the entire ecosystem support, x86 server platform has sufficient conditions and basis, it is no exaggeration to say that the x86 server is becoming the cornerstone of cloud computing.

Summary

The current situation of the enterprise is different, the requirements of the business are not the same, so in the process of building a cloud computing platform, there is not only one way to choose the appropriate development characteristics of the technology is the best choice.

As a multinational it supplier, IBM has not only mainframe, small machine and other business, in the x86 server area is covered from entry-level servers to performance comparable to RISC small high-end x86 server, with the development of cloud computing further in-depth, IBM will undoubtedly provide more choices and support for enterprise cloud computing with its diversified products.

(Responsible editor: The good of the Legacy)