Server updates can improve data center stability

Traditional server update cycle is about once every five years, but in the past 10 years due to the development of new technologies, accelerated the speed of server replacement. So what is the server update cycle now? The answer may not be simple, but there are a number of important factors prompting the server to update.

Each data center will periodically update the server and critical hardware. Enterprise Update equipment is to improve the stability of the data center, upgrade the corresponding functions, and ultimately achieve the goal of saving money.

Traditional server update cycle is about once every five years, but in the past 10 years due to the development of new technologies, accelerated the speed of server replacement. So what is the server update cycle now? The answer may not be simple, but there are a number of important factors prompting the server to update.

First, find new features and functions of the server

When your existing server reaches the update cycle, it is difficult or even impossible to delay the update. Remember that a few years ago, INTELTV and AMDV integrated virtualization technology into the CPU, so the virtualization server (VM) using these CPUs was significantly improved in performance.

The progress of virtualization technology is not only one aspect of the processor. Memory plays an important role in the server virtual environment, because virtual machines are essentially disk images that reside in server memory. More memory means higher levels of consolidation, and the stability of memory affects the overall stability of all virtual machines on the server. As a result, memory features may contain improvements to the error-correcting code memory, the ability to extend multiple-bit errors on a single memory device across the entire memory device pool, when a memory device is not recoverable, the added free memory is allocated to additional memory devices in a timely manner, and includes fault-tolerant memory for replicating memory content across devices, similar to RAID1.

Future server features may include support for new chipsets, can handle more memory types, faster I/O, higher bus speeds, and more.

Ii. Assessing the economy for rental or leasing of systems

Many companies have their own servers, and many leasing forms are available for organization to choose from, as well as allowing organizations to get newer and more powerful hardware facilities while converting their fundraising costs to operational costs. In addition, the server vendor provides a two-choice payment model for eligible businesses, such as installment payments.

Companies may hesitate to speed up the server hardware update cycle because they are reluctant to invest more frequently. In addition, companies do not want to frequently update hardware on the basis of frequent processing of replacement hardware devices. Traditional leasing server forms can reduce the financial burden of enterprises and solve the problems of old hardware disposal.

Third, find the server additional computing power

Server virtualization drives the development of processor design and computing capabilities. Consolidation projects and desktop virtualization can benefit from the server update cycle when investments allow for higher levels of consolidation. For example, the intel® e7-2803 server has 6 core and 12-thread Xeon processors, but the next-generation Intel e7-8870 server has 10 core and 20-thread processors. Computing power is further enhanced when a new generation of servers with two or four processor sockets is obtained.

Iv. finding the return on electricity investment

In the operation cost of the data center, electricity cost is the main part, so the effective reduction of power cost will have beneficial influence on the financial condition of the enterprise. Taking into account the effectiveness of the integration of the service, by updating the powerful server to replace the older server system, the enterprise to perform the same amount of computing only a small number of systems. Fewer physical servers require less total power-the cost savings that an enterprise can see every month. Moving to the next generation server can save enough cost to pay for technical updates.

Handling replacement devices is one of the drawbacks of newer technologies. Virtualization abstracts the workload from the underlying hardware, largely overcoming the reliance of traditional hardware. This provides an additional option for older devices. For example, old devices can be reassigned, used for testing and development, moved to work groups or departments to assume computational tasks, or assigned to branch offices and remote data as standby servers to continue to run. These choices allow the device to run for a longer period of time in the enterprise.

Considering system distribution and cooling improvement

Because the new server provides more capacity in a smaller space, resolving data center space congestion or thermal problems will speed up server technology updates. For example, your current 4U rack server contains computing power that may provide the same effect on a 1U rack server.

As a result, new servers with smaller footprint will allow data center administrators to redistribute server hardware across rack space. This can improve the cooling air flow mode and reduce the "hot spot" of the equipment. If you are deploying a cooling device to reduce the data center operating temperature, it is recommended that the current U.S. heating, refrigeration and air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) standards be used to reduce the cooling costs. In addition, eliminating hotspots can improve system stability, reducing downtime and service disruption.