Potential Low-power weapon ARM architecture server attack

There is no doubt that power consumption has been a problem for the Enterprise data center operation of the cost burden, the pursuit of power consumption has also driven the server manufacturers to develop more energy-efficient design. Compared with the x86 processor, ARM has many advantages, such as low power consumption, low cost, high execution efficiency, and extensive partner support, the introduction of the related server processor products and the deployment on the server. And in 2012, the development of server based on ARM architecture is very strong.

As early as last year, HP announced the launch of the world's first arm server based on the Ubuntu 11.10 operating system, and HP announced its "Project moonshot" when the new server product line, HP ProLiant Generation 8 (GEN8), was unveiled this month. Lunar eclipse plan). In this project, HP will use Calxeda chips based on ARM processors in its own servers, providing high-performance computing power for cloud-related workloads, and says the first server based on ARM architecture will start testing consumer-oriented in the second quarter. More than Hewlett-Packard, Dell, which has just released its 12G PowerEdge server, said it had a plan to make an ARM architecture server a year ago.

　　
▲ HP launches the first server based on ARM architecture

Last November, the Calxeda company released the "Energycore" processor, which also heralded the start of the ARM processor application in the server. The server product based on ARM Energycore processor is known as "the server on the chip", can deploy 120 processors in 2U rack space, total 480 cores, the lowest power of each core can be as low as 1.5 watts.

Energycore architecture, combined with 80,000 gigabit fiber switches and software design, uses embedded monolithic silicon chip integrated management engine, optimizes the power supply. With a variety of I/O features and 4MB cache, enabling users to build a complete server node with a power consumption of only five watts. Calxeda published data, ARM architecture server performance Power consumption is x86 server 5~10 times, the price advantage can reach 15~20 times.

▲calxeda designed a set of integrated four-node "Energycard" scheme

Calxeda's products originated in the mobile communications industry, designed Energycore processors based on processing capabilities, space and energy efficiency, thereby improving the power and performance balance of server processors in the current marketplace. "Calxeda dramatically reduces the cost of large computations, such as Web services, analytics and cloud computing, while reducing energy and space requirements by as much as 90%," says Karl Freund, vice president of marketing at Calxeda. ”

As a future prospect, Calxeda will position itself in the data center area and will follow the specialization trend of new performance computing density. "We believe that the server market will change dramatically over the next five years, from a single market to different hardware solutions, tailored to specific workloads and optimize the market." Freund said: "The ARM based server will be an important part of this trend, because each arm supplier has a specific advantage in the market to provide a compatible software environment for application developers." ”

Calxeda launched the Energycore processor has won the recognition of key customers, HP has been working with Calxeda to develop new, Low-power server platforms, and by Calxeda to provide power technology.

From the Calxeda roadmap, the company will deliver the first set of systems to OEMs and server vendors in the second and third quarters, and will launch next-generation products that integrate arm V8 engines.

(Responsible editor: The good of the Legacy)