| How to Reduce Costs & Increase Productivity | | | | concurrency of hundreds and thousands of users, will |
| Do you have too many servers? | | | | directly benefit from increased performance by |
| Many companies realize that they have too many | | | | migrating to 64-bit architecture solution. For example, |
| servers or maybe they need to upgrade to the latest | | | | an existing 32-bit based application, after migration to a |
| version of SQL Server. They know they are spending | | | | 64-bit software and hardware architecture, one will |
| too much money on maintenance and equipment. Of | | | | see immediate performance gains when taking on |
| course, they have the unfortunate bogus idea that the | | | | more complex workloads and processing large |
| cost would be enormous. There were three | | | | amounts of data. |
| companies called BeechTek, Tovar and Orlantek that | | | | Organizations that move to an Itanium 2-based |
| did extensive research on this problem. The results of | | | | platform can not only address current performance |
| that research, and how that research can greatly | | | | issues, but also gain familiarity with architecture that will |
| facilitate your company is truly amazing. The following | | | | be able to keep up with scalable demands in the near |
| information has nothing to do with software upgrades, | | | | and intermediate future. |
| clusters or any other useless old solutions. The whole | | | | Scalability Benefits |
| point is if you could set up one server instead of one | | | | Microsoft SQL Server 2000 (64-bit) has removed any |
| hundred, greatly increase data security, reduce the | | | | remaining barriers left for scaling line of business |
| overall cost and generate a 30-40% increase in | | | | applications. Applications that access a very large |
| performance, would that help your company? You Bet! | | | | multi-terabyte database, data warehousing applications, |
| I will try to convey what is happening in the tech | | | | business intelligence applications, decision support |
| community, who is at fault, who is trying to make a | | | | systems, modeling for scientific and financial |
| positive change and what you can do. I will also talk | | | | applications, complex business applications and |
| briefly the benefits and features of this new | | | | electronic resource planning systems (such as |
| technology. The rest is up to you. | | | | PeopleSoft, SAP, and Baan), online transaction |
| What the big companies do not want you to hear and | | | | processing (OLTP) applications, data mining and sleuth |
| their psychology | | | | of other database applications, now have the ability to |
| The Japanese have been at this longer then we have | | | | achieve exponential scalability when deployed on a |
| my friends! Unfortunately, when Japan or another | | | | 64-bit hardware solution. Microsoft SQL Server 2000 |
| country develops a new technology, it seems | | | | (64-bit) can support up to 64 CPUs and 512 GB of |
| everyone else around the world has heard about it for | | | | RAM. From a database performance perspective the |
| at least six months or even years before the general | | | | 64-bit architecture provides super-computer like |
| American IT techs even learn about it. Since Japan still | | | | computing power to database applications. The bar of |
| holds its position as the worlds technology leader, we | | | | scalability for line of business and data warehousing |
| need to realize it can benefit a business more if we | | | | applications has been raised by Microsoft SQL Server |
| actually research what is out there than finding out | | | | 2000 (64-bit) to levels unimaginable on the 32-bit |
| from our sales person or IBM, DELL, HP or other | | | | versions. With NEC Express5800/1000 series Itanium2 |
| companies. Lets get down to brass tacks. When is the | | | | servers, customers can not only benefit from such |
| last time any company asked you if you would be | | | | record-breaking performance, but can also enjoy an |
| open to new ideas to your issues, not to sell you | | | | overall reduced total cost of ownership. |
| something but to see if you even have a problem | | | | Database and Server Consolidation Benefits |
| instead of giving you a sales pitch? Sure, I am always | | | | The concept of database and server consolidation |
| open to new ideas, I have to be, so that I can be on | | | | has taken an all-together different dimension with the |
| the leading edge of technology and my company can | | | | advent of 64-bit computing. Microsoft SQL Server |
| be ahead of my competition. I just seem to always get | | | | 2000 (64-bit) supports up to 16 instances of database |
| the sales pitch! I want a sales person to honestly look | | | | service on a single machine. Prior to 64-bit, enterprise |
| at my issues and honestly state if they can help me or | | | | customers were not really able to leverage this |
| are they are just trying to sale me their products. | | | | feature due to limitations inherent in the 32-bit |
| Imagine IBM stating, "We are sorry but we think HP | | | | Windows operating system. These limitations have |
| has a better server that fits your needs." But of | | | | been extinct from 64-bit implementations. For example, |
| course that will not happen. So what can you do? The | | | | under 64-bit, NECExpress 5800/1000 series customers |
| only thing you can do, research. | | | | can expand from 8 CPUs all the way up to 32 CPUs. |
| It is unfortunate that many suppliers hide information | | | | This allows customers for the first time to implement |
| about new technology - and I promise they hear about | | | | true database and server consolidation without having |
| this technology. We know that most companies get | | | | to worry about running out of horsepower as their |
| their paycheck from constantly selling new equipment | | | | business grows. |
| and servicing your company when a server goes | | | | The Difference between 32-bit and 64-bit computing |
| down. It is clearly obvious that they have very little | | | | A 64 bit operating system supports far more virtual |
| intention to sell you a better server with 99.99% or | | | | memory than a 32-bit operating system. For example, |
| 99.999% up time or selling one server that can take | | | | 32-bit Windows Server 2003 supports 4 GB of virtual |
| the place of one hundred other servers. They think | | | | memory, while 64-bit Windows supports 16 TB of |
| they will go out of business. The truth is it is morally | | | | virtual memory. Non-paged pool memory (an area of |
| and ethically better to sell a real solution that might | | | | system memory reserved for objects that must |
| make you far less money in the short term and build a | | | | remain in physical memory as long as they are active) |
| trusting relationship with respect because they will | | | | increases substantially, up to 128 GB for the 64-bit |
| always ask you for help and word gets around about | | | | platform compared to 256 MB maximum for the 32-bit |
| your quality and ethical standards. In short, you are | | | | platform. With these new higher limits, the scalability |
| looking out for their interests. And that my friend, is | | | | that the 64-bit platform offers is enormous in terms of |
| priceless. | | | | terminal server clients, page pools, network |
| How can I consolidate and still save money? | | | | connections, and so on. The 64-bit alone can increase |
| So with that said, what server can replace 100 other | | | | speeds further than anything most people can |
| servers? We found many companies that have a | | | | comprehend. With the new Intel® Dual Core |
| special server based on Intel Itanium technology and | | | | Processor with hyper-threading this will of course, |
| that is what this article is about. NEC developed a | | | | increase the processing speeds, let me try to show |
| better quality server called the Express5800/1000 | | | | you the magnitude of this. Let me say the fastest |
| series, that is based on the newest Intel Itanium2 | | | | server is like a snail crawling on the sidewalk, the CPU |
| dual-core processor technology. Before we go on I | | | | in a Itanium2 with the Intel® 64 bit Dual Core |
| know what your thinking, "but the cost must be | | | | Processor with hyper-threading would be equivalent to |
| enormous, after all, one server that can replace up to | | | | a fighter jet hitting the speed of Mach 1. |
| one-hundred servers?" Surprisingly we found out that | | | | NOTE: I am being very conservative here. |
| is not the case at all. Although there are other Itanium | | | | Last words |
| type of servers out there, the NEC Express5800/1000 | | | | Folks, when we finished researching this data, we |
| series Itanium2 with 64 bit computing, not only had the | | | | knew that NEC has a wonderful product, I just wished I |
| best secure speeds (holds the worlds speed record), | | | | had owned stock in the company because I sincerely |
| best quality, but also has the highest usable features | | | | believe this server has what it takes to dominate that |
| and by far is the best bang for the buck. The most | | | | market in that field of servers. We couldn't believe this |
| important benefits are not how it will greatly increase | | | | technology was being released to the public and |
| production but how much money it will save your | | | | truthfully, we also believe this will change what |
| company. | | | | businesses use. The NEC server has nearly 10 times |
| Now how much do all your servers cost? What are | | | | the throughput of 32-bit systems, over twice the |
| the electricity costs? Do not forget all the licenses for | | | | performance of 32-bit systems. It is loaded with |
| the OS, applications, maintenance, upgrades etc. And | | | | features like self healing system management and is |
| of course there is the cost of down-time (which most | | | | 20-30% faster then IBM and HP RISC servers. We |
| companies still use clusters and other old solutions - | | | | have found that it is 30% faster then other |
| read my other article on about a server with 99.999% | | | | competitors servers at about 1/3 the price! It runs 90% |
| guaranteed up time) which many companies have | | | | of database applications, including Microsoft SQL |
| pinned down the cost, ranging from $8,000 to $6.5M | | | | Server, IBM DB2 and Oracle. NEC's Itanium machine is |
| per hour, depending on tour industry. | | | | by far the MOST POWERFUL, SPACE-EFFICIENT, |
| Yes, it really adds up but lets look at a server that can | | | | COST-EFFECTIVE 64-BIT COMPUTING SOLUTION |
| really "serve" your business. There is a wave of 64-bit | | | | AVAILABLE. From their super computer-based cross |
| architecture based solutions entering the market place. | | | | bar technology to mirrored memory, NEC has thought |
| More and more companies are inquiring about the | | | | up of just about everything. These particular servers in |
| benefits of migrating to a 64 bit system. Though the | | | | comparison to others we have researched are by far |
| benefits may seem obvious, it is important to | | | | the best deal. You see, for every hundred servers |
| understand exactly how different the 32-bit and 64-bit | | | | replaced by one NEC Express5800/100 series |
| environments are and what type of hardware can | | | | Itanium2 you would have |
| best leverage the exponential performance capabilities | | | | 1. Greatly reduced the costs from buying multiple |
| offered by the 64-bit deployment. We found that NEC | | | | machines |
| has established itself as the leader in the 64-bit | | | | 2. Saved from using all those multiple Operating |
| hardware solutions space from not only being around | | | | Systems licenses |
| te longest in the Itanium2 space but also by introducing | | | | 3. The ability to run multiple applications |
| with the World's best non-clustered TPC-H results on | | | | 4. Maintenance for only one machine! |
| Windows(TM) Server 2003 with SQL Server 2000 | | | | 5. Your system will have over 99.99% up time |
| (64-bit). | | | | (clusters rate at 99.9%) and with the NEC disaster |
| We will attempt to explain 64-bit computing | | | | recovery - no data loss! |
| implementation, which applications benefit from 64-bit | | | | 6. Significantly reduce the electric bill alone with only |
| solutions, and the key differences and benefits of | | | | one server and the cooling bill for the data center! |
| migrating from 32-bit to a 64-bit architecture. Though, | | | | 7. Your clients and staff will have their data faster than |
| the performance benefits of 64-bit can be | | | | ever before! |
| experienced by many high-end workstations and | | | | 8. You will get more than 35-45 increase in production |
| server applications such high-traffic e-commerce sites, | | | | capacity! Remember the speeds these have not only |
| computer-aided engineering, and high-performance | | | | are unbelievable, but the way it gets that data from |
| scientific and engineering computing, this article | | | | the server is also very high tech. |
| discusses specific benefits on Microsoft® SQL | | | | 9. Very simple to manage and the quality of NEC |
| Server 2000 (64-bit). We will discuss how to leverage | | | | products are state of the art. |
| the 64-bit architecture to gain record performance on | | | | The most important thing I'm sure you want to know is |
| large database management systems, data mining and | | | | yes, the price is very affordable! The main point is |
| server consolidation solutions. Extreme high | | | | there are many options for your IT data center, |
| performance servers are the top candidates for the | | | | company or Office. Not all solutions work for all people |
| 64-bit platform. Specially, large scale database | | | | but if you need a data crunching server, SQL Server |
| management systems like Microsoft SQL Server | | | | or a server Microsoft would be proud of( and they use |
| 2000 (64-bit). The 64-bit environment allows a large | | | | the NEC Express5800/1000 series Itanium2 in their |
| addressable memory pool and offers newly optimized | | | | data center), I would recommend the NEC Itanium2 |
| processing capabilities leveraging the Intel Itanium2 | | | | server-in a heart beat, they are unbelievably fast and |
| processor. Any application demanding high speed | | | | very reliable(99.99% - more than a cluster)! I really |
| processor utilization, significant bus I/O speed, storing | | | | hope this helps. If you have any questions feel free to |
| large amounts of data in memory cache, and high | | | | contact me! |