Rack Servers

I got an email asking about using a Smart Array 5312 controller in a HP Proliant DL380 G3, more specifically about the array controller battery, with this in mind and doing some research, I found this article about the controller which provides some information.

Remember if you’re going to use a pci array controller and you’ve already got an on-board contoller you might need to change the boot order in your server by usually pressing the F10 option (if I remember correctly). I had a server (which I bought last week), which would not boot to Windows and it was because the boot order got messed up when I did a firmware upgrade on it.

HP and DL385 G5

HP today announced breakthrough networking, storage and server technologies that reduce costs, increase bandwidth flexibility and improve overall performance of virtual server environments.

The HP Virtual Connect Flex-10 Ethernet module, a direct connect storage bundle for HP BladeSystem, and the HP ProLiant DL385 G5p server are among HP’s offerings that are helping customers efficiently deploy their virtualized infrastructures.

While a growing number of companies deploy server virtualization to gain operational savings within their technology infrastructures, the cost of networking virtual servers continues to climb – for example, a typical server that hosts virtual machines requires six network connections.⁽¹⁾

To reap the benefits of their virtualized environment, companies are finding it necessary to invest in additional networking equipment, including network expansion cards, switches and cables. As an example, customers must purchase expensive network switches in either one Gigabit (Gb) or 10Gb increments to meet the increased bandwidth required for additional virtual server workloads.

HP’s new Virtual Connect Flex-10 Ethernet module is the industry’s first interconnect technology that can allocate the bandwidth of a 10Gb Ethernet network port across four network interface card (NIC) connections. This increase in bandwidth flexibility eliminates the need for additional network hardware equipment. As a result, customers deploying virtual machines and utilizing Virtual Connect Flex-10 can realize savings of up to 55 percent in network equipment costs.⁽²⁾

Virtual Connect Flex-10 can save 240 watts of power per HP BladeSystem enclosure – or 3,150 kilowatt hours per year – compared to existing networking technologies.⁽³⁾

“Customers looking to eliminate the common obstacles of networking costs and bandwidth flexibility should look no further than HP,” said Mark Potter, vice president and general manager, BladeSystem, HP. “These technologies break down the barriers of virtualized networks, giving customers the greatest return on their investments.”

Anything the vendors can do to aid customers reducing the amount of energy and cooling required to deliver their IT has to be a good thing. Their new Ethernet Module the Virtual Connect Flex-10 sounds interesting, as does their new DL385 G5 server, I’ll need to read up more about them. The quick specs for the HP Proliant DL385 G5 server are here.

Vnunet

Although originally launched this February in the Philippines, Dell’s R900 PowerEdge was upgraded with Intel Dunnington series six-core processors in October.

The PowerEdge R900 is a rack mount 4U system, which has four processor sockets and can have a maximum of 256GB of system memory. Our system had 16Gb of 667MHz memory installed, and three 2.5in form factor serial attached SCSI (SAS) 10,000 rpm, 146GB hard drives configured as a single virtual disk SCSI device.

A great article talking about the Dell PowerEdge R900, it sounds like an ideal server for virtualization or hosting data bases. An interesting read, do check it out.

CNN Money

IBM (NYSE: IBM) today announced four IBM servers that will feature the new Quad-Core AMD Opteron(TM) processor. The new servers provide the IT efficiency needed in a new enterprise data center, with the BladeCenter LS42 using 16 percent less power than competitive blade offerings.

IBM will deliver new 45nm Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor-based systems that offer exceptional power-efficiency, performance and virtualization capabilities for today’s most demanding datacenters.

That IBM have brought these new servers/blades with the new AMD processors is great news and brings some exciting improvements to their products. I’ll need to read up more, do check them out.

Dell

Dell has launched the “Simplify and Save” blog to help businesses engage and exchange best-practices with Dell, experts and each other on how to win in today’s tough times with smart, simple IT strategies.

At Dell IdeaStorm, customers are also encouraged to share their ideas for how they are simplifying IT and saving in their businesses or how else they would like to see Dell help.

I remain a fan of the Dell blog, it is very cool. It’s always great to see the vendors talking about what they’re doing, and discussing real issues the end user faces. I just wish they’d do this in the support arena - how could would it be if I could have an engineer blog about the server, or the desktop. It’s the real world experience that makes all the difference to the experienced and the new guy to the technology - just being able to ‘google’ blue screen on DL380 or R905 ASR and get a real world answer would be so cool and such a great way of reducing pre-resolving your support calls.

Anyway well done to Dell, may the innovation, the adoption of community and dialogue continue.