[Info-vax] Chiphead News: Intel announces new Kaby Lake processors

[Kerry Main]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: Info-vax [mailto:info-vax-bounces at rbnsn.com] On
> Behalf Of johnwallace4--- via Info-vax
> Sent: 02-Sep-16 2:19 PM
> To: info-vax at rbnsn.com
> Cc: johnwallace4 at yahoo.co.uk
> Subject: Re: [Info-vax] Chiphead News: Intel announces
> new Kaby Lake processors
> 

[snip...]

> 
> Mostly agreed, but reallocation of "hardware" resources
> (memory,
> processors, IO) isn't relevant to commodity OSes - it's not
> relevant that they can't do it, because the IT department
> rely
> on the HYPErvisor to provide that functionality (generally).
> 
> How do you tune a VAX? Give it more memory.
> 
> How do you tune an x86 system? Buy a newer one.
> 

That and the 3 year green fielding on a 1 to 1 basis is what led to the infamous industry server sprawl. This then led to all of the massive X86 server hardware consolidation initiatives and is the primary reason why VMware has become so popular.

When C level exec's found out 90+% of their servers were less than 15% busy in peak times they freaked. The analogy is what would a manger do if 90+% of their employees were only 15% busy at their busiest times?

Think about the following-
Server X is 50% busy and 3 years old. It gets replaced by a cheaper server that is approx. 25% faster. The workload on the new server is now maybe 30% busy at peak times. In 3 years, even though it's not busy, that server is again green fielded with a cheaper server that is approx. 25% faster. Now, the workload on that server is 15% in peak times.

Along comes VMware with its ability to reduce Server HW costs, but still enable to one business app per OS instance model and bingo - IT staff can show they reduced HW costs.

Course, now VM sprawl is the 800lb gorilla in the room and IT shops are struggling as to how to address. The issue is that the OS instance is a bigger cost than the server HW, so VM sprawl is now a huge issue. 

Typical IT discussion today - "we used to have 150 servers /OS instances to manage. Then we got smart and consolidated the server HW down to 30 servers. Isn't that great!" Then the question is asked "so how many OS instances do you manage today?" and the answer is typically something like 500+.

Ah well, the more things change, the more they stay the same.

:-)


Regards,

Kerry Main
Kerry dot main at starkgaming dot com