[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 David Froble via Info-vax
> Sent: 02-Sep-16 9:56 PM
> To: info-vax at rbnsn.com
> Cc: David Froble <davef at tsoft-inc.com>
> Subject: Re: [Info-vax] Chiphead News: Intel announces
> new Kaby Lake processors
> 
> Kerry Main wrote:
> 
> > 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+.
> 
> 
> Something doesn't add up Kerry.  If they had 150 OS
> instances, and things stayed
> the same, why would they now have 500 OS instances?
> 
> Now, if they are doing more, fine, and expect to pay
more
> for doing more.
> 

In short, very few companies have little, if any, any
governance over VM creation. VM's reproduce like rabbits
multiply. 

Each OS instance needs to be licensed, backed up, OS
upgrades planned, applicable monthly security patches
applied, AV runs setup / monitored, LP's upgraded to match
the company standards etc.

Most companies typically cannot provide any type of record
as to:
- who originally requested the VM?
- who approved the VM (if anyone)?
- how long the VM is expected to be in use (many only
needed for a few weeks, but never get deleted)?
- many VM's are in shutdown state for weeks, but even then
no one wants to delete it and free up resources.

> Another thing to consider, those replacement servers
just
> might be cheaper to run.
> 
> I've sold more than a few new systems, back in the day,
> by pointing out that
> three years of maintenance on the old system would cost
> more than the new system
> with the three year warranty.  The rest of the
advantages
> of the new system was
> gravy.
>

The new X86-64 servers typically require more power -
especially if the new servers are blades.

Re: warranty - many vendors only provide 1 year warranty
and regardless of length, warranty is only 5 days / week 8
hrs/day. If the server needs additional coverage, then you
have to add a maint contract.

While the maint on the new servers is less, since the old
servers are typically only 3-4 years old, it is typically
not that much more.  Especially if you shop around. 

The reason for most of these one-to-one server green field
upgrades is mostly historical. Many companies have now
waken up and are only doing X86-64 server green field
upgrades at the 5 year mark.

Now, contrast that with 15+ year old Alpha or 25+ year old
VAX servers and I would totally agree with you. With these
servers, because of their extreme age, maint costs are a
huge justification factor in upgrading to next gen
systems.


Regards,

Kerry Main
Kerry dot main at starkgaming dot com