The team of IBM Labs has been hard at work putting their new IBM Flex System x222 Compute Node ™ to the test with Citrix XenDesktop, and the results are both innovative and impressive. But before entering the numbers, it is important to understand that the x222 is much more than just a new blade server. It is a dual node server high density that is designed for virtualization deployments dense clouds, and hosted customers. The x222 has two independent servers in a single mechanical package; a dual density design that enables up to 28 servers to be housed in a single 10U chassis Flex system. And before you think you've seen this act before, let me assure you that the numbers below show the two x222 servers are capable of independent machines, magically crammed into a single blade. And thanks to some very clever technique by IBM, which enabled a rapid and smooth integration between nodes and fault tolerance and disaster recovery intelligent.
For specific and technical, let's look at the datasheets for the IBM® Flex ™ System x222 Compute Node:
- Two independent servers in a single mechanical package to maximize capacity calculation
- Powered by the E5-2400 processor family with Intel Xeon products -CORE eight processors with core speeds up to 2.3 GHz, up to 20 MB of L3 cache
- There are 12 DIMM sockets in each dual node server, which support low profile (LP) RDIMM and LRDIMM, with total capacity up to 384 GB with 32 GB LRDIMM
- supports speeds memory up to 10 MHz
- support for 2.5-inch drives and 1.8-inch solid state (SSD)
More information see here: http://www.redbooks.ibm.com/abstracts/tips1036.html
And now look at why I'm so excited that these new blades can bring to the Desktop Virtualization market. For context, please note 3 things first:
- These figures (and many more) are available in a reference architecture published recently written by our friends at IBM Labs: Infrastructure IBM Smart Cloud Desktop
- to the bearing test this RA were performed with :. VMware® ESXi ™ 5.1, and Login VSI ™ Medium Worker workload, using Citrix PVS server
- reference architecture actually covers both the new x222 and lades as the new and more traditional Flex System x240 IBM is also presented. (Clear guidance is provided as to when and why each type of blade should be used.)
The results: The IBM test shows that when configured with E5-2470 processors x2 2 9 GHz and 192 GB of RAM, a single server in the blade x222 can accommodate 152 concurrent users.
While this is certainly impressive and solid number, and proves my first statement that each twin nodes IBM x222 servers are real and capable servers. It does not really justify the title of my blog ... at least not yet. For this, we have to play a little numbers further and use the power of many.
x222 1 = two blade servers each supporting 152 workers average VDI task .... Or 304 medium task workers to the footprint of a single blade.
But do not we stop there ...
Each Flex Chassis 10U system holds 14 blades X222 ... so that means, drum roll please .. ..
VDI 4256 users in a single blade chassis !!!
OK so maybe I went a little too far now as the IBM reference architecture highlights, you should always anticipate disaster and add space to run recovery mode. And of course, your mileage may vary depending on your applications and user types. However, the power of the platform, and innovation of the solution is clearly demonstrated here. And all the RA includes very clear instructions so you can easily include your disaster recovery for requirements in designing your deployment.
And please do not think I gave away all the reasons to read the Reference Architecture. Here are some more reasons to spend your coffee break in the morning with the IBM Smart Cloud Desktop Infrastructure with Citrix XenDesktop RA in hand.
- If you move to faster processors? They have an answer ... E5-2680 vs. E5-260 with real numbers and a cost analysis
- Is there such a thing as too much RAM? They investigate this as well, and include a tid bit interesting about reduced bus speeds with some choice of high density RAM configuration
- What if you want to assign two virtual processors by users? Read RA ... they did the test and have your answers
Now, it is true this reference architecture is based on XenDesktop 5.6, but I have it on good authority that same team is already working to develop an upgrade to XenDesktop 7 results, and I can not wait to see what the architects more in the IBM labs come with next.
0 Komentar