Cloud Build
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Overview
The "Cloud Build" server configuration is a high-performance, scalable server solution designed to meet the rigorous demands of continuous integration, continuous delivery (CI/CD) pipelines, software compilation, and large-scale data processing. This document details the hardware specifications, performance characteristics, recommended use cases, comparisons with similar configurations, and maintenance considerations for the Cloud Build server. It is intended for system administrators, DevOps engineers, and hardware support personnel.
1. Hardware Specifications
The Cloud Build server is built around a robust and carefully selected set of components to maximize performance and reliability. The following table details the specifications:
| Component | Specification |
|---|---|
| CPU | Dual Intel Xeon Gold 6338 (32 Cores/64 Threads per CPU), Total 64 Cores / 128 Threads |
| CPU Clock Speed | Base: 2.0 GHz, Turbo Boost: 3.4 GHz |
| Chipset | Intel C621A |
| RAM | 256 GB DDR4 ECC RDIMM, 3200 MHz, 8 x 32 GB Modules |
| RAM Configuration | Octa-channel memory architecture |
| Storage - OS/Boot | 512 GB NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD (Read: 7000 MB/s, Write: 5500 MB/s) - See Storage Technologies for more details |
| Storage - Build/Data | 8 x 4 TB SAS 12Gbps 7.2K RPM Enterprise HDD in RAID 6 configuration (Usable Capacity: 24 TB) - See RAID Configurations for information on RAID levels |
| Storage - Temporary/Cache | 2 x 2 TB NVMe PCIe Gen3 SSD (Read: 3500 MB/s, Write: 3000 MB/s) configured in RAID 1 - See SSD Performance Characteristics |
| Network Interface | Dual 100 Gigabit Ethernet (100GbE) - Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx - See Network Interface Cards |
| Power Supply | 2 x 1600W Redundant 80+ Platinum Power Supplies - See Power Supply Units |
| Motherboard | Supermicro X12DPG-QT6 |
| Chassis | 4U Rackmount Server Chassis with Hot-Swap Bays |
| Cooling | Redundant Hot-Swap Fans with N+1 Redundancy - See Server Cooling Systems |
| Remote Management | Integrated IPMI 2.0 with dedicated network port - See IPMI and Remote Management |
| GPU | None (Optional: up to two NVIDIA Tesla A100 GPUs can be added for accelerated builds - See GPU Acceleration) |
Note: Configurations can be customized with different RAM capacities, storage configurations, and optional GPU acceleration based on specific workload requirements. Contact Sales Department for custom configuration options.
2. Performance Characteristics
The Cloud Build server configuration is designed for consistent and high performance in demanding workloads. The following benchmark results and real-world performance data provide insights into its capabilities.
Benchmark Results:
- CPU Performance (SPECint_rate2017): 285 (Higher is better) - This benchmark measures the integer processing rate, vital for compilation tasks.
- CPU Performance (SPECfp_rate2017): 210 (Higher is better) - This benchmark measures the floating-point processing rate, important for scientific computing and some build processes.
- Storage Performance (IOPS - RAID 6): 12,000 IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) - Measured using FIO, simulating a typical CI/CD workload.
- Network Throughput (100GbE): 95 Gbps sustained throughput - Measured using iperf3.
- Compilation Time (Linux Kernel): 18 minutes - Compilation time for the latest stable Linux kernel using GCC 11.2 with -O2 optimization. This was performed with 64 concurrent compilation jobs.
Real-World Performance (Based on customer deployments):
- Docker Image Build Time (Complex Application): Average build time reduced by 40% compared to previous generation servers.
- Jenkins Build Pipeline Execution Time: Average pipeline execution time reduced by 35%.
- Large-Scale Data Processing (Spark): 2x faster processing speeds compared to servers with lower CPU core counts and slower storage. This is dependent on the specific data processing task. Refer to Spark Performance Tuning for detailed optimizations.
- Software Compilation (Large Codebase): Significant reduction in compilation times for projects with over 1 million lines of code.
These results demonstrate the Cloud Build server's ability to handle computationally intensive tasks efficiently. Performance will vary based on the specific workload and configuration options. Monitoring tools such as Performance Monitoring Tools are recommended for continuous performance assessment.
3. Recommended Use Cases
The Cloud Build server configuration is ideally suited for the following applications:
- **Continuous Integration/Continuous Delivery (CI/CD):** The high CPU core count, fast storage, and high-speed networking make it perfect for running CI/CD pipelines with tools like Jenkins, GitLab CI, CircleCI, and Azure DevOps. See CI/CD Best Practices for optimal pipeline design.
- **Software Compilation:** The powerful CPU and ample RAM accelerate software compilation processes, reducing build times for large projects.
- **Large-Scale Data Processing:** The server can handle demanding data processing tasks using frameworks like Apache Spark, Hadoop, and Flink.
- **Virtualization & Containerization:** The server can efficiently run multiple virtual machines or containers, providing a flexible and scalable environment. See Virtualization Technologies and Containerization with Docker for more information.
- **Game Development:** Fast compilation and asset processing are critical for game development. This configuration provides the necessary performance.
- **Machine Learning Model Training (with optional GPU):** Adding NVIDIA Tesla A100 GPUs transforms the server into a potent machine learning platform.
- **Video Encoding/Transcoding:** The CPU’s core count and high memory bandwidth are beneficial for video processing tasks.
4. Comparison with Similar Configurations
The Cloud Build server configuration competes with several other server options. The following table compares it to two similar configurations: "Build Standard" and "Build Elite".
| Feature | Cloud Build | Build Standard | Build Elite |
|---|---|---|---|
| CPU | Dual Intel Xeon Gold 6338 (64 Cores) | Dual Intel Xeon Silver 4310 (32 Cores) | Dual Intel Xeon Platinum 8380 (80 Cores) |
| RAM | 256 GB DDR4 3200 MHz | 128 GB DDR4 2666 MHz | 512 GB DDR4 3200 MHz |
| OS Storage | 512 GB NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD | 256 GB NVMe PCIe Gen3 SSD | 1 TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD |
| Build/Data Storage | 24 TB SAS RAID 6 | 12 TB SAS RAID 5 | 48 TB SAS RAID 6 |
| Network | Dual 100GbE | Dual 25GbE | Dual 100GbE with RDMA |
| Price (USD - Approximate) | $18,000 | $12,000 | $28,000 |
| Target Workload | High-demand CI/CD, Large-scale compilation. | Moderate CI/CD, Smaller codebases. | Extremely demanding workloads, Large-scale ML. |
Build Standard: Offers a more cost-effective solution for smaller projects and less demanding CI/CD pipelines. It provides adequate performance for many common tasks, but may struggle with very large codebases or concurrent builds. See Build Standard Server Configuration for details.
Build Elite: Delivers maximum performance for the most demanding workloads, such as large-scale machine learning training and extremely complex software compilation. It offers higher CPU core counts, more RAM, and faster storage, but comes at a significantly higher price. See Build Elite Server Configuration for details.
The Cloud Build configuration strikes a balance between performance and cost, making it a versatile option for a wide range of applications. Consider your specific workload requirements and budget when choosing the appropriate configuration.
5. Maintenance Considerations
Maintaining the Cloud Build server requires careful attention to cooling, power, and component monitoring.
Cooling:
- The server utilizes redundant hot-swap fans to ensure continuous cooling. Regularly check fan status via the IPMI interface.
- Maintain a clean and well-ventilated data center environment. See Data Center Environmental Control for best practices.
- Monitor CPU and component temperatures using Server Monitoring Software. High temperatures can lead to performance degradation and potential hardware failure.
- Dust accumulation can impede airflow. Periodically clean the server chassis and fans.
Power Requirements:
- The server requires two dedicated 120V/240V power circuits with a minimum of 30 amps each.
- Ensure proper grounding to prevent electrical hazards.
- Use a UPS (Uninterruptible Power Supply) to protect against power outages. See UPS Systems for more information.
- Monitor power supply health via the IPMI interface.
Storage Management:
- Regularly monitor storage utilization and performance.
- Implement a robust backup and disaster recovery plan. See Data Backup and Recovery Strategies
- Periodically check the health of the RAID array and replace failed drives promptly.
- Consider data compression and deduplication techniques to optimize storage usage.
Network Management:
- Monitor network traffic and bandwidth usage.
- Implement network security measures to protect against unauthorized access. See Server Security Best Practices
- Regularly update network firmware and drivers.
General Maintenance:
- Regularly update the server's operating system and software packages.
- Monitor system logs for errors and warnings.
- Perform preventative maintenance tasks as recommended by the hardware vendor.
- Maintain detailed documentation of the server configuration and maintenance procedures. See Server Documentation Standards
By following these maintenance considerations, you can ensure the long-term reliability and performance of the Cloud Build server. ```
Intel-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Core i7-6700K/7700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 512 GB | CPU Benchmark: 8046 |
| Core i7-8700 Server | 64 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2x1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 13124 |
| Core i9-9900K Server | 128 GB DDR4, NVMe SSD 2 x 1 TB | CPU Benchmark: 49969 |
| Core i9-13900 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i9-13900 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (64GB) | 64 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Server (128GB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x500 GB NVMe SSD | |
| Core i5-13500 Workstation | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2 NVMe SSD, NVIDIA RTX 4000 |
AMD-Based Server Configurations
| Configuration | Specifications | Benchmark |
|---|---|---|
| Ryzen 5 3600 Server | 64 GB RAM, 2x480 GB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 17849 |
| Ryzen 7 7700 Server | 64 GB DDR5 RAM, 2x1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 35224 |
| Ryzen 9 5950X Server | 128 GB RAM, 2x4 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 46045 |
| Ryzen 9 7950X Server | 128 GB DDR5 ECC, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 63561 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/1TB) | 128 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/2TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (128GB/4TB) | 128 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/1TB) | 256 GB RAM, 1 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 7502P Server (256GB/4TB) | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe | CPU Benchmark: 48021 |
| EPYC 9454P Server | 256 GB RAM, 2x2 TB NVMe |
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⚠️ *Note: All benchmark scores are approximate and may vary based on configuration. Server availability subject to stock.* ⚠️