Cloud Computing Platforms
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- Cloud Computing Platforms - Technical Documentation
Introduction
This document details the hardware configuration for our “Cloud Computing Platforms” server offering, designed to provide a robust and scalable foundation for a wide range of cloud-based applications. This configuration is optimized for virtualized environments and high-density deployments, focusing on performance, reliability, and energy efficiency. This document is intended for system administrators, IT professionals, and engineers responsible for deploying and maintaining these servers. Refer to Server Hardware Overview for foundational concepts.
1. Hardware Specifications
The Cloud Computing Platforms configuration is built around high-performance components selected for optimal virtualization capabilities. The specific components can vary slightly based on availability and customer requirements, but the following specifications represent the standard build.
Processor (CPU): Two Intel Xeon Platinum 8380 processors (2.3 GHz base frequency, up to 3.4 GHz Turbo Boost, 40 cores/80 threads per processor). These processors utilize the Ice Lake architecture offering significant performance improvements over previous generations. Detailed CPU specs can be found at Intel Xeon Processors.
Memory (RAM): 512 GB DDR4 ECC Registered RAM (3200 MHz) in a 16x32GB configuration. ECC (Error Correcting Code) memory is crucial for server stability and data integrity, especially in virtualized environments. See Memory Technologies for a deeper dive into RAM types. Memory is distributed across eight channels per CPU for maximum bandwidth.
Storage:
- Primary Storage (OS & Applications): 2 x 1.92TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSDs in a RAID 1 configuration. NVMe (Non-Volatile Memory Express) provides significantly faster read/write speeds compared to traditional SATA SSDs. RAID 1 provides redundancy, protecting against drive failure. Refer to RAID Levels for detailed information on RAID configurations.
- Secondary Storage (Data Storage): 8 x 16TB SAS 12Gbps 7.2K RPM HDDs in a RAID 6 configuration. SAS (Serial Attached SCSI) drives offer higher reliability and performance than SATA drives, making them suitable for large-scale data storage. RAID 6 provides dual-drive fault tolerance. See Storage Area Networks for advanced storage concepts.
- Dedicated Hardware RAID Controller: Broadcom MegaRAID SAS 9460-8i RAID controller with 8GB cache. Hardware RAID controllers offload RAID processing from the CPU, improving overall system performance. Details on RAID controllers can be found at RAID Controllers.
Networking:
- Onboard Networking: 2 x 10 Gigabit Ethernet (10GbE) ports.
- Dedicated Network Interface Card (NIC): Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx 25GbE NIC with RDMA support. RDMA (Remote Direct Memory Access) allows for direct memory access between servers, reducing CPU overhead and improving network performance. Explore Networking Technologies for more information.
Power Supply: 2 x 1600W 80+ Platinum certified redundant power supplies. Redundant power supplies ensure continued operation in the event of a power supply failure. See Power Supply Units for details.
Chassis: 2U Rackmount Chassis. Constructed from high-strength steel for durability and featuring optimized airflow for cooling. See Server Chassis for more information.
Motherboard: Supermicro X12DPG-QT6. A server-grade motherboard designed for dual Intel Xeon Platinum processors and supporting a large amount of RAM and expansion slots. Details at Server Motherboards.
Remote Management: Integrated IPMI 2.0 compliant remote management interface with dedicated network port. IPMI (Intelligent Platform Management Interface) allows for remote monitoring and control of the server, even when the operating system is down. Refer to Remote Server Management.
Component | Specification | |
CPU | 2 x Intel Xeon Platinum 8380 | |
RAM | 512GB DDR4 ECC Registered 3200MHz | |
Primary Storage | 2 x 1.92TB NVMe PCIe Gen4 SSD | |
Secondary Storage | 8 x 16TB SAS 12Gbps 7.2K RPM HDD | |
RAID Controller | Broadcom MegaRAID SAS 9460-8i | |
Networking | 2 x 10GbE, 1 x 25GbE (Mellanox ConnectX-6 Dx) | |
Power Supply | 2 x 1600W 80+ Platinum | |
Chassis | 2U Rackmount | |
Motherboard | Supermicro X12DPG-QT6 | |
Remote Management | IPMI 2.0 |
2. Performance Characteristics
The Cloud Computing Platforms configuration delivers exceptional performance for demanding cloud workloads. Performance testing was conducted using industry-standard benchmarks and real-world application simulations.
Benchmark Results:
- SPECvirt_sc2013: Score of 1850 (indicating excellent performance in virtualized environments). This benchmark measures the performance of a virtualized server workload. See Server Benchmarking for more information on SPEC benchmarks.
- PassMark PerformanceTest 10: Overall score of 22,500. A comprehensive benchmark suite evaluating CPU, memory, disk, and graphics performance.
- Iometer: Sustained read/write speeds of 6.5GB/s and 5.8GB/s respectively on the NVMe RAID 1 array. Iometer is a widely used tool for measuring storage performance.
- Network Performance (using iperf3): 23 Gbps throughput between two servers connected via the Mellanox 25GbE NIC with RDMA enabled.
Real-World Performance:
- Virtual Machine Density: Capable of reliably hosting 120-150 virtual machines (VMs) with 4 vCPUs and 16GB RAM per VM. This assumes a typical workload mix.
- Database Performance (PostgreSQL): Demonstrated transaction rates of 150,000 transactions per minute (TPM) under simulated load.
- Web Server Performance (Apache): Capable of serving 50,000 concurrent requests with an average response time of 0.2 seconds.
- Application Server Performance (Java EE): Successfully handled 2,000 concurrent users with an average response time of 0.5 seconds.
These performance metrics are indicative and may vary depending on the specific workload, configuration, and operating system. Performance tuning is crucial for maximizing the effectiveness of this platform. See Performance Optimization for detailed guidance.
3. Recommended Use Cases
The Cloud Computing Platforms configuration is ideally suited for the following use cases:
- Private Cloud Infrastructure: Provides a robust and scalable foundation for building a private cloud environment using virtualization platforms like VMware vSphere, Microsoft Hyper-V, or Proxmox VE.
- Public Cloud Hosting: Suitable for hosting public cloud services, such as virtual servers, storage, and databases. See Cloud Service Models for more information.
- Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI): Supports a large number of virtual desktops with excellent performance and responsiveness.
- Big Data Analytics: Provides the processing power and storage capacity required for running big data analytics applications, such as Hadoop and Spark.
- High-Performance Computing (HPC): Can be used for scientific simulations, financial modeling, and other computationally intensive tasks.
- Database Hosting: Ideal for hosting large and demanding databases, such as Oracle, SQL Server, and MySQL.
- Application Development and Testing: Provides a flexible and scalable environment for developing and testing applications.
- Disaster Recovery: Can be used as a disaster recovery site for critical applications and data.
4. Comparison with Similar Configurations
The Cloud Computing Platforms configuration occupies a premium position in our server lineup. Here’s a comparison with similar options:
Configuration | CPU | RAM | Storage | Networking | |
Entry-Level Cloud | Intel Xeon Silver 4310 | 128GB DDR4 | 2 x 960GB SSD (RAID1) | 2 x 1GbE | |
Mid-Range Cloud | Intel Xeon Gold 6338 | 256GB DDR4 | 2 x 1.92TB NVMe (RAID1), 4 x 8TB SAS (RAID6) | 2 x 10GbE | |
Cloud Computing Platforms | Intel Xeon Platinum 8380 | 512GB DDR4 | 2 x 1.92TB NVMe (RAID1), 8 x 16TB SAS (RAID6) | 2 x 10GbE, 1 x 25GbE (RDMA) | |
High-End Cloud | Intel Xeon Platinum 8480+ | 1TB DDR4 | 4 x 3.84TB NVMe (RAID10), 16 x 24TB SAS (RAID6) | 4 x 25GbE (RDMA) |
Key Differences:
- CPU Performance: The Cloud Computing Platforms configuration offers significantly higher CPU performance compared to entry-level and mid-range options, thanks to the Intel Xeon Platinum processors.
- Memory Capacity: The 512GB of RAM allows for greater VM density and improved performance for memory-intensive applications.
- Storage Capacity & Speed: The combination of NVMe SSDs and SAS HDDs provides a balance of speed and capacity, suitable for a wide range of workloads.
- Networking Capabilities: The inclusion of a 25GbE NIC with RDMA support provides significantly faster network performance compared to 1GbE and 10GbE options.
- Cost: The Cloud Computing Platforms configuration is the most expensive option, reflecting its superior performance and capabilities.
Choosing the right configuration depends on the specific requirements of the application and budget constraints. Consider Total Cost of Ownership when making your decision.
5. Maintenance Considerations
Maintaining the Cloud Computing Platforms configuration requires careful attention to several key areas.
Cooling:
- Airflow: Ensure adequate airflow around the server to prevent overheating. The 2U chassis is designed for front-to-back airflow.
- Data Center Temperature: Maintain a data center temperature between 20-25°C (68-77°F).
- Fan Monitoring: Regularly monitor fan speeds and temperatures using the IPMI interface.
- Liquid Cooling (Optional): For extremely high-density deployments, consider implementing liquid cooling solutions. Explore Data Center Cooling Techniques.
Power Requirements:
- Power Consumption: The server can draw up to 1400W under full load.
- Redundant Power Supplies: Utilize both redundant power supplies and connect them to separate power circuits to ensure continued operation in the event of a power outage.
- Power Distribution Units (PDUs): Use PDUs with sufficient capacity and monitoring capabilities. See Power Management for further details.
Storage Maintenance:
- RAID Monitoring: Regularly monitor the RAID array for drive failures and rebuild status using the RAID controller management interface.
- Drive Firmware Updates: Keep drive firmware up to date to ensure optimal performance and reliability.
- Data Backup: Implement a comprehensive data backup strategy to protect against data loss. See Data Backup and Recovery.
Networking Maintenance:
- Firmware Updates: Keep the NIC firmware up to date.
- Network Monitoring: Monitor network performance and identify any potential bottlenecks.
- Security Hardening: Implement appropriate security measures to protect the network from unauthorized access. Refer to Server Security Best Practices.
General Maintenance:
- Regular Inspections: Visually inspect the server for any signs of damage or wear.
- Dust Removal: Regularly remove dust from the server to prevent overheating.
- Log Monitoring: Monitor system logs for any errors or warnings.
- Operating System and Virtualization Platform Updates: Keep the operating system and virtualization platform up to date with the latest security patches and bug fixes. See Server Operating Systems.
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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.* ⚠️