Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus and Susan Boyle would recommend the Xeon 5500 servers for Economic Stimulus

OK, so we launched the Xeon 5500 processor based servers and workstations a couple of weeks ago.  While I don?t have direct quotes of support from Brit, Miley, Susan or any country presidents who have signed economic stimulus into law I am pretty confident that if they were ever actually considering purchasing a server or workstation they would come to the conclusion that the new Xeon 5500 platforms would be their best choice.

I had the privilege of being at one of the thirty seven different worldwide Xeon 5500 launch events. I was on Wall Street and attended the NASDAQ launch event on March 31st.  Based on which data source estimate you look at Financial Services as a whole represents about 20% of the worldwide market for servers.  It was also evident when meeting with customers in the NYC area that they are passionate about performance and power consumption.  Most of them had received pre-production seed systems and had already done extensive testing prior to this launch event. I have been in Intel?s Server Platform Group for over a decade now and I have never seen so much enthusiasm for a product launch.

I won?t rehash the performance benchmarks and performance per watt data. There are many benchmarks, blogs and press articles doing that.  What I took away from the conversations was a feeling of optimism from the end users I spoke to. Some people felt that these new products would be what it takes for them to deliver solutions that would give them a performance advantage over their competition. In few markets does that pay off more, and translate almost directly to the bottom line, than in Financial Services. Others felt that these systems would help them continue to add to their existing datacenters without having the need to build a new one.  This was due to the performance per watt improvements and the end users ability to replace many old servers and workstations with a few new ones. 

Lastly, I think human nature being what it is we are seeing that IT professionals want to work on cool new projects.  These Xeon 5500 servers and workstations represent a shiny new toy that IT professionals can use to have a material impact on the bottom lines of their companies.  To some degree the same applies to virtualization in that it is disruptive and provides a new cost effective way to deliver legacy solutions and also enables flexibility for future growth.  The IT folks that I have met who familiarize themselves with virtualization, new hardware and advanced management techniques (power, systems, virtualization) generally are viewed internal to their companies as leaders with visionary capabilities.

As we all work through this economic morass I am hopeful that with new technology introductions, and a relentless focus on efficiency, we will all emerge with a greater level of capability and a higher degree of flexibility.  I also believe IT will emerge as a key asset of differentiation for companies from Wall Street to Main Street and this will place an even greater burden on delivering solutions to meet those unique needs.

What do you think?

Shannon

shannon.poulin@intel.com

How PC Gaming helps shape the future of computing

How PC Gaming helps shape the future of computing

One of the reasons I enjoy working in the Games industry so much is due to the rapid pace at which innovation occurs. It?s not uncommon to learn about and be surprised by some new development on a daily basis. I?m going to focus specifically on PC gaming primarily because key advancements and innovations typically seem to occur in PC Games first which then trickles down into other disciplines, fields, or platforms like the Console, Hand Held, MIIDs, etc.

My next thought is around just how exploitive PC games are compared to other mainstream consumer software applications. Personally; I?m not sure there is any other software application that taxes a PC?s OS or hardware components to the extent that PC games can. One would likely have to go outside the boundaries of a mainstream software consumer application to find examples of software that even comes close. (e.g. Scientific, Exploration, Climate Modeling, Medical, etc)

At a high level PC Games are utilizing: the Graphics stack, the Audio stack, the Network stack, and so on. At a glance here are just some of the key technology features exploited by PC Games:

? Graphics ? PC games typically run thru an API (Application Programming Interface) like DirectX® or OpenGL?, and are fast approaching cinematic quality graphics rendering in real time.
- PC Games can also run at much higher screen resolutions with faster refresh rates and a ton more flexibility for tweaking and user preferences.
- Past examples of graphics advancements were things such as: Bump Mapping, HLSL (High Level Shader Language), etc.
- Future examples of graphics advancements will be things like: Real time Ray Tracing, Global Illumination, etc.
? Audio ? PC games can take advantage of full surround sound. Another key audio feature that?s also come a long way is the in-game chat client. If in-game chat is not available then a PC gamer can opt to use a VoIP client such as Ventrilo or TeamSpeak
? Network ? Remember when you used to play a game over dial up? Broadband has definitely revolutionized PC Gaming. Wireless Broadband takes that experience to a whole new level. I?m very excited about the prospects of WiMAX.
? AI (Artificial Intelligence), Pathing, Crowd Control ? are all examples of technologies that have been heavily used in PC Gaming. However; I?d love to see the boundaries stretched some more. How cool would it be to have your own personal HAL (2001), or JARVIS (Iron Man) while gaming?
? Physics ? Exploding, breaking, twisting, bending, stretching, etc are all examples of things that make a game more interesting and believable.
? Multi-Core/Threading ? PC Gaming, because of the spectrum of hardware and software technology innovations that it exploits, has a lot to benefit from the ability to utilize and take advantage of more cores and threads.
? 64-Bit ? In the PC gaming sense of the word we?ve only scratched the surface. While utilizing 64-Bit may not necessarily always translate to faster speeds what you can bank on is being able to load larger levels, more objects, and activity onto the screen at comparable speeds you experience today in a 32-Bit world. Side by side there?s no comparison. Exploiting 64-Bit can?t happen soon enough in my books.
? Input Devices ? The quick examples that go beyond the mouse and keyboard include things like: gamepads, joysticks, flight yokes/throttle/pedals, wheels, musical instruments, etc.

While my above list is by no means exhaustive I?m hoping it?s more evident just how many different types of processes are going on inside a PC Game simultaneously. While I don?t expect every non-gaming software application to require or need most of the features listed above, I do believe that most software applications can still benefit from the advances found in PC Gaming that can later translate to: better graphics, better AI, better threading, and so forth. For example, future vision montages like this from Microsoft tend to be pretty feature rich in their vision of graphics utilization. By facing the challenges we find in PC Games today I think we can start realizing some of these visionary goals for the future just that much sooner.

I?m curious to hear your thoughts and feedback.

(Special thanks to Phil Taylor who helped me with parts of my laundry list, and to a fellow Intel blogger, Doug Holland, who noted the Microsoft Montage)

Agile Software Development Practices

Agile practices have become quite popular amongst software development teams world-wide. Even within Intel, there are many teams starting to adopt and practice Agile in a big way. I am part of one such team and we've been practicing Agile for the last 2 years now and have realized amazingly positive benefits like improved team morale, zero attrition, better customer satisfaction, and much improved quality levels. We've learnt lots of good lessons along the way and have significantly improved our practices maturity.

I am also really happy to share that our team just won the prestigious Intel Software Quality Award 2009 (beating 50 other teams) in recogntion of the progress we have made on software quality through Agile practices.

I will be sharing some best practices in our Agile adoption in a series of blogs on this site going forward. Since this is a community of software developers, I am hoping there would be good interest in this topic.

Stay Tuned.

Raj

Powershell: Controlling AMT Power States

I wanted to quickly share an example of how to set the current power state of a provisioned Intel vPro system using Windows Powershell!

Take a moment, and ask yourself these quick questions:Have you ever wanted to be able to automate the powering up, or powering off, of multiple computers?Is your company interested in saving money by not needlessly leaving computers powered on at night?Do you have a time-critical environment, such as a call center, where you need to reliably power up your computers so they are ready to go in the morning for agents?Do you want to be able to create your own helpdesk tools to enable remote reset of hung systems?If you answered "yes" to any of the previous questions, then hopefully this Powershell code will help you, as an administrator, achieve your goals! Let's take a look at how to perform the actions of:Powering up a vPro (AMT) systemPowering down a vPro (AMT) system (not gracefully, just FYI)Power cycling a vPro (AMT) system (also not graceful)For the sake of simplicity, we'll continue to work with the ManageabilityStack.AmtSystem object that I have referenced in my previous article(s). If you aren't sure how to get the $Global:Amtdevice Powershell variable, please look back at my other articles. This will also require the download of the Intel AMT Developer Toolkit. You'll need the Manageability Stack.dll library contained within.-------------------In order to control the remote power state of an AMT system, all you really need to know are these 3 hex values:0x10 = System reset0x11 = Power on0x12 = Power off0x13 = Reset w/ power cycleThese hex values will be used with the $AmtSystem.Remote.SendRemoteControl() method to alter the power state of the remote system. The SendRemoteControl() method included with the DTK includes a number of parameters that go beyond the scope of this article, so we will pass hex value 0x0 to these parameters for the time being. In order to use the above hex values, simply pass the hex value as the first parameter of the SendRemoteControl() method. In order to fulfill the parameter requirements of this method, pass 5 additional parameters with the value 0x0. Here are some examples:Powering up an AMT System$Result = $AmtDevice.Remote.SendRemoteControl(0x11, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0)Write-Host "Power command resulted with: ${Result}"Powering off an AMT System$Result = $AmtDevice.Remote.SendRemoteControl(0x12, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0)Write-Host "Power command resulted with: ${Result}"Power cycling an AMT System$Result = $AmtDevice.Remote.SendRemoteControl(0x10, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0, 0x0)Write-Host "Power command resulted with: ${Result}"The above samples show how to use the SendRemoteControl() method of the AmtRemoteControl type in the Intel AMT Developer Toolkit to control the power state of a remote AMT device.If you have any questions about this, please leave a comment or send me a private message.Sincerely,Trevor SullivanSystems EngineerOfficeMax Corporation

Windows 7 Release Candidate Available to Select Partners

Purse PC: It?s Here! and it really is a purse

Last year Intel announced the ultra mobile PC using Intel(R) Atom(TM) Processor N270 (1.60GHz) . I commented on its particular incarnation as the Purse PC. I was holding my breath waiting for this to come out. The designer PC is here. I first saw it in a major luxury retailer?s catalog and then in a magazine ad. It is designed by Vivienne Tam and is adorned with large pink and orange chrysanthemums.

Men, don?t stop reading here. It?s your chance to buy your significant other a piece of electronic equipment as a gift and get away with it!

I am still waiting for one by one of my favorite designers, something that is iridescent black with contrasting corners, or pinstripes, or white on white damask?or?retro. We need variety to create market mass and user identity differentiation. But I think the floral treatment is a good start. It is beautiful.

And...for the security minded, who the heck is going to steal this thing from you in an airport?

?Pardon me, I believe that is my Vivienne Tam PC you are carrying underneath your trenchcoat. I am sure it was just a mistake that you confused it with your black standard-sized notebook.?

The ideal theft-proofing will be the DIY design-your-own PC skin at the vendor website, using a host of design elements and color, spray paint effects, etc., all baked in of course. That screams: ?This is not my Dad!? via remote control. You saw it here.

Next question: what are people putting on their purse PCs. I have to know! And what is the demographic? Click for some clues. The purse PC does have a matching carrying case, and couture dress, if you can afford it. But I notice that on another site someone complained that there was no mirror on it. Possible new graphics app: Mirrorware. Hmmm.

5500 ways a server can benefit your small business.

There are literally thousands of ways a new Intel® Xeon® processor 5500 series based server can benefit your business. I?ll spare you the complete list, but let?s start with the major ones. When you ask yourself the following questions about your business and its needs, you may just find that getting a server right now is the right decision for you.

• Are your servers getting old? Things change, and with the latest server processors, things have changed a lot. The new Intel Xeon processor 5500 series offers up to nine times the performance of a server purchased just four years ago.1 Even though you?ll be outlaying cash for new equipment, spending wisely on a server now will probably save you money in the long run. From energy usage to maintenance costs to software licensing fees, it adds up. Plus, with a new server, you get a new warranty and compatibility with the latest applications. That means fewer hassles for you. Don?t wait until your server breaks, you don?t want to discover the cost of losing data and business downtime.
• Are increasing employee and data demands taxing your systems and your staff? If so, you need the processing power, energy efficiency and reliability a Xeon-based server can deliver ? 24/7 uptime, industry-leading performance, memory protection, and a server that automatically shuts down to save energy.
• Do you want to improve productivity? The increased performance of the latest Intel Xeon-based servers enables your IT equipment and your staff to do more with less.
• Is cost-cutting a high priority? With an Intel Xeon processor 5500 series based server, you can benefit from significant energy savings, the reduced costs of easier maintenance and need for fewer servers. By consolidating servers, you can save up on your utility bill. Check out the estimator tool www.intel.com/go/xeonestimator to see how much you could save.
• Are you ready to implement new software? Some of the latest software advances demand newer server capabilities. If you?re looking to implement VMWare* or Microsoft Windows Small Business Server 2008*, an Intel Xeon processor 5500 series server delivers the performance your new business applications will need.
• Is your company still using a desktop as a server? Then, now is the time to step up to a real server. Down markets are when smaller companies can take advantage of their agility. Plus, you definitely can?t afford downtime when customer service is so critical.

Ultimately, the biggest question is: Can you afford NOT to invest in the newest Intel Xeon processor-based servers in this economy?

Learn more about our new server processors:

• Read this brochure to learn more about the advantages of Intel® processor-based servers for small and medium businesses.
• And talk to your IT solutions provider.

Also, I?d love to hear your best reasons for buying new servers, so I can add them to the list. If you have already made the transition to the new Intel Xeon processor 5500 series, please share you story.

1Performance increase based on Intel comparison using SPECjbb2005 business operations per second (bops) between four-year-old single-core Intel® Xeon® processor 3.8GHz with 2M cache based servers and new Intel Xeon processor X5570 based server. Intel consolidation based on replacing nine four-year-old single-core Intel Xeon processor based servers with one new Intel Xeon Processor X5570 based server while maintaining SPECjbb2009 performance. Costs and return on investment have been estimated based on internal Intel analysis and are provided for information purposes only. Performance tests and ratings are measured using specific computer systems and/or components and reflect the approximate performance of Intel products as measured by those tests.  Any difference in system hardware or software design or configuration may affect actual performance.  Buyers should consult other sources of information to evaluate the performance of systems or components they are considering purchasing. For more information, visit www.intel.com/performance/server.

IT and Analyst Testimonials: TCO Considerations for PC Refresh and Intel vPro Technology

While at Symantec ManageFusion 2009, we had a chance to talk to IT executives and managers from Disney International, Fox Interactive Media, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Las Vegas Sands Corporation and McCormick Spice Company and industry analysts from IDC, Enterprise Management Associates and Ptak, Noel & Associates LLC about Intel vPro technology and industry trends.  In the video below, they discuss how PC refresh and Intel vPro technology helps minimize total cost of ownership.

To learn more about Intel's presence at Symantec ManageFusion 2009, go to: http://www.intel.com/go/managefusion/

Intel Xeon 5500: The IT Manager's ATM?

You’ve no doubt heard that Intel’s new Xeon 5500 series processors can deliver a return on investment in as little as 8 months when you replace an older, single-core Xeon server. You may even have heard Pat Gelsinger refer to the new servers as becoming ‘cash machines’ after eight months. It’s certainly a bold statement, and we understand if you’re a skeptic. However Intel is now offering a tool that supports this statement and helps IT departments assess the value of replacing their aging x86 hardware with new Intel servers. The Intel® Xeon® processor-based Server Refresh Savings Estimator lets you enter data about your existing server environment and evaluate whether replacing older server technology with the latest generation of Xeon-based servers is worth the investment. Here’s how it works:

? You can run a simple or customized analysis based on 11 potential models of cost and savings categories that Intel developed with the help of industry leading ROI and TCO consultant Alinean. These models include cost avoidance of new construction, OS license expenses, server maintenance, server migration expenses and server disposal costs.

? The tool also gives users a choice of two scenarios: server consolidation with or without virtualization software.

? There are two types of analysis - simple or custom. Simple takes as little as five minutes to complete and examines a few key variables. A custom analysis runs more detailed scenarios and allows users to change cost, system details, performance and environmental assumptions to match their situation.

? You can print out a report featuring summaries based on the different assumptions and calculations you entered into the estimator. This report can also be shared via email with your colleagues.

For example, one scenario might involve consolidating from 100 Intel-based servers to 10 new Xeon® 5500 series-based servers. After entering the data, several figures, including hardware and software maintenance, and network and utility expenses are significantly lower. The result is a more than 450% return on investment which translates into payback within nine months. The details of this scenario underscores the impact of an investment in Xeon servers and can be seen in this how-to-use guide which includes step-by-step directions on how to use the Server Refresh Savings Estimator.

Please give the Server Refresh Savings Estimator a try and don’t hesitate to provide us with feedback in the Intel Server Room. We’re positive you’ll find this to be a valuable resource as you consider your IT investments.

Comments (0)

Nehalem Rocks - now use it

It has been a couple weeks now and just in case anyone may have forgotten, Nehalem rocks.  In my job I talk to customers every day and even though I have become a bit jaded by the numbers associated with the new Xeon 5500 series processors, customers constantly remind me just how significant this change is.  The leap in performance is unprecedented in the history of the "Xeon" family.  The opportunity that this creates for businesses is tremendous.  Chris has blogged a lot about the economics of refresh and anyone who is not paying attention has a job that is just too cushy.  For the rest of you that actually worry about performance, data center power capacity, data center space, etc - please pay attention.

Data center space is for many businesses the single most expensive "office" space they own. Consider this coupled with the reality that demand for computing continues to grow, and 81% of businesses report line of site to data center capacity ( power or space ) overflow.Any data center owner who is facing capacity challenges and not aggressively refreshing and consolidating should be "made redundant".some very very round numbers to consider:If you have servers that are 4 or 5 years old, the new Xeon 5500 series processor based servers can be as much as 10 times faster.Those old servers ( if they are typical enterprise servers ) are setting at about 10% utilization.When you refresh and consolidate you are going to virtualize - so now, lets do the simple back of napkin math on the opportunity :you have 1000 servers that are at 10% utilization.with virtualization you could boost up to 50% utilization - 5 to 1 consolidation - now you have 200 serversthe new servers are 10 times faster - so with an aggressive refresh - now you have 20 serversDemand is not going away, and eventually you will fill up all this new capacity and of course in the real world this isn't all going to happen day one,BUT, anyone complaining of capacity issues AND using old hardware, must not be paying attention.