Intel Nehalem Processor Is Big News for Virtualization
April 6th, 2009 | 
Author: I’ve been reading about the amazing features found in the new Intel Nehalem processors launched last week. This next generation of single, dual, and quad core Xeon processors is a virtualization technology enhancement that almost leaves me speechless. It’s my understanding that 6 and 8 core Nehalem processors are expected by the end of 2009 as well.
Some quick features that amaze me:
- Run up to 21 VMs on a single Nehalem processor server
- One Nehalem core could replace 9 previous generation Xeon processor based servers with 20% energy reduction
- Nehalem cores not being used can power down to conserve power and energy
- When Nehalem cores power down the clock speed of other cores can be boosted
So, rather than try to put all of this in my own words, here is a summary of “bite sized” quotes from various analysts’ articles that I’ve been reading. Be sure to check out all of these links for much more information.
Intel Nehalem Will Give Virtualization a Boost – eweek.com – by Cameron Sturdevant
“… Nehalem will enable IT managers to consolidate more virtual machines onto fewer physical systems. The new Intel platform should also be a trigger for IT managers to take a second look at virtualizing applications that did not perform well when run on VMs hosted on the previous generation of Intel server chips.”
“The considerable advances in the Intel Nehalem chip design include Turbo mode, in which the processor frequency can be controlled based on workload, and hyperthreading—a function resurrected from the Intel Pentium 4 processor and now called “simultaneous multithreading.””
“IT managers also should note that the newly minted Cisco Unified Computing System server blades, which were announced on March 15, launched using only Intel Nehalem-based processors.”
Intel Rolls Out Nehalem with New Virtualization, Power Features – eweek.com – Jeffrey Burt
“Energy-efficiency gains come from a number of new and enhanced features, including a processor idle power level of 10 watts, new integrated power gates based on Intel’s high-k metal gate technology that enable cores that aren’t being utilized to power down automatically, and up to 15 automated operating states.Intel’s Nehalem Server Chips Seen Aiding Virtualization- informationweek.com – Antone Gonsalves
“… Intel has dramatically boosted the performance of its microarchitecture by introducing an integrated memory controller on the same piece of silicon as the processor, thereby eliminating the front-side bus that analysts said was a bottleneck in Intel’s previous server platform.”
“Intel claims a Xeon 5500-based server provides nine times the performance of a single-socket server running the previous-generation Xeon processor. The power boost means as many as 21 software servers can be consolidated from older systems into a single Nehalem EP-based server, reducing power consumption and space in a data center.”
“About 70 computer manufacturers, including Dell (Dell), Hewlett-Packard (NYSE: HPQ), and IBM (NYSE: IBM), are releasing more than 230 products powered by the new Xeon processors, according to Intel.”
Virtualization Expo: Intel Nehalems Hit the Beach Running – sys-con.com – Maureen O’Gara
“One quad Nehalem could replace nine four-year-old single-core Xeons with a 20% energy reduction. It claims to run circles around Shanghai.
Officially called the 5500 series, the Nehalem chips double the performance of their predecessor – reportedly putting the eight-core UltraSparc T2 and Power6 at a disadvantage and threatening their “over-priced” low-end two-socket systems.
Nehalem can also do clever things like automatically adjust to using specified energy levels, turn off cores that aren’t needed, use the energy saved by shutting off one core to boost the clock speed of the others, handle two instructions per core and support more virtual machines than ever. It also borrows from AMD in putting the memory controller on the chip, increasing efficiency.”
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