NETWORK SERVERS: More the Merrier

Technology Options

n High, Medium

and Low-end: The network servers can be classified into three categories–low-,

mid-, and high-end. The low-end servers can be categorized into two types–the

Standard Intel Architecture Servers (SIAS) and the RISC/Unix servers. Typically,

these servers are priced below Rs 3-3.5 lakh while the Intel-based servers are

priced up to Rs 40 lakh. The mid-range servers are primarily the non-Intel

RISC/Unix servers and cost in the range of Rs 40 lakh to Rs 4 crore. The

high-end servers are the mainframes, the most powerful of all servers and cost

in excess of Rs 4 crore.

n Type of

Processor Itanium: The 64-bit Itanium processor supports high

transaction volumes, complex calculations and vast amounts of data and users. It

has a 400 MHz bus, which is 12 bits wide and thus makes for greater data

transfer rates. The 3 MB integrated Level 3 (L3) cache enables high processing

rates and performance for faster online transaction processing, data analysis,

and simulation and rendering. The processor also has advanced reliability

features, including extensive error detection and correction on all of the

processor’s major data structures.

Hammer: Hammer integrates a single or dual DDR memory controller with

support for PC1600, PC2100, and the upcoming PC2700 DDR-SDRAM. This design

reduces DRAM latency and increases memory bandwidth (up to 5.3 Gbps), capacity,

and speed. Hammer includes AMD’s HyperTransport technology, which acts as a

high-speed, low pin-count, asynchronous, point-to-point link connecting other

Hammer chips. Scalability is key with support for 1P (processor), 2P (using

ClawHammer chips), 4P, and 8P (using SledgeHammer chips). AMD’s Lego building

approach enables glueless multiprocessing and gives a very cost-effective

alternative to the ‘Big Iron’ approach.

n Instruction

Set: A microprocessor has three basic characteristics–instruction,

bandwidth and clock speed and can be categorized into a reduced instruction set

computer (RISC) or a complex instruction set computer (CISC). A processor based

on the RISC concept would use few instructions, which would require fewer

transistors. By reducing the number of transistors and instructions to only

those most frequently used, the computer would get more done in a shorter amount

of time.

The argument is that the chip designers should make life easier for the

programmer by reducing the amount of instructions required to program the CPU.

Due to the high cost of memory and storage, CISC microprocessors were considered

superior due to the requirements for small, fast code.

Buying Tips

n Disk

Subsystem Performance: Most servers implement SCSI disk subsystems. These

allow more disks than the competing microcomputer IDE standard. However,

performance varies significantly based on the SCSI standard, and some enhanced

IDE-type disk drives now outperform SCSI transfer rates. In addition, the SCSI

disks drives are more expensive than their IDE counterparts. Users have to weigh

the immediate demands against the cost of upgrading the server later.

n Cache

Memory: Cache memory built into a server can speed up its performance. With

higher throughput, IT managers should look for additional cache memory that can

be shared by processors. Some vendors bundle this secondary cache memory with

their basic server package; others offer it as an option.

n Network

Connection Configuration: Vendors of high-end (and some low-end servers)

integrate an Ethernet port in the architecture of the server. This optimizes the

transfer of data between the port and the processor. Other mid-range and low-end

server vendors support Ethernet connections through a PCI slot. This approach

adds flexibility and ensures that the Ethernet card can be upgraded as networks

start to adopt higher-speed connections. IT managers should make sure that the

server offers multiple slots for expansion.

n Management

Software: Management utilities can simplify the cost of operating a server.

Some products now support remote management functions using the Simple Network

Management Protocol (SNMP). Many vendors also offer diagnostic utilities that

monitor server performance and identify components that are behaving

erratically. Knowing in advance that a component may fail allows IT managers to

fix problems before they disrupt the network. Remote management and

configuration functions also allow IT managers to maintain remote servers.

n Reliability

Factor: Servers are designed for high reliability. Some vendors include

redundant power supplies and fans to avoid total failure of the server. Several

offer hot-swappable disk subsystems so that IS managers can service or upgrade

the server without taking the system off-line. A few vendors also support

hot-swappable power supplies and components, allowing a re-configuration or

replacement without disrupting the network.

n Standards: Although

in the low-end market the I2O committee released a standard for hot-swappable

PCI cards, these will take time to reach acceptance. This means that IT managers

must carefully review a vendor’s track records carefully and examine the

underlying technologies before investing in a multiprocessor server.

n Basic

Features: Many servers feature multiple, high-speed I/O buses that can be

combined to operate in a burst mode. Many servers also come with massive amounts

of memory to ensure that data moves without delays, and several share common

memory areas to automatically balance processing loads. Processing speed,

memory, and architecture are therefore very important issues.

Market Information

The total server market in the country was pegged at Rs 1,767 crore last

year with the SIAS category accounting for 47 percent of the market share while

the non-SIAS category occupied second spot with 28 percent market share. The

mid-range and the high-end servers occupied 21 and 4 percent market shares

respectively.

Especially after the HP-Compaq merger, the unified HP enjoys a lion’s share

of the SIAS category, while Sun heads the list in the non-SIAS category, which

mainly has Unix as the OS flavor. IBM comfortably leads the rest in both the

mid-range and high-end categories.

EXPERTS PANEL

Amar Babu, general manager (channels), Intel India

Anil Valluli, director (systems engineering), Sun Microsystems India

Ashish Jasuja, country manager (iSeries), IBM India

Pallab Talukdar, director (business critical servers), HP India