Networking software could always be run on x86 servers, yet there are many good reasons specialized networking hardware from Cisco, Juniper, or similar vendors is the standard in any decent datacenter. I don't see anything from Intel that can change that in the nearest future.
Surely those node looks like to have lots of wasted space. May be they could double those node count to 60?
How much would these be? I would sure love to Avoton as my NAS/HomeServer.
I can see there will be lots of VPS running on 8 Core Avoton with 16GB Ram. 1 Core 2 GB RAM. These Node will even replace most of those Dedicated Servers where CPU performance isn't critical.
The server cards and backbone appear to be non-functional "display only" units. In a "real" product there will be transistors and other things on there.
So it look like a lot of wasted space, but only because these are not fully built units.
I read the article. Can someone please explain this in layman's terms? I don't have any experience with servers.
It looks like they are aiming to do a few things here: greatly simplify the server hardware design (a lot more computing power per square inch), virtualize the network hardware, and speed up deployment time of something.
Where are the hard drives? I imagine you don't need any for most of those little compute cards.
Since Broadwell is an SoC now, when is there any benefit to running Atom-based servers? Broadwell is way faster than atom. Do Atom servers take up more space, but give better performance per watt?
If each one of those cards is a CPU and RAM, what are the physical connectors for? Power and networking? How are they interfaced to eachother?
And why is there so much empty space? I'm guessing to allow for larger heatsinks.
Well, I did not explain the server part in great detail. Basically, complex storage and network devices are being replaced by "normal" x86 boxes and software. The harddrives will be accessed somewhere via the network or the SATA interface going through the "gold fingers". The physical connectors are for power/networking fabric/USB/SATA etc. Empty space: it is an early prototype.
"Since Broadwell is an SoC now, when is there any benefit to running Atom-based servers?" Broadwell will be probably in the 40W area, Atom CPUs can be as low as 6W. So for applications that are mostly about I/O might still be better off with the Atom CPUs. To be honest: I am not sure. That will an interesting question to answer with some in depth reviews :-)
Intel are not leading in this space anymore. The announcements above are an admission that the directional path being cut by competitors is actually a viable one, so Intel are starting to copy them, for example with the server chassis being shown here. This is good for the industry as a whole, but not so promising for Intel.
I think Intel can afford to be a "fast follower" instead of a leader in some of these non-core markets like DC and mobile. They have huge brand recognition and enough resources to make a strong entry even if they aren't first.
Exactly, also Intel can support projects really well. It's a pretty big deal in the real world when you don't have an expert/specialist on each component at your disposal.
It wasn't a legitimate path until Intel got in on it. The fact that Intel is doing it means it's going to be done right. Personally I'm looking forward to what they pull off.
I can also make a bunch of slides and throw in some buzzwords ( SDN, up and running in minutes ). I'm a network engineer and I work in enterprise datacenter environment on a daily basis. All this 'I push a button and everything gets magically provisioned and configured' is vaporware. Let me know which company that can make this type of product. I will buy their shares.
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yun - Monday, July 22, 2013 - link
When they doing a home version for this? Have 70TB month to shift on fios!A5 - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
How/why are you moving 70TB on a home connection? That's just dumb.Hrel - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
your dumb, we should all be able to move a billion PT/month if we want.Hrel - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
you're*p1esk - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
Networking software could always be run on x86 servers, yet there are many good reasons specialized networking hardware from Cisco, Juniper, or similar vendors is the standard in any decent datacenter.I don't see anything from Intel that can change that in the nearest future.
watersb - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
Ah. So Thunderbolt isn't just an Apple thing, then. Still a very long way to go before memory can go in a dedicated, external box. Wow.iwod - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
Surely those node looks like to have lots of wasted space. May be they could double those node count to 60?How much would these be? I would sure love to Avoton as my NAS/HomeServer.
I can see there will be lots of VPS running on 8 Core Avoton with 16GB Ram. 1 Core 2 GB RAM. These Node will even replace most of those Dedicated Servers where CPU performance isn't critical.
Cant wait to see this come out.
Rocket321 - Wednesday, July 24, 2013 - link
The server cards and backbone appear to be non-functional "display only" units. In a "real" product there will be transistors and other things on there.So it look like a lot of wasted space, but only because these are not fully built units.
ShieTar - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
Am I the only one who cringes when reading "Re-Architecting"? I think Intel need to re-design their vocabulary.A5 - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
Intel aren't the only ones who use that term.flyingpants1 - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
I read the article. Can someone please explain this in layman's terms? I don't have any experience with servers.It looks like they are aiming to do a few things here: greatly simplify the server hardware design (a lot more computing power per square inch), virtualize the network hardware, and speed up deployment time of something.
Where are the hard drives? I imagine you don't need any for most of those little compute cards.
Since Broadwell is an SoC now, when is there any benefit to running Atom-based servers? Broadwell is way faster than atom. Do Atom servers take up more space, but give better performance per watt?
If each one of those cards is a CPU and RAM, what are the physical connectors for? Power and networking? How are they interfaced to eachother?
And why is there so much empty space? I'm guessing to allow for larger heatsinks.
JohanAnandtech - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
Well, I did not explain the server part in great detail. Basically, complex storage and network devices are being replaced by "normal" x86 boxes and software.The harddrives will be accessed somewhere via the network or the SATA interface going through the "gold fingers". The physical connectors are for power/networking fabric/USB/SATA etc.
Empty space: it is an early prototype.
JohanAnandtech - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
"Since Broadwell is an SoC now, when is there any benefit to running Atom-based servers?"Broadwell will be probably in the 40W area, Atom CPUs can be as low as 6W. So for applications that are mostly about I/O might still be better off with the Atom CPUs. To be honest: I am not sure. That will an interesting question to answer with some in depth reviews :-)
alxlr8 - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
Intel are not leading in this space anymore. The announcements above are an admission that the directional path being cut by competitors is actually a viable one, so Intel are starting to copy them, for example with the server chassis being shown here. This is good for the industry as a whole, but not so promising for Intel.A5 - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
I think Intel can afford to be a "fast follower" instead of a leader in some of these non-core markets like DC and mobile. They have huge brand recognition and enough resources to make a strong entry even if they aren't first.jamyryals - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
Exactly, also Intel can support projects really well. It's a pretty big deal in the real world when you don't have an expert/specialist on each component at your disposal.Hrel - Tuesday, July 23, 2013 - link
It wasn't a legitimate path until Intel got in on it. The fact that Intel is doing it means it's going to be done right. Personally I'm looking forward to what they pull off.knolf - Thursday, August 1, 2013 - link
I can also make a bunch of slides and throw in some buzzwords ( SDN, up and running in minutes ). I'm a network engineer and I work in enterprise datacenter environment on a daily basis. All this 'I push a button and everything gets magically provisioned and configured' is vaporware. Let me know which company that can make this type of product. I will buy their shares.