Cloud computing
Driving data center
efficiency with shared
infrastructure
F
or cloud computing operators today—
including search engines, social networking
sites, and online gaming platforms—the
efficiency of data center operations can
have a direct impact on the bottom line. In these
hyperscale environments, even seemingly small costs
for power, cooling, cabling, fans, and racks can add
up to big numbers when they are multiplied across
By Drew Schulke
hundreds or thousands of servers.
In the quest to reduce costs, cloud computing
service providers and other operators of hyperscale
data centers rely heavily on scale-out deployment
Putting shared infrastructure to work in scale-out
and cloud computing data centers helps optimize
performance and reduce costs. Dell™ PowerEdge™
C Series servers build efficiency into every level, from
tiny server parts to data center–size modules.
models that leverage standards-based commodity
hardware. Scale-out servers are streamlined versions
of the feature-rich systems used in enterprise data
centers. In a hyperscale data center, it is usually the
software that provides availability and resiliency,
not redundant hardware within individual server
nodes. As a result, scale-out servers often do not
include the extensive management tools, redundant
components, enterprise storage options, or sameday support contracts that are typical with generalpurpose servers.
But hardware is only part of the cost equation.
Operational costs stemming from power, cooling,
and physical space also can directly affect total cost
of ownership (TCO) of the data center. As cloud
computing–based data centers grow, these costs
consume an ever-larger portion of the operations
budget—and drive an ever-sharper focus on efficiency.
Economical design,
hyperscale performance
To obtain high levels of efficiency, data center
operators concentrate on lightweight systems with
dense, energy-efficient designs that help save on
power, cooling, and space. Shared infrastructure has
emerged as a key to heightening efficiency in scaleout data centers.
Benefits of a multilayered approach
Shared infrastructures combine compute, storage,
Dell PowerEdge C Series servers such as the
PowerEdge C6105 model (shown here) pool
compute and storage resources in a chassis that
shares power supplies and fans across multiple
nodes. This approach helps maximize compute
power, minimize footprint, and reduce energy
consumption and operating costs.
power, and cooling resources to drive high levels
of efficiency, compute density, and system scaling.
For example, a system using fewer, larger fans is
designed to enable more efficient evacuation of heat
than a traditional system designed with more, smaller
fans. And mechanical density allows for increased
compute power within a given footprint.
To help data center operators gain efficiencies
at every level, the Dell Data Center Solutions (DCS)
Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, 2011 Issue 2. Copyright © 2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
dell.com/powersolutions | 2011 Issue 02
37
Cloud computing
On the lookout for
power efficiency
Reuben Martinez, executive director
of engineering and architecture
in the Dell DCS group, gives an
overview on adoption of Samsung
Green Memory DDR3 for hyperscale
environments in this video.
team applies shared infrastructure principles
conventional systems.1 “The C6100 is one of our
across the data center—from system components
flagship shared infrastructure platforms,” Pike
to physical facilities to self-contained modular
notes. “If you take a single 1U monolithic server
data centers. According to Jimmy Pike, DCS
and you look inside it, there are probably five or
director of system architecture, the real secret of
six 40-millimeter fans that suck the power down
shared infrastructure is not just the box itself, but
just to cool the server. We determined that if
everything that goes into the box and everything
we can share cooling, we can use larger, more
that’s around it. “We look at everything and work
efficient fans and really impact the amount of
to remove accumulated overdesign across the
power we are using to cool the servers.”
infrastructure stream. Basically, we climb up the
utility pole behind the data center, cut the power
Racks and facilities
line, and look in,” Pike says.
The DCS team also considers the overall impact
of shared infrastructure at a rack and facilities
bit.ly/iZdKCm
Components
level. The entire rack of servers needs to be
At the component level, Dell selects highly
efficient to help operators of cloud computing
efficient parts for its servers. For example, Dell
data centers maximize every watt of power and
PowerEdge C6105 rack servers are available
every square foot of floor space.
with low-voltage, high-density Samsung Green
with two power supplies powering four server
designed to deliver significant power savings
nodes, is designed for a low power draw of
over traditional DDR2 memory at substantially
3 A—compared to traditional servers that may
increased bandwidth.
draw 8 to 12 A. In a hyperscale data center with
The PowerEdge C6105 incorporates low-
Boosting server
density and power
efficiency
Agile infrastructures for virtual cloud
and rapid recovery services help
ensure business continuity. Find
out how Internet services provider
iLand increased compute density
while minimizing power draw by
deploying Dell PowerEdge C6105
servers in its cloud computing
environment.
bit.ly/mdF23c
thousands of servers, this level of power savings
power AMD Opteron™ 4100 series processors
adds up. The PowerEdge C6105 server offers four
to handle demanding server workloads. These
server nodes in a 2U form factor, providing twice
energy-efficient processors are designed to use
the density of traditional 1U servers and helping
significantly less power than previous-generation
data centers utilize floor space efficiently.
AMD processors.
Software and services
Servers
Of course, data center efficiency does not end
Dell PowerEdge C Series rack servers pool
with the hardware. Dell integrates its shared
compute and storage resources in a chassis with
infrastructure servers with software and services to
shared power supplies and fans. This approach
create prepackaged and tested cloud solutions that
spreads compute and storage resources among
are easy to deploy, manage, and run. Dell-provided
server nodes within the chassis to help optimize
cloud software and services can further enhance
performance and efficiency. A shared chassis
data center performance, density, and efficiency.
helps to reduce overall weight, as well as power
For example, the Dell/Aster Data Analytics
and cooling requirements for the nodes. One
Cloud combines Aster® Data nCluster software,
chassis can also support multiple motherboards,
Dell PowerEdge C Series servers, and joint
enabling a mix of different processors from
services and support to create a right-sized
different manufacturers.
approach designed to grow incrementally while
Shared infrastructure systems have the
providing a rapid return on investment (ROI).
advantage of sharing powered devices across
Together, the compute-rich PowerEdge C Series
multiple nodes. These systems can be cooled
servers and the massively parallel processing
effectively by fewer, larger fans than those in
(MPP) Data nCluster database provide a shared
1
38
For example, the PowerEdge C6105 server,
Double Data Rate 3 (DDR3) memory that is
“Shared Infrastructure: Scale-Out Advantages and Effects on TCO,” A Dell Technical White Paper, Dell | CIO Insight Series, 2010, dell.com/downloads/
global/products/pedge/en/shared_infrastructure_scale_out_advantages_and_effects_on_tco.pdf.
2011 Issue 02 | dell.com/powersolutions
Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, 2011 Issue 2. Copyright © 2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Making a difference
with supply chain logistics
Scale-out data centers typically have very specific times during which product can arrive,
and cloud computing operators need to have fresh computing systems up and running—and
generating revenue—without delay. Dell provides supply chain expertise and manufacturing
infrastructure that enables the fast delivery of custom-built, fully configured racks. These
rack form factors include highly customized server platforms tailored to the physical facility,
operating processes, and application workload of a specific data center.
A key goal of the Dell DCS team—often referred to by the team as “arrive and live in
5”—is to get new server-filled racks into production within five hours of reaching the data
Right-sizing shared
infrastructure servers
Join Drew Schulke to learn more
about how lightweight, high-density
Dell PowerEdge C Series servers
help data center operators right-size
performance, power, price, and
feature set for specific workloads.
bit.ly/ltuomb
center operator’s loading dock. Similarly, the DCS team works actively to cut weeks out
of the build and shipment times for large numbers of servers customized to the needs of
particular scale-out data centers. As a result, operators receive the shared infrastructure
they need just when they are ready to put the infrastructure into production.
infrastructure–based approach that can optimize
systems among multiple tenants. The objective of
advanced analytics on very large data volumes.
these efforts is to find the most efficient, costeffective way of doing things. Dell brings this
Data center modules
concept to the data center at every level, from
The Dell Modular Data Center offers a specific
components to facilities.
example of a shared infrastructure that is not limited
The Dell DCS team helps data center
by a shipping-container form factor. Instead, a
operators manage the complexities of growing
Modular Data Center is built on an optimized steel
and maintaining high-performance, hyperscale and
frame for a flexible, modular design and has single
cloud computing environments. Service options
points for power, IT, and cooling—as opposed to the
include infrastructure consulting for data center
thousands of points in a traditional data center.
optimization and custom rack integration to expedite
The snap-together modules come
additions to compute capacity. Moreover, Dell
preintegrated, preconfigured, pretested, cabled,
expertise in supply chain logistics enables scale-out
and ready for deployment. As demand grows, data
data centers to get fresh systems running as quickly
center operators can incrementally add modules to
as possible. For more information, see the sidebar,
quickly scale out data center capacity using cost-
“Making a difference with supply chain logistics.”
efficient, just-in-time deployment. The Modular Data
Hyperscale and cloud computing data
Center also enables step function enhancements in
centers are taking a leading-edge role in today’s
both physical compute density and power density.
IT environments. In these scenarios, enterprise
This approach enables data center operators to
IT may be viewed as both the factory and the
deploy tens of thousands of compute nodes and
business. To succeed and prosper, data center
more than an exabyte of storage in a single building.
operators of hyperscale and cloud computing
Author
Drew Schulke is the director of
marketing in the Dell DCS team.
Since 2009, he has led the team
supporting 15 large, hyperscale
accounts for Dell.
Learn more
Shared Infrastructure: Scale-Out
Advantages and Effects on TCO:
dell.to/kFIMfI
Dell PowerEdge C Series:
dell.com/poweredgec
environments are exploring flexible, cost-
Innovations in IT efficiency
effective ways to advance IT efficiency. Shared
Shared infrastructure is not a new concept. For
infrastructure can contribute significantly toward
example, office buildings routinely share the same
raising the bar of innovation and efficiency in
heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC)
hyperscale and cloud computing data centers.
Reprinted from Dell Power Solutions, 2011 Issue 2. Copyright © 2011 Dell Inc. All rights reserved.
Dell/Aster Data Analytics Cloud:
dell.to/kK7Hul
Dell modular data center:
bit.ly/mewj6V
dell.com/powersolutions | 2011 Issue 02
39