8/10/2019 Oracle - Single Chip architecture
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Oracle shifting to single chip architectureOracle shifting to
single chip architecturewith new Sparc systemswith new Sparc
systemsOracle's two Unix server families set to converge
ontoOracle's two Unix server families set to converge ontoits Sparc
processor designits Sparc processor designBy James Niccolai, 27
March 13By James Niccolai, 27 March 13
OracleOracle has announced a batch of servers based on new Sparc
processors and in the processhas announced a batch of servers based
on new Sparc processors and in the processhas begun an expected
shift toward converging its two families of Unix servers onto a
singlehas begun an expected shift toward converging its two
families of Unix servers onto a single
chip architecture.chip architecture.
Oracle sells two lines of Unix servers, theOracle sells two
lines of Unix servers, the T-seriesT-series, based on the Sparc
processors it designs, based on the Sparc processors it
designsin-house, and the higher-endin-house, and the higher-end
M-seriesM-series, which have traditionally been built by Fujitsu
and, which have traditionally been built by Fujitsu andresold by
Oracle, and which run on Fujitsu's Sparc64 chips.resold by Oracle,
and which run on Fujitsu's Sparc64 chips.
On Tuesday, along with a clutch of new T-series boxes, Oracle
announced the first M-seriesOn Tuesday, along with a clutch of new
T-series boxes, Oracle announced the first M-seriesserver designed
by Oracle and based on one of its own Sparc processors, rather
thanserver designed by Oracle and based on one of its own Sparc
processors, rather thanFujitsu's Sparc64 chip. "This is all Oracle
IP," said Marshall Choy, Oracle's director of systemsFujitsu's
Sparc64 chip. "This is all Oracle IP," said Marshall Choy, Oracle's
director of systemssolutions and business planning, in an
interview.solutions and business planning, in an interview.
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Observers have long expected Oracle to converge the two systems
lines onto a single chipObservers have long expected Oracle to
converge the two systems lines onto a single chiparchitecture, a
move that could reduce its development costs for both hardware
andarchitecture, a move that could reduce its development costs for
both hardware andsoftware, at a time when sales from its hardware
business are declining.software, at a time when sales from its
hardware business are declining.
"This is really the first instance of them delivering on this
promise," said industry analyst"This is really the first instance
of them delivering on this promise," said industry analystNathan
Brookwood of Insight64.Nathan Brookwood of Insight64.
Oracle announced five new T-series servers on Tuesday. They're
mid-range systems based onOracle announced five new T-series
servers on Tuesday. They're mid-range systems based onits newits
new Sparc T5S
parc T5processor, which doubles the core count over the Sparc
T4, from eightprocessor, which doubles the core count over the
Sparc T4, from eightcores to 16, and boosts the clock-speed, I/O
bandwidth and memory bandwidth.cores to 16, and boosts the
clock-speed, I/O bandwidth and memory bandwidth.
They include a single-socket blade system, and rackmount servers
with two, four and eightThey include a single-socket blade system,
and rackmount servers with two, four and eightprocessor sockets.
Oracle says they'll give a big performance boost for databases,
Javaprocessor sockets. Oracle says they'll give a big performance
boost for databases, Javamiddleware and business
applications.middleware and business applications.
The new M-series server, called the M5-32, is a high-end SMP
(symmetric multiprocessing)The new M-series server, called the
M5-32, is a high-end SMP (symmetric multiprocessing)machine that
Oracle will position against IBM's Power 795 Unix server, its
biggest. Itmachine that Oracle will position against IBM's Power
795 Unix server, its biggest. Itsupports up to 32TB of system
memory -- a huge amount -- and runs on a new, six-coresupports up
to 32TB of system memory -- a huge amount -- and runs on a new,
six-coreOracle processor called the Sparc M5, which shares the same
core as the Sparc T5 chip alsoOracle processor called the Sparc M5,
which shares the same core as the Sparc T5 chip also
announced Tuesday.announced Tuesday.
The difference between the T5 and M5 processors is that Oracle
has removed some of theThe difference between the T5 and M5
processors is that Oracle has removed some of thecores on the M5,
which aren't as useful in SMP systems, and added a much bigger
Level 2cores on the M5, which aren't as useful in SMP systems, and
added a much bigger Level 2cache memory -- six times bigger, Choy
said -- and other features suited to such high-endcache memory --
six times bigger, Choy said -- and other features suited to such
high-endmachines.machines.
It's a similar strategy that Intel pursues with its x86 cores,
Brookwood noted, which is toIt's a similar strategy that Intel
pursues with its x86 cores, Brookwood noted, which is todevelop one
processor core and adjust the cores per chip, cache size and other
features todevelop one processor core and adjust the cores per
chip, cache size and other features tosuit larger and smaller
servers.suit larger and smaller servers.
Oracle says its new servers will be highly competitive with
IBM's Power systems on a costOracle says its new servers will be
highly competitive with IBM's Power systems on a costand
performance basis, and it plans to release benchmark results
Tuesday intended to showand performance basis, and it plans to
release benchmark results Tuesday intended to show
that.that.
Despite the release of the M-series server on Tuesday, Choy
would not confirm whetherDespite the release of the M-series server
on Tuesday, Choy would not confirm whetherOracle plans to move all
or most of its SMP systems over to its own Sparc chip. "We'reOracle
plans to move all or most of its SMP systems over to its own Sparc
chip. "We'refocused on the systems we're announcing on Tuesday," he
said.focused on the systems we're announcing on Tuesday," he
said.
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