This guest article from Kingston Technology covers how NVMe SSDs and DRAM are being used for high performing mixed workloads.
A modern server that is running high performance workloads must have a combination of components to keep the CPUs busy. The memory hierarchy that feeds the CPUs the data needed should be a combination of high performing DRAM as well as high performing PCIe NVMe SSDs. A data center architect has important decisions to make, such as if SSDs will improve application performance and what is the right amount of SSD-based storage to create a balanced system. How much server memory do you need and what is the right mix of memory frequency and capacity to get the most out of CPU performance? Do you need to respond to users that have varied performance requirements? Will the servers be busy continuously? How do my choices affect the running of my data center that includes mixed workloads and heavy use of VMware®? Kingston Technology is here to help you create a smooth running and flexible environment for all of your demanding users.
Kingston Technology is known as a trusted supplier that works closely with customers to give technical guidance and respond quickly to customer queries. As experts in supplying DRAM and NVMe SSDs, Kingston works extensively with customers to understand their memory and storage needs to create solutions that match the performance and budgetary requirements for a wide range of IT needs.
Virtualizing the computing infrastructure within a data center has led to more optimal use of available resources and reducing CAPEX expenses. However, higher demands are placed on the memory and I/O systems, as the CPUs are used at higher utilization. This then requires that more data is fed to the CPUs on a contnuing basis, which can easily be achieved by using NVMe SSDs and server memory.
SSDs are designed to deliver data extremely fast with low latencies. However, there are times that the SSDs must perform some background tasks in order to deliver peak performance to the CPUs. While SSDs in a client device such as a laptop will periodically have the time to perform these tasks (such as while you are reading this article), for SSDs that are deployed in data centers that run 24 x 7, these tasks need to be performed without affecting the applications that are running. Since the servers may be running at 100 percent of the specified performance, any variation in the latency of delivering data can affect many users. As one of the leading suppliers of SSDs, Kingston focuses on optimizing its drives for maximum performance for both read- and write-intensive workloads; and, with a focus on Quality of Service (QoS) as that is increasingly becoming critical to application efficiency in the data center.
Reliability is another area that a data center operator must be concerned with. Kingston server memory and SSDs undergo rigorous dynamic burn-in testing to simulate heavy server workloads designed to root out early-life failure at the factory before it is installed in a customer data center. Ensuring memory and storage reliability reduces server downtime, replacement costs and other factors where applications are not delivering value to the customer or enterprise organization.
Kingston Technology excels at supplying enterprise SSDs and DRAM as part of a solution for servers in the data center. As the industry transitions from SATA and SAS to NVMe, Kingston will soon deliver U.2 NVMe solutions for next-generation servers. NVMe performance will enable application response times such as database queries to respond even faster than with current technology, thereby increasing customer satisfaction and productivity even more. Large-scale applications also require fast access to data, especially for applications that utilize all of the cores in the system.
Kingston Technology works directly with the leading chipset makers to make sure that its products meet the demanding specifications in terms of performance and reliability that end customers require. In addition, Kingston Technology works directly with the leading motherboard suppliers to ensure that all of the delivered components work flawlessly based on the specific platform that is being purchased.
Kingston Technology has over 30 years of experience in delivering memory products and technology solutions to customers worldwide. Kingston is an approved memory supplier for the top PC makers and provides server memory and SSDs for the world’s top web hosting, search and social media companies. The company is known for delivering state-of-the-art products that will last for the entire lifecycle of the servers and beyond. With worldwide support and service, Kingston Technology is there to support customers.
More insight can be found at kingston.com, or visit Kingston Technology during VMworld 2018 (booth #2313).
