Based on Intel’s current processor core count and extrapolating from their “Tick Tock” model for scheduled new CPU designs, by 2017 Intel could very well be designing a 20-Core CPU!  Do we need that functionality with so many single threaded applications in the market today?  Maybe not today, but in 8-10 years computing usage models are going to be a lot different than they are now.

Whether virtualization environments will be running on 20-Core Intel processors by then or not, one thing is very clear high end virtual environments will require much more powerful management environments that what we have today.  Management tools that now only look at high level performance metrics will need to look at detailed server component and CPU level power consumption, detailed Core level performance metrics, and managed thermal output.  The more finitely we can manage our virtual elements the greater control we will have at the server, rack, and data center level for optimizing data center virtual server density to the physical limitations of our data center environment.

With VMware’s latest server virtualization version, renamed vSphere, new manageability capabilities that increase the usability and decrease the cost of managing a virtual environment are included.  Although they don’t go to the level I just described, they do provide some nice improvements from version 3.5.  Storage and network optimizations have been added that allow hosts to power down when not needed using their power management (DPM) tool (which is now a fully supported feature and not just “experimental”). VM Monitoring now uses VMware Tools to evaluate individual VM’s and check to see if they are running and Fault Tolerance now ensures continuous availability for virtual machines against hardware failures.

Intel is driving the creation of not just multi-core CPU’s but the tools that will drive virtualization architecture adoption in the future.  Providing powerful tools that manage power, thermal, and performance to help make our lives as data center operations personnel easier and make the value proposition of virtualization that much greater.  Management definitely will continue to be a key component to determining TCO in the future.  See the following around what Intel is doing around management. (http://www.intel.com/design/servers/ism/sms.htm)

What are the key management tools, in your opinion, that drive virtualization adoption, those “can’t do without” management apps?

Mark

My grandfather was born in the early 1900’s.  By all accounts he was a hardworking man with a strong degree of curiosity.  He passed away in his late 80’s and before he died I remember talking to him about my pursuit of an Electrical Engineering degree.  He nodded politely, asked a few questions and when I helped to fix the electrical outlet in his garage I got the sense that he thought I was heading down the path to be an electrician.  I believe that thought pleased him.  Several years ago I was explaining to my five year old daughter in layman’s terms what I did for a living and what my company made.  I said things like “We make tiny engines that run computers” or “I work with computers that run websites like Webkinz® and Disney®”.  She seemed impressed.  Months later when she was asked by a parent of her friend what her dad did for a living I was a combination of proud and surprised to hear that she replied “They make chips…”  (proud moment) “…and salsa!” (um OK.  I still have work to do).

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Now the other day she walked up to me and said something like “Dad, I am having trouble getting the Slingbox to work on mom’s iPod Touch.  It is connected to the Internet but the remote does not seem to be changing the channel.  Can you help me?”  Clearly she has made some progress up the technology curve, but it also struck me how far she has come.  Kids these days are surrounded by technology.  In our house alone there are at least the following electronic devices; Oven, Microwave, AppleTV, refrigerator, smoke detector (3), carbon monoxide detector, programmable thermostat, furnace, radio, garage door opener (2), wireless speakers, televisions (3), set top boxes (3), ceiling fans with remotes (3), netbook, Slingbox, Clear wireless router, remote outlet, sprinkler control box, iPod Touch, desktop computer, Wii, iPod shuffle (2), alarm clocks (3), oven timer, electronic light dimmer, cordless phones (4), AV receiver, DVD players (3), VCR, iPod docking station, security system, motion sensor, camcorder, camera (2), USB hub, music keyboard, AV switch, computer keyboard, battery chargers (4), Wii remotes (4), Wii Fit Pad, Wii drums, copier/fax/scanner, computer monitor, AC, Power supplies (4), RFID credit cards (2), washer, dryer, noise canceling headphones, answering machine, internet modem, cell phones (2), handheld GPS, auto GPS and electronic battleship.

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I am sure I have forgotten several things and I did not count cars or anything at my children’s school.  I am also sure each of the electronic devices in our house has either a processor, microcontroller, ASIC or multiple of each.  Admittedly, the silicon content in our house is probably above average given where I work and the personalities my wife and I have.  But when I think back to my grandfather he had none of these silicon laden items.  I am sure he didn’t care since it is hard to miss something you never knew.  Of the hundreds of pieces of silicon in our house about a dozen or so are smart enough to connect to each other or to “the cloud” in some way.  I put “the cloud” in quotes because it is not only the most over-hyped word of it’s time it is also the best way to articulate what I suspect my children and many others think of the services that they get when all of this stuff gets connected.

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I can safely say two things are fact. First, my grandchildren will have in their house many more pieces of silicon than I do. Second, they will have more pieces of silicon that can connect to each other and communicate with “the cloud”.  There are many billions of devices connected to the Internet today and that number will grow.  At Intel we are building silicon, and increasingly software assets, that facilitate the processing and movement of data both on those devices and between them. Servers are increasingly becoming an important part of that over-hyped cloud word. My cable company has a cloud delivering me my on demand video content, A social media site allows me to upload pictures into their cloud to share with my friends, someone just used a cloud architecture to develop a perpetual motion machine.  OK, one of those things was false.

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My grandfather thought a cloud was something in the sky.  My children think it streams video to their handheld device.  What will our great-grandchildren think?