Things are getting exciting on the computer server front. For a couple of years, an Austin, Texas-based startup called Calxeda (formerly Smooth-Stone) has been making the case for energy efficient servers using ARM processors — that currently dominate the smartphone and tablet markets — as it prepared to commercialize its tech. Now it looks like […]
SeaMicro to show cool Atom-powered server tech at Hot Chips
Over the past couple of years, some startups have been using mobile chips as a way to bring high performance computing to the data center in the form of low-power, space-saving servers. On Friday, August 19, one of those startups, SeaMicro, will be discussing the tech behind its Intel Atom-powered SM10000-64HD server (pictured above) during […]
Facebook shares its secret to green data centers
Literally, in fact. Today, Facebook took a dramatically different course than its peers and let the world look behind the curtain. Whereas other big Internet firms consider the “nuts and bolts” details of their IT infrastructure a competitive advantage, Facebook open sourced its custom, energy efficient server and data center tech under the Open Compute […]
Facebook: Microservers yes, virtualization no
Some interesting insights from Facebook this week as the company broadcasts some of the thinking behind its IT strategy. And instead of submitting to the virtualization craze that’s spreading through corporate data centers, the social networking giant is throwing its weight behind microservers. This comes as Intel announces plans for Xeon- and Atom-based processors for […]
The 10-year server?
How many of your servers have been around for a decade? Not many, it’s safe to assume. (None ideally.) Chances are that the servers you deployed in 2001 were replaced 3-5 years later. And if there are a couple stragglers still around, they’re costing you a bundle in electricity and rack space. Fortunately, longevity is […]
ZT Systems get in on the ARM server fun
The ARM-based server buzz continues this week with an announcement from Secaucus, NJ-based ZT Systems. The server and PC maker unveiled the R1801e, a 1U unit with up to 16 ARM Cortex-A9 processor cores that operates at a mere 80 watts. That includes eight server modules, storage in the form of eight SSDs and dual […]
Smooth-Stone’s now Calxeda, ARM servers by 2011?
Good-bye Smooth-Stone, hello Calxeda (pronounced “Cal-Zeh-Dah”). The startup, which specializes in server designs using ARM’s low-power processor technology, is not only undergoing a name change, new staffing developments point to a company that’s gearing up to take on server vendors that have made their fortunes on Intel’s and AMD’s x86 processors. Earlier this summer, the […]
ARM’s Cortex-A15: From smartphones to green data centers
As expected, ARM officially announced its new Cortex-A chip design and in addition to specs that portend a new generation of powerhouse smartphones, it looks like ARM is finally laying the groundwork for some serious competition in the server processor space. ARM’s latest design is an upgrade in every regard, from clockspeed (up to 2.5 […]
ARM: Virtualization support coming to Cortex A
If you want more proof that ARM has data center ambitions, look no further than this article in eWeek. During the Hot Chips conference at Stanford this week, ARM’s architecture program manager, Dave Brash, said that the Cortex A, code-named Eagle, will feature virtualization support. Already, according to Brash, companies including VMware are working hypervisors […]
Is Facebook transitioning to ARM servers?
If the rumors are to be believed, a major web company is getting ready to deploy servers based on ARM’s low-power chips. According to Charlie Demerjian’s post at Semi Accurate, Facebook will be the first to make that jump. (With Smooth-Stone, perhaps?) Though mainly a designer of chips for smartphones and mobiles — essentially a […]
