Scalable Performance for Server Consolidation in Virtualized Environments

Overview

In Intel IT tests, a four-socket server based on the Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 7300 series demonstrated scalable, predictable performance with up to 32 consolidated server workloads in Virtual Machines (VMs). As the paper added CPU-intensive workloads to the server, average workload runtimes remained approximately constant until one reached 16 VMs. Runtimes then increased at a predictable, linear rate as one continued to add workloads, up to a total of 32. With a dual-socket server based on the Quad-Core Intel Xeon processor 5300 series, runtimes began to increase at about eight VMs, and with a dual-socket server based on the Dual-Core Intel Xeon processor 5100 series, runtimes began to increase at about four VMs.