HP DL585 User Manual
Performance of HP ProLiant DL585 G5 server
with Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors
(2.5 GHz) in a 64-bit HP SBC environment
Executive summary............................................................................................................................... 2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................... 3
AMD Opteron processors ................................................................................................................. 3
AMD Dual Dynamic Power Management ........................................................................................ 4
Test methodology................................................................................................................................. 4
Test tools......................................................................................................................................... 5
More information ......................................................................................................................... 5
User profiles .................................................................................................................................... 6
Test scenarios .................................................................................................................................. 7
Performance and scalability metrics................................................................................................ 7
Test topology....................................................................................................................................... 8
Configurations ................................................................................................................................. 9
HP SBC server summary.................................................................................................................. 10
Performance test results....................................................................................................................... 11
Perfmon values .............................................................................................................................. 12
Canary times................................................................................................................................. 13
Test analysis summary ........................................................................................................................ 14
Recommendations.............................................................................................................................. 14
Using BBWC ................................................................................................................................. 15
Enabling write cache .................................................................................................................. 15
Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 15
Appendix A – Using Microsoft Windows Server 2003 x64 Editions ........................................................ 16
Historical scalability limitations ........................................................................................................ 16
More information ....................................................................................................................... 16
Appendix B – SBC solution sizing........................................................................................................ 17
Online sizer tool ............................................................................................................................ 17
For more information.......................................................................................................................... 19
Executive summary
Important:
This document describes a performance characterization performed
utilizing the HP 64-bit test harness, which incorporates a Microsoft® Office
2003 workload.
Test results cannot be compared directly with the results of tests performed
using the 32-bit Office XP- or Office 2003-based harness.
The HP ProLiant DL585 G5 is a highly manageable, rack-optimized, four-socket1 server designed for
maximum performance in an industry-standard architecture. With up to four Quad-Core AMD
Opteron™ processors and a large memory footprint, the HP ProLiant DL585 G5 server delivers the
performance and performance-per-watt needed for compute-hungry database, virtualization, and
consolidation applications. Its impressive remote management capabilities can help reduce your costs
and improve your ability to respond quickly to business changes.
Key benefits include:
• Outstanding performance and reliability
• Industry-leading management options
• Flexibility for a variety of enterprise deployments
• High performance-per-watt
A 4P HP ProLiant DL585 G5 server equipped with the Quad-Core AMD Opteron Processor Model
8360 SE (2.5 GHz) can provide optimal support for up to the following numbers of users (as
described in
Table 2) in a 64-bit HP Server Based Computing (SBC) environment:
Heavy Users
Medium Users
Light Users
288
444
528
Since the kernel memory constraints that limit scalability in a 32-bit HP SBC environment have been
removed, this performance characterization demonstrates that customers can expect to fully utilize the
resources of this server in a 64-bit environment, even when running their 32-bit applications.
Target audience: This performance characterization is intended primarily for IT professionals planning
HP SBC solution deployments. The performance and sizing information provided herein is designed to
help customers estimate the number of HP ProLiant DL585 G5 servers required for a particular
environment.
Testing performed in June 2008 is described.
1
Four-processor, also known as 4P
2
Introduction
The HP ProLiant DL585 G5 server (shown in Figure 1) is ideal for multi-threaded, multi-tasked
environments, high-performance computing, and HP SBC.
Figure 1. HP ProLiant DL585 G5 server
AMD Opteron processors
The HP ProLiant DL585 G5 server supports up to four Quad-Core AMD Opteron 8300 Series
processors. This native quad-core processor delivers the following benefits:
• Outstanding performance
The Quad-Core AMD Opteron processor is designed for optimal multi-threaded application
performance. Its native quad-core implementation features four cores on a single die for more
efficient data sharing, while the enhanced cache structure and integrated memory controller can
sustain application throughput. This processor provides outstanding processing power and, together
with its performance-per-watt enhancements, can improve IT responsiveness while maintaining data
center costs.
• Enhanced power efficiency
Thanks to Enhanced AMD PowerNow!™ technology and the introduction of AMD CoolCore™
technology, Quad-Core AMD Opteron processors are very power-efficient, helping to reduce power
needs and cooling costs in the data center.
(For more on power management enhancements, see
• Optimal virtualization
Featuring AMD Virtualization™ (AMD-V™) technology with nested paging acceleration, Quad-Core
AMD Opteron processors can accelerate the performance of virtualized applications and improve
efficiency when switching between virtual machines; as a result, customers can typically host more
virtual machines and users per system, maximizing the consolidation and power-saving benefits of
virtualization.
• Investment protection
By leveraging AMD’s Common Core Strategy and Same Socket Technology, Quad-Core AMD
Opteron processors can minimize changes to the customer’s software and data center infrastructure,
protecting IT investments and simplifying management.
AMD Dual Dynamic Power Management.)
3
AMD Dual Dynamic Power Management
Without compromising performance, AMD Dual Dynamic Power Management functionality allows
each processor to maximize the power-saving benefits of Enhanced AMD PowerNow! by reducing
idle power consumption and enabling per-processor power management in multi-socket systems to
further reduce power consumption.
By powering core and memory controller voltage planes independently, AMD Dual Dynamic Power
Management can enhance both performance and power management.
Benefits include:
• Increased performance
The memory controller is able to run at a higher frequency, helping to reduce memory latency and
thus improving application performance.
• Improved power management
By operating independently from the memory controller, the cores in a Quad-Core AMD Opteron
processor can exploit the power savings offered by Enhanced AMD PowerNow! more often,
resulting in reduced power and cooling bills. In addition, the processor reduces power to the
northbridge
2
when memory is not in use, while continuing to provide full power to the cores.
The following sections of this paper describe the testing performed by HP to characterize the
performance and scalability of an HP ProLiant DL585 G5 server in a 64-bit HP SBC environment.
Note:
A 64-bit HP SBC environment eliminates the kernel memory constraints that
can limit server scalability in a 32-bit HP SBC environment. For more
information, refer to
x64 Editions
Appendix A – Using Microsoft Windows Server 2003
.
Test methodology
HP continues to upgrade existing HP ProLiant servers and introduce new servers to meet particular
business needs. To help customers select the appropriate server for their particular HP SBC
environment, HP publishes this and other performance characterizations so that you can compare
individual server performance and scalability.
This section describes how HP determined the optimal number of users supported by a 4P HP ProLiant
DL585 G5 server equipped with the Quad-Core AMD Opteron Processor Model 8360 HE
GHz) – henceforth referred to as the HP ProLiant DL585 G5 server – in a 64-bit test harness.
Important:
As with any laboratory testing, the performance metrics quoted in this
paper are idealized. In a production environment, these metrics may be
impacted by a variety of factors.
HP recommends proof-of-concept testing in a non-production environment
using the actual target application as a matter of best practice for all
application deployments. Testing the actual target application in a
test/staging environment identical to, but isolated from, the production
environment is the most effective way to characterize system behavior.
3
(2.5
2
Or memory controller hub (MCH)
3
HE processors are higher power, frequency-optimized devices.
4
This section provides more information on test tools, user profiles and test scenarios.
Test tools
To facilitate the placement and management of simulated loads on an HP SBC server, HP used
Terminal Services Scalability Planning Tools (TSScaling), a suite of tools developed by Microsoft to
help organizations with Microsoft Windows® Server 2003 Terminal Server capacity planning.
Table 1 describes these tools.
Table 1. Components of TSScaling
Component Description
Automation tools Robosrv.exe Drives the server-side of the load simulation
Robocli.exe Helps drive the client-side of the load simulation
Test tools Qidle.exe
Tbscript.exe
Help files TBScript.doc Terminal Server bench scripting documentation
TSScalingSetup.doc A scalability test environment set-up guide
TSScalingTesting.doc A testing guide
Determines if any scripts have failed and require
operator intervention
A script interpreter that helps drive the client-side load
simulation
More information
• Roboserver (Robosrv.exe) and Roboclient (Robocli.exe):
• TSScaling:
Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server Capacity and Scaling
Terminal Server capacity planning
5
User profiles
To simulate typical workloads in this environment, HP used scripts based on the Heavy, Medium, and
Light User profiles described in Table 2.
Table 2. User profiles incorporated into the test scripts
User class Activities
Heavy User
Medium User
Light User
Heavy Users (also known as Structured Task Workers) tend to open multiple applications
simultaneously and remain active for long periods. Heavy Users often leave applications open
when not in use.
Medium Users (also known as Knowledge Workers) are defined as users who gather, add value
to, and communicate information in a decision-support process. Cost of downtime is variable but
highly visible. These resources are driven by projects and ad-hoc needs towards flexible tasks.
These workers make their own decisions on what to work on and how to accomplish the task.
Sample tasks include: marketing, project management, sales, desktop publishing, decision
support, data mining, financial analysis, executive and supervisory management, design, and
authoring.
Light Users (also known as Data Entry Workers) input data into computer systems. Activities
include transcription, typing, order entry, clerical work and manufacturing.
Table 3 outlines the activities performed by each user class utilizing Office 2003 products.
Table 3. Activities incorporated into the test scripts for each user class
Activity description Heavy User Medium User Light User
Access
Open a database, apply a filter, search through
records, add records, and delete records.
X
Excel Open, print and save a large spreadsheet. X X X
Excel_2
InfoPath
Outlook
Outlook_2 Create a long reply. X
PowerPoint
PowerPoint2
Word Create, save, print, and email a document. X
Create a new spreadsheet, enter data, and create
a chart. Print and save the spreadsheet.
Enter data
existing form.
First pass: Email a short message.
Second pass: Email a reply with an attachment.
Create a new presentation, insert clipart, and
apply animation. View the presentation after each
slide is created.
Open and view a large presentation with heavy
animation and many colors and gradients.
4
into a form; save the form over an
X X
X X
X
X X
X
5
X X
4
Data entry for Office InfoPath 2003 requires significant processor resources
5
Shortened version for Heavy Users
6
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