Intel 7400 manual ESL game testing, Firewall

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White Paper Consolidation of a Performance-Sensitive Application

VM1

 

 

VMn

Svc

Cons

 

vSwitch 1

 

 

 

vSwitch 0

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

10 GbE VMDq

 

 

 

 

 

1 GbE

 

 

Force 10

S50N

 

 

ESL Network

 

 

 

Firewall

Internet

Figure 13.. Live Internet test setup..

Counter-

Counter-

Strike 1.6*

Strike 1.6*

Windows

Windows

Server 2003*

Server 2003*

32 bit

32 bit

VM1

VMn

 

VMware ESX 3.5 U1*

Intel® Xeon® Processor 7400 Series-based Server

Figure 14.. Test software stack..

ESL game testing

At ESL labs, we ran a series of tests cases that included private and public Internet testing. All these tests revealed that there is no impact on in-game latency, and as a result there is no impact on the gaming experience.

As part of this testing, we used an Intel Xeon processor 7400 server code-named “Dunnington.” This is an MP server with four sockets and six cores per socket, with a total of 24 cores. This server is connected to a 10 GbE port of a 1G/10G aggregation switch by using a 10 GbE CX4 NIC. ESX 3.5 U1 was installed on the server, and each virtual machine is configured with 1vCPU,

2 GB memory, Windows 2003 server (32 bit) and Counter-Strike

1.6(three game servers running per VM). We are not using any kind of CPU affinity or memory reservations. Also, on the ESX server we enabled the “NetQueue” feature and by default a maximum of 16 queues per 10 GbE port are created.

As a part of load generation we used real players who connected to the game servers on the local LAN and through the Internet, and “bots,” which are an emulation of a player playing a game. These bots run on the game server as a plug-in and generate CPU load. The setup and configuration are shown in Figures 13 and 14.

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Contents Abstract Table of Contents Introduction Can We Virtualize Everything? Non-virtualizable applicationsProblem statement ESL Proof of Concept PoC overviewServer hardware Network I/OVMDq and NetQueue Optimize switching Load-balance interrupts Software stack Question the AssumptionsKey performance metrics Gaming protocol Round-trip network latency testsScenarios 2 and 3 Virtualized with and without VMDq/NetQueue ESL game testing FirewallROI Delivered Server consolidationPower savings Other savingsConclusions Resources Additional sources of information on this topicPage We want to hear from you

7400 specifications

The Intel 7400 is a significant component in the realm of data center and cloud computing, specifically engineered to cater to the evolving demands of modern workloads. This processor plays a crucial role in maintaining the efficiency and effectiveness of various applications, particularly in artificial intelligence (AI), machine learning (ML), and high-performance computing (HPC).

One of the standout features of the Intel 7400 is its high core count, boasting up to 28 cores per processor. This architecture enables exceptional multi-threading capabilities, which is vital for handling concurrent tasks and improving overall throughput. The increased core count, alongside Intel's Hyper-Threading Technology, allows applications to utilize threads more efficiently and manage several workloads simultaneously, ensuring optimal performance across diverse tasks.

The architecture of the Intel 7400 is built upon the innovative Cascade Lake framework, which incorporates several performance optimizations over its predecessors. This includes support for advanced memory configurations, enhanced memory bandwidth, and improved support for High Bandwidth Memory (HBM). The processor also features Intel's Turbo Boost Technology, which automatically adjusts the clock speed to enhance performance on demand, allowing users to tackle intensive processes when necessary without sacrificing energy efficiency.

In addition to performance enhancements, Intel 7400 enhances security in a data-centric world. It incorporates built-in security features such as Intel Software Guard Extensions (SGX) which provide hardware-based isolation for sensitive data and workloads. This is particularly important for applications dealing with confidential information, ensuring that even in cloud environments, data integrity and privacy are maintained.

Another notable characteristic of the Intel 7400 is its comprehensive support for various virtualization technologies. This allows organizations to run multiple operating systems and instances on a single physical server, reducing hardware costs and improving resource utilization. The processor is also equipped with Intel Virtualization Technology (VT-x), simplifying the creation and management of virtual machines, thus enabling businesses to scale operations effortlessly.

The Intel 7400 is well-suited for power efficiency and thermal management, an essential factor for organizations looking to cut operational costs. Its design allows for effective heat dissipation, ensuring that the processor maintains high performance without overheating, ultimately prolonging its lifespan and reliability.

In summary, the Intel 7400 processor represents a fusion of high performance, versatile capabilities, and robust security features tailored for data-centric environments. With its advanced architecture, increased core counts, and support for a variety of applications, it positions itself as an essential component for enterprises looking to thrive in the digital age.