IT departments fight a constant battle to save money while hosting larger, more powerful applications that keep their organizations running. By adding more servers, the datacenter can quickly grow out of control, and bring power and cooling costs with it.

Using new server technology available from Intel, however, IT managers can keep costs in check while running a more efficient operation.

Let's begin with processing capacity. Larger, more powerful applications are the norm when enterprises upgrade their mission-critical systems or grow into new, expanding markets. Increasing server performance without increasing the power it consumes is the challenge. Dual-core processors are the answer.

Dual-Core Processors
An Intel dual-core processor consists of two complete execution cores in one physical processor. Both cores run at the same frequency and share the same packaging and interface with the chipset/memory. A dual-core processor delivers more throughput and increased computing capacity. It's like upgrading from a two-lane road to a four-lane highway.

Servers that run on Dual-Core Intel Xeon 5100 series processors boost performance up to three times compared to Xeon's single-core predecessors and provide three times the energy efficiency.

Dual-core will eventually give way to quad-core and multi-core processors in the future, but true efficiency and flexibility in server technology relies on more than processor power.

Virtualization is a popular approach used by IT departments to increase their server utilization rate, and hardware-assisted virtualization is now making an appearance on Intel processors. According to VMware, a popular virtualization software vendor, virtualization and consolidation reduce the total cost of ownership for servers by cutting hardware costs 28 to 53 percent and operations costs by as much as 79 percent.

Intel Virtualization Technology
Intel Virtualization Technology helps businesses employ efficient, powerful virtualization solutions by providing hardware assistance available in the processor to the virtual machine monitors. Software-only virtualization, without hardware-assist, creates workarounds to fool the operating systems that they control the server hardware. Intel Virtualization Technology creates more options for those managing virtualized servers by allowing each operating system to run in its intended layer. The end result is better efficiency and more flexibility for running diverse operating systems on virtual machines concurrently in the same platform.

Intel Xeon processors are also equipped with Intel I/O Acceleration Technology, which is a comprehensive platform-based solution to today's critical server I/O bottlenecks. Intel I/O Acceleration Technology offers a TCP/IP protocol stack optimized for today's processor architecture. By leveraging architectural improvements within the CPU, chipset, network controller, and firmware to minimize bottlenecks, the I/O Acceleration Technology uses the server’s processors more efficiently.

TCP/IP processing is accelerated with I/O Acceleration Technology, but CPU overhead is also reduced, thereby freeing resources for more critical tasks. The technology preserves critical network configurations such as teaming and failover, by keeping control of the network stack processing within the CPU. When combined with tight integration with the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 operating system and Linux, this results in reduced support risks for IT departments.

Support for networked computing assets is also built into Xeon processors with Intel Active Management Technology (AMT). Built in to the platform and working in conjunction with third-party software management and security applications, Intel AMT allows the IT staff to discover assets even when they are powered off. It does this by storing hardware and software information in non-volatile memory.

Intel AMT, available now in entry-level servers and workstations, can be used to remotely heal systems after they suffer an operating system failure. It also features alerts and event-logging to keep IT informed of any problems and allow the staff to react quickly.

The System Defense capability of Intel AMT, expected to be introduced next year, protects the network by proactively blocking incoming threats, containing infected clients before they impact the network, and alerting IT when critical software agents are removed. Third-party software can store version numbers or policy data in non-volatile memory for off-hours retrieval or updates, making it easier to keep software and virus protection up-to-date across the organization.

The latest Intel Xeon platform also provides tools to help IT managers monitor their power consumption in the form of Intel Power Tools. The Intel Power Calculator is a utility that estimates the worst-case power usage for rack servers. The Intel Power Gauge measures actual power consumption.

Enhanced Intel SpeedStep Technology with Demand-Based Switching (DBS) allows processors to adjust their operating speeds based on performance needs to help balance power consumption. When a server with DBS capability sees its workload decrease, the technology dynamically reduces processor frequency and power consumption, resulting in a cooler, quieter server. When running at peak workloads, the processors ramp back up to full processing performance.

Efficiency for the Datacenter
These technologies built-in to the Xeon platform are designed to increase the efficiency and flexibility, not only of individual servers, but also of the entire network and datacenter. Gone are the days when a single application ran on a single server. IT departments are now looking to pool their computing resources and build service-oriented architectures to keep their options open and costs under control.

"It's about efficiency, which saves you money," said Galo Bustamante, Product Marketing Engineer, Intel Server Advanced Technologies. "It's also about flexibility. It's about moving from a dedicated environment to a service-oriented environment."