HP ProLiant AMD-based 300-series G7 servers

2
Abstract
This technology brief describes the key technologies implemented in HP ProLiant 300-series G7
servers based on AMD™ processors. As of this writing, the AMD-based 300--series G7 server
platforms are limited to the ProLiant DL385. For detailed information about this server, refer to the
QuickSpec link listed at the end of this technology brief.
Introduction
The HP ProLiant DL385 G7 server includes these key technologies:
• AMD Opteron™ eight- and twelve-core 6100 Series processors
• Thermal sensors incorporated throughout the ProLiant 300-series G7 servers
• BIOS controlled memory and processor management capabilities
• Integrated Lights-Out 3 (iLO 3) remote server management and control
• I/O technologies such as PCI Express generation 2 (PCIe 2.0) and Smart Array controllers that
incorporate common form factor components
• Flash-backed write cache for Smart Array controllers
• Common-slot power supplies in multiple sizes to provide the required amount of power and improve
power efficiency
HP servers and balanced architecture
HP designs cost-competitive, power-efficient servers that use a balanced architecture to address
performance requirements and provide value.
HP servers achieve a balanced architecture through superior engineering of fundamental elements
such as mechanical infrastructure, power, cooling, processor, memory, IO devices, storage, boot,
networking, and interconnecting components. A balanced architecture includes the following aspects:
• Compute capability, processor core count, cache size per processor, and processor socket count
• Low-latency processor-to-memory bandwidth commensurate with core count
• Memory footprint and capacity that maximizes bandwidth and capacity with power efficiency and
performance without compromising quality or reliability
• Application-appropriate IO devices
• Closely-coupled and balanced processor-to-memory and processor-to-I/O ratios
• Mechanical design that ensures optimum levels of cooling, stability, and serviceability through
space-efficient, modular partitioning across the server
By designing a balanced architecture, HP ensures that all subsystems can be used effectively under a
broad range of applications and workloads. For example, increasing memory capacity
asymmetrically will not increase performance as effectively as distributing the same amount of
memory across processors and IO devices. Inefficient memory distribution yields diminishing returns
on power consumption and cost. A virtual machine (VM), for example, benefits from memory closely
coupled to the processor responsible for that VM. Furthermore, a server needs to have appropriate
levels of I/O bandwidth and CPU capabilities to ensure that memory can be used effectively by every
VM.