Intel Ethernet and Windows Server 2008 R2
2
|
Integrated Network Technologies Deliver Optimized Performance
Complementary queuing technologies from Intel and Microsoft
address the increased performance demands in virtualized envi-
ronments by creating efficiencies to drive greater throughput.
Two technologies – Microsoft VMQ and Intel’s Virtual Machine
Device queues (VMDq), a key component of Intel
®
Virtualization
Technology
†
for Connectivity – work together to enable faster, more
efficient networking in Microsoft
®
Hyper-V
™
. Enabled by Microsoft
VMQ, Intel’s VMDq offloads data processing from the hypervisor
virtual switch to the Intel Ethernet Controller, a process that lowers
hypervisor overhead and delivers near line-rate throughput to meet
the needs of today’s more powerful virtualized servers.
Working together, 10 Gigabit Intel
®
Ethernet Server Adapters
with VMDq and Microsoft VMQ provide the significantly improved
network I/O performance customers seek in virtualized envi-
ronments.
1
Research shows the technologies can increase
performance by more than 25%, and performance scales
across multiple VMs and multiple 10GbE ports – achieving
speeds of more than 9.3 Gigabits per second on
four-VM configurations.
2
Intel and Microsoft’s unified networking solutions provide superior
iSCSI connectivity, enabling IT organizations to implement cost-
effective iSCSI SANs that deliver industry-leading performance,
stability and value.
Intel Ethernet Server Adapters use the trusted, native iSCSI initiator
in Windows Server 2008 R2 to deliver reliable, consistent perfor-
mance and ease of use across the product line. This integrated
approach eliminates the instability and complexity associated
with offload engines, which require proprietary, special-purpose
hardware and software to improve iSCSI throughput.
The latest Intel 10GbE Ethernet Server Adapters include
hardware-based iSCSI acceleration that matches or even
exceeds the performance of offload solutions
3
while maintaining
the simplicity and familiarity of native Windows Server support.
Hardware optimizations in Intel Ethernet Server Adapters also speed
iSCSI traffic in virtualized environments. Intel’s VMDq technology –
which is enabled in Hyper-V by Microsoft’s VMQ technology – lowers
the virtual switch overhead in the hypervisor to accelerate iSCSI
traffic. In addition, the innovations in Microsoft Hyper-V enable IT
organizations to scale their iSCSI workloads effectively as they
consolidate servers and take full advantage of virtualization.