Windows Server 2008 R2 Makes the Most of Processing Power
This week Bill Laing, vice president of the Windows Server and Solutions Division, presented the upcoming Windows Server 2008 R2 at the WinHEC (Windows Hardware Engineering Conference) that is held in Los Angeles. The information presented by Laing comes to complete the bits and pieces we already know from the PDC (Professional Developers Convention) that was held last week (in LA as well).
The latest news regarding Windows Server 2008 R2 is that it will be able to exceed the current 64 logical processors limit applied to scaling operations. The x3950 M2 Server from IBM will be able to support 192 cores, while the Superdome Server from HP will take things even further – to 256 logical processors.
From a Microsoft point of view a logical processor equals the total number of physical processors multiplied by how many cores there are and then multiplied again by the number of threads. So if you have a 64 physical processors system, each processor has two cores and each core has to handle two threads, then you have 256 logical processors (64 times 2 times 2 equals 256).
Bill Laing comments: “We continue to invest in scalability. In Windows Server 2008 R2, we have built in support for up to 256 logical processors, which will allow our customers to more fully exploit today’s powerful CPUs, deploying only the features they choose and scaling those solutions to meet their organization’s needs.”
Do not let the name fool you. Just because it has the 2008 sticker on it, does not mean that this iteration of the Windows Server OS will actually be released this year. From an official release date point of view, we still have to wait until late 2009 or early 2010 to see this piece of software hit the market.
The latest news regarding Windows Server 2008 R2 is that it will be able to exceed the current 64 logical processors limit applied to scaling operations. The x3950 M2 Server from IBM will be able to support 192 cores, while the Superdome Server from HP will take things even further – to 256 logical processors.
From a Microsoft point of view a logical processor equals the total number of physical processors multiplied by how many cores there are and then multiplied again by the number of threads. So if you have a 64 physical processors system, each processor has two cores and each core has to handle two threads, then you have 256 logical processors (64 times 2 times 2 equals 256).
Bill Laing comments: “We continue to invest in scalability. In Windows Server 2008 R2, we have built in support for up to 256 logical processors, which will allow our customers to more fully exploit today’s powerful CPUs, deploying only the features they choose and scaling those solutions to meet their organization’s needs.”
Do not let the name fool you. Just because it has the 2008 sticker on it, does not mean that this iteration of the Windows Server OS will actually be released this year. From an official release date point of view, we still have to wait until late 2009 or early 2010 to see this piece of software hit the market.
