Dell EMC just announced major software operating system updates to Dell EMC Unity and SC Series storage arrays, giving customers powerful new features and a big boost in the performance, functionality and longevity of their investments.
Dell EMC Unity and SC Storage Arrays Get Major Updates!
As part of the software built into both Dell EMC Unity and SC Series All-flash and Hybrid storage arrays, customers can upgrade their operating system non-disruptively and at no cost (for customers with active ProSupport agreements) to improve workload performance, storage capacity and data protection and availability.
New Dell EMC Unity OE features
The new Dell EMC Unity operating environment gains the following new replication, data mobility and security features to ensure uninterrupted operations of applications that support the business:
Array-based file replication
New Metrosync array-based file replication protects transactional file applications with rapid recovery and automated failover to a secondary data center
2-Way NDMP improves performance for better NAS backup times while reducing WAN/LAN network congestion
Data Mobility
Built-in data mobility capabilities to migrate block data from third-party storage arrays directly to Dell EMC Unity
Security Enhancements
LDAP/AD enhancements for performance, availability, and search flexibility for Microsoft environments
The addition of Metrosync for file delivers a complete complement of array-based replication, with synchronous and asynchronous block and file replication options now included with every Dell EMC Unity Hybrid and All-Flash configuration. These replication options combine to improve transactional application data RPO and RTO, long distance disaster recovery, and data aggregation and distribution.
Dell EMC SC Series Improvements
For the past several quarters, Dell EMC engineers have embarked on a top-to-bottom code optimisation of SCOS to extract higher performance and efficiency from SC Series hybrid and all-flash arrays, while also improving management, analytics and monitoring. New SCOS 7.3 features include:
MajorIOPS performance boost
Now up to 2.2M max IOPS per array, over 20M in federated multi-array environments
2X increase in maximum IOPS across every current SC array model
50,000-100,000 more mixed-workload IOPS across every SC array
Improved management for single and multi-array environments
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New Unisphere for SC HTML5 Web UI simplifies and automates common storage management tasks; shares common look and feel with Unisphere for Dell EMC Unity
Easier, more cost-effective upgrades and expansion
Up to 2X increase in maximum capacity per array
Data-in-place upgrades for the popular SC4020 offers cost-effective option for customers to migrate data to newer SC models
SCv2000 can now federate/replicate with other SC Series arrays
More enterprise-class efficiency and availability
Support for 100Gb and 25Gb iSCSI network hardware offers customers future-proof solutions and buying assurance
Distributed sparing, for greater I/O efficiency and up to 500% faster rebuilds
Live Volume enhancements designed to deliver lower latency and reduced network traffic in high availability environments
By upgrading to the new SCOS 7.3, SC Series customers can gain an overnight boost in workload performance. Three SC array models now provide over 1 million IOPS. Dell EMC tests show real-world applications such as VDI and SQL OLTP can perform 33% to 54% faster with SCOS 7.3.
Dell EMC Unity OE 4.4 and SC Series SCOS 7.3 Availability
Dell EMC Unity OE 4.4 and SC Series SCOS 7.3 are now available in Malaysia as no-cost software upgrades for customers with an active Dell ProSupport agreement.
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Right on the heels of the big reveal of the AMD EPYC 7000 Series (formerly known as AMD Naples) of enterprise server processors, AMD just announced the AMD Ryzen PRO family of desktop processors. Here is everything you need to know about them, including their specifications, key features and availability.
Updated @ 2017-09-03 : Added the first slew of desktop and notebook PCs that will ship soon.
Originally posted @ 2017-07-01
Enterprise-Grade Performance
The AMD Ryzen PRO processors are basically enterprise-grade versions of the AMD Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 5 processors. They have the same features performance characteristics as their consumer-grade brothers, like Precision Boost and Extended Frequency Range (XFR). The PRO versions just have additional security and remote management capabilities.
The slides above appear to have two typos. But the only important one you need to know is that, like the AMD Ryzen 7, the Ryzen 7 PRO has a peak frequency of 3.8 GHz.
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The AMD Ryzen PRO Value Proposition
As our AMD Ryzen 7 1800X review has shown, the AMD Zen core is about 10% slower per clock cycle than the Intel Skylake core. It therefore comes to no surprise that AMD is focusing on their value proposition. They’re offering more cores at the same price points, delivering more performance per dollar.
Here are four spider charts that AMD created to show how much performance advantage the Ryzen PRO processors can offer over their direct Intel competitors. Like their consumer-grade brothers, these enterprise-grade processors directly compete with the 7th Generation Intel Core processors (formerly known as Kaby Lake).
With twice as many cores and threads, the AMD Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 appears to offer up to 73% better performance than the Intel Core i7-7700 in TrueCrypt (AES encryption).
The Ryzen 5 PRO 1600 offers 50% more processor cores and the ability to simultaneously process 3X more instruction threads than the Intel Core i5-7500. The end result – it was just over twice as fast in AES encryption using TrueCrypt, and almost twice as fast at rendering a 3D image in CINEBENCH R15.
The Ryzen 5 PRO 1500 has 4 cores, just like the Intel Core i5-7500, but its SMT capability allows it to process twice as many instruction threads. That allowed it to offer up to 76% better performance in 3DMark 11.
The Ryzen 3 PRO 1300 offers twice as many cores, albeit processing the same number of instruction threads, as the Intel Core i3-7100. That still allowed it to deliver up to 76% better performance in 3DMark 11.
Now, this is similar to what the consumer-grade AMD Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 5 processors already offer. So what extra features do these enterprise-grade desktop processors offer? Let’s find out!
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Built-In Security Features
The AMD Ryzen PRO processors come with enterprise-grade security features called AMD Secure Technologies.
They consist of a 128-bit AES encryption engine and support for Windows 10 Enterprise Security, fTPM (firmware Trust Platform Module) and Secure Boot. They also support Transparent Secure Memory Encryption, which allows for independent encryption of memory contents with minimal performance impact.
AMD took care to point out that while similar security features are available with the Intel Core i7 and Core i5 vPro processors, there are no Core i3 vPro processors. This gives the AMD Ryzen 3 PRO processors a distinct advantage over the Core i3.
Greater Reliability & Manageability
Large enterprises are not just interested in performance. Reliability and manageability are arguably of greater concern to them. They also want supply chain certainty, so AMD guarantees the availability of every PRO model for 24 months. AMD will also reserve their highest yield wafers for these enterprise-grade processors, to ensure greater reliability.
Needless to say, these PRO processors have built-in remote management capabilities, similar to the Intel Active Management Technology that is part of Intel vPro. AMD implements the DASH (Desktop and mobile Architecture for System Hardware) open standard, while Intel AMT is proprietary in nature.
Again, AMD pointed out that these management and reliability features are not available for the Intel Core i3 processors, giving their AMD Ryzen 3 PRO processors a leg up in these aspects.
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AMD Ryzen PRO Specifications
AMD has announced six PRO processors to start with, with the Ryzen 7 PRO and Ryzen 5 PRO processors mimicking the consumer-grade Ryzen 7 and Ryzen 5 processors already launched. Here is a simple table summarising their key specifications :
Desktop + Mobile Availability Updated!
According to AMD, Ryzen PRO-based PCs will start shipping in the second half of 2017., with these desktop PCs shipping shortly :
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Dell Optiplex 5055 – shipping in the coming weeks
HP EliteDesk 705 – shipping in the coming weeks
Lenovo ThinkCentre M715 – shipping in the coming weeks
Laptop users are not forgotten though. AMD plans to release the Pro mobile processors in the first half of 2018. That said, they also announced that these laptops will ship by the end of the year :
Lenovo ThinkPad A475 and A275 laptops – shipping in Q4 2017
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The Official AMD Ryzen PRO Presentation Slides
Here is the complete set of the AMD Ryzen PRO presentation slides for your perusal.
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The AMD Ryzen PRO Press Release
SUNNYVALE, Calif. — June 29, 2017 — Following the global excitement generated by the launch of its new EPYC family of server processors, AMD (NASDAQ: AMD) today added another tier to its enterprise CPU portfolio with the introduction of AMD Ryzen PRO desktop processors. Designed to meet the demands of today’s compute-intensive workplace, Ryzen PRO desktop processors will bring reliability, security, and performance to enterprise desktops worldwide.
“Today marks another important step in our journey to bring innovation and excitement back to the PC industry: the launch of our Ryzen PRO desktop CPUs that will bring disruptive levels of performance to the premium commercial market,” said Jim Anderson, senior vice president and general manager, Computing and Graphics Group, AMD. “Offering a significant leap in generational performance, leadership multi-threaded performance, and the first-ever 8-core, 16-thread CPU for commercial-grade PCs, Ryzen PRO provides a portfolio of technology choices that meet the evolving needs of businesses today and tomorrow.”
Ryzen PRO Lineup
Delivering breakthrough responsiveness for the most demanding enterprise-class applications and multi-tasking workflows, the ‘Zen’ core in every Ryzen PRO processor provides up to 52 percent improvement in compute capability over the previous generation1, and the Ryzen 7 PRO 1700 offers up to 62 percent more multi-threaded performance than select competing solutions2.
Security
Targeted for enterprise and public sector implementations, Ryzen PRO processors offer state-of-the-art silicon-level security, providing hardware-based cryptographic and security technologies to help protect against an ever-growing number of threats. Security standards like secure boot, fTPM (firmware Trust Platform Module), AES, and Windows 10 Enterprise security features are fully supported across the entire Ryzen PRO processor family.
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Dependability
Built upon exceptional AMD product dependability and sourced from wafers with the highest yields, Ryzen PRO processors provide commercial-grade quality and reliability to help ensure platform longevity for future-ready computing. Industry-leading, open-standard DASH manageability allows for CPU-agnostic administration and helps ensure businesses avoid getting locked into proprietary solutions.
Availability
The world’s largest suppliers of commercial client desktops are expected to provide Ryzen PRO-based PCs to businesses worldwide in the second half of 2017. Ryzen PRO mobile is scheduled for the first half of 2018.
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