Oracle has launched a new line of workload-specific, enterprise-class servers, the Sun Server X4-4 and Sun Server X4-8. Co-engineered with Oracle software. These servers are the first to include elastic computing features, maximising performance by adapting to different workload demands in real time. The Sun Server X4-4 is designed specifically for business intelligence and analytics and server consolidation, while the Sun Server X4-8 is the best x86platform for Oracle Database In-Memory option and scale-up applications. Oracle’s x86 servers are key building blocks for Oracle Engineered Systems.

Key features of the product

Oracle’s Sun Server X4-4 and Sun Server X4-8 are the first and only systems(1) to offer unique elastic computing features in the hardware, which dynamically adapts to workload specific requirements to maximize system utilization and improve efficiency.

With Oracle’s x86 elastic computing capabilities -- achieved by engineering together the server design based on Intel® Xeon® Processor E7-8895 v2 with Oracle Solaris and Oracle Linux -- customers can configure these systems to dynamically optimize for core count or core performance to support optimal performance for a given workload.

The Sun Server X4-8 is ideal for running Oracle Database and, when combined with the Oracle Database In-Memory option, can speed up query processing by allowing even more of the database to be memory-optimized.

The product is well suited for applications requiring large memory footprint virtual machines and is ideal for running real time analytics software.

The new servers optimise valuable data center space and are able to manage extreme memory and I/O requirements for mission-critical workloads. The systems also offer excellent performance for virtualization and high density, clustered computing in enterprise cloud environments.

Oracle’s x86 servers, Oracle Solaris, Oracle Linux and Oracle VM are engineered, tested, deployed and supported together, offering ideal reliability, availability and serviceability.

“The Sun Server X4-4 and Sun Server x4-8 further Oracle’s goal of simplifying IT and significantly reducing operating expenses for our customers by delivering products that are best for Oracle Database In-Memory Option and business analytics,” said Ali Alasti, senior vice-president, hardware development, Oracle.  “Through close collaboration with Intel, we are the first to announce servers based on the new Intel Xeon E7-8895 v2 processors and the first with unique capabilities that allow customers to dynamically address different workloads in real time.”

“The Intel Xeon processor E7-8895 v2, in conjunction with specialized Oracle software, combines the capabilities of the three highest performing processors in the Intel Xeon processor E7 v2 family into a single, adaptable processor. Oracle’s new four and eight socket servers can simplify the process of determining system configurations and purchasing while allowing dynamic repurposing of assets,” said Shannon Poulin, vice-president and general manager, data center marketing Group, Intel Corporation.