The Coming of 32-bit Microserver Market

Published:2011/11/2 1:53:00 Author:Phyllis From:SeekIC

Last week, ARM announced its first 64-bit instruction set and its upcoming v8 architecture to effectively push ARM architecture into new segments of both the consumer and enterprise markets.

The v8 will support both 32-bit and 64-bit applications, addressing a major issue in the firm’s server space aspirations. Intel and its supporters have long argued that without 64-bit, ARM would simply lack the memory needed to support legacy software.

ARM’s announcement proves that 64-bit is essential. As a matter of fact, without it, ARM’s hopes to enter the server space would have been challenging and difficult.

ARM has long been toying with the idea of having dense, ultra-low power servers based around its architecture, targeted at the exponentially growing mega-datacenter market serving the cloud.

One could argue, as HP and Calxeda are now doing, that even the current lack of 64-bit ARM architecture should not prevent firms from picking these new non-×86 microservers for certain applications. HP has even gone on record to say it does see a role for 32-bit ARM servers in the market.

Intel, however, is not likely to feel immediately concerned. After all, it too is moving forward rapidly and even coined the term microserver with its announcement two years ago that is would start making server products using low power versions of its 64-bit Xeon and Atom chips.

The chip giant has not only published a microserver specification, but runs its own development lab for microservers and has customers like Dell, NEC, Hitachi, and Super Micro already selling its low-power server products to customers. Currently, Intel is the only company in the microserver market.

By 2014, when the first 64-bit ARM cores start surfacing in servers, Intel’s Atom roadmap will already be at the 14-nm mark, bound to offer significant power advantages over current Atom models.

The manufacturing process will certainly come more into play adding that 14-nm would deliver a huge kick across all vectors of power efficiency.
Then, of course, there is also the question of software compatibility to be taken into account.

The biggest proof-point for ARM and its partners will come down to the software. What matters most to server customers was whether the product would work without emulating and without causing pain to those having to make the switch.

People are still using IBM mainframes based on software decisions. How ARM and its partners managed to deal with the software conversion process would be critical to its success in microservers. Software migration can be biggest cost and hurdle for customers, so ARM has to get that right.

Another potential challenge for ARM’s server aspirations could be a lack of concrete strategy. ARM may have been pushed into announcing 64-bits before it had a solid plan in place, noting the announcement had come somewhat out of the blue.

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