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MICROSOFT SQL SERVER 2019 WITH HPE NIMBLE STORAGE AND STORAGE CLASS MEMORY POWERED BY INTEL OPTANE SSDS New NVMe cache increases performance for demanding online transaction processing Lab verified benefits of Storage Class Memory powered by Intel Optane SSDs show back-end latency reduced as much as 50%
HPE Nimble Storage
Growing enterprise data continues to drive the need for increased system performance. However, many companies are limited in data center cage space, power, or system footprint. Some simply don’t want to increase the number of devices they need to deploy and manage. By incorporating the latest acceleration technology—in this case, Storage Class Memory (SCM) in the form of Intel® Optane™ solid state drives (SSDs)—system performance can be increased without expanding the system footprint or administrative overhead. Demanding Microsoft SQL Server workloads, especially those running online transaction processing (OLTP) applications, can immediately benefit from a high-performance caching layer that reduces read latency and speeds overall system responsiveness and performance.
SQL Server 2019 with HPE Nimble Storage and Storage Class Memory powered by Intel Optane SSDs: The new way to increase OLTP performance
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esting results available in performance T white paper: “Optimizing Microsoft SQL Server 2019 with HPE Nimble Storage and Storage Class Memory”
SCM, consisting of Intel Optane SSDs, adds a caching layer that improves storage performance and represents the future of low-latency, persistent storage media.
It closes the performance gap between dynamic random-access memory (DRAM) and NAND flash solid-state drive storage. HPE Nimble Storage now supports SCM powered by Intel Optane SSDs, which fills this gap and increases the performance of business workloads, especially SQL Server. The Intel Optane SSD-based cache within HPE intelligent storage becomes the high‑performance tier for frequently used data blocks. This tiering is handled automatically by the array—no additional administration or configuration is required by the system administrator or DBA. Figure 1 is taken from lab testing, which showed the significant storage read latency reduction for the database when using SCM. Back-end storage system read latencies decreased by as much as 50%, which translated to a 35% performance benefit at the host server.1
FIGURE 1. Average risk read time is 200 microseconds or 33% faster when SCM with Intel Optane SSD is enabled1
Solution brief
THE RECIPE FOR INCREASING SQL SERVER PERFORMANCE SQL Server 2019 with HPE Nimble Storage with SCM powered by Intel Optane SSDs is especially beneficial for demanding SQL Server workloads with intense read activity. The most difficult workload for a storage array to handle is the random read workload. The SCM adapter option powered by Intel Optane SSDs for HPE Nimble Storage can boost an array’s performance with random small block read workloads, typical of many OLTP database workloads. Target SQL Server workloads for the solution include web front-ends, e-commerce, and demanding order-entry applications. The Microsoft SQL Server 2019 with HPE Nimble Storage and Storage Class Memory solution combines the infrastructure elements needed to run an enterprise-class SQL Server environment, optimized with the addition of Intel Optane SSDs. Major solution components of this solution include:
In addition, HPE provides technical implementation guidance in the form of published white papers, training and enablement for resellers, and related collateral, communications, and community activities.
HOW STORAGE CLASS MEMORY IMPROVES SQL SERVER PERFORMANCE The SCM adapter kit, powered by Intel Optane SSDs, decreases latency within HPE Nimble Storage systems by adding a large second level read cache in each controller. The SCM powered by Intel Optane SSDs is used as read cache between the DRAM and long-term SSD storage. A read request first tries to satisfy the request from DRAM. If the request is not fulfilled from DRAM, the SCM is checked. If the request is still not met, the data is then retrieved from the long-term flash SSD media.
HPE Nimble Storage Controller NVDIMM
• HPE Nimble Storage All-Flash array • Intel Optane SSDs • HPE ProLiant Gen10 server
PCIe
Reads
• Brocade Fibre Channel switch • Microsoft Windows Server 2019
SAS
• Microsoft SQL Server 2019
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Reads and writes FIGURE 2. SCM as caching tier within a storage system
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SQL Server transactional workloads can be very read-intensive. With the SCM option, the latency for SQL read requests can be reduced, thereby servicing the SQL request faster.
FOCUS ON NVME SSD CACHE AND INTEL OPTANE SCM powered by Intel Optane SSDs is a new, nonvolatile memory technology that lives between DRAM and traditional flash SSDs in terms of performance and price/GB. SCM powered by Intel Optane SSDs is faster in performance response times than 2-D NAND SSD flash technology. Another key feature of SCM powered by Intel Optane SSDs is the use of the NVMe protocol, which provides lower overhead communications compared with SAS or SCSI. The SCM device connects through the NVMe PCIe controller interface within the HPE Nimble Storage system, and with this direct attachment to the PCIe bus, realizes faster communications within the controller. Intel Optane technology helps eliminate data center storage bottlenecks and allows bigger, more affordable data sets. It can accelerate applications, reduce transaction costs for latency-sensitive workloads, and improve overall data center TCO.
GET STARTED The Microsoft SQL Server 2019 with HPE Nimble Storage and Storage Class Memory solution powered by Intel Optane SSDs is available today. It provides the fastest means to increase performance for demanding OLTP workloads, without adding to system footprint or administration. The solution includes published technical guidance and leverages the latest technology from Intel®.
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Get updates © Copyright 2020 Hewlett Packard Enterprise Development LP. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice. The only warranties for Hewlett Packard Enterprise products and services are set forth in the express warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. Hewlett Packard Enterprise shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. Intel, Intel Optane, and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Microsoft, SQL Server, and Windows Server are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. All third-party marks are property of their respective owners. a00104515ENW, August 2020