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In fact, a lot of software runs at even
higher levels. For example, all big data
runs on top of the JVM (Java Virtual
Machine), meaning that it is insulated
from the underlying architecture.
There are already two good JVM
implementations on ARM (OpenJDK
and Oracle).
Migration to the cloud, with the
hundreds of thousands of servers
typically involved, means that it
starts to be economical to invest in
customized designs. In fact, Intel
does this themselves already, with
semi-custom Xeon designs that public
clouds such as Amazon run today.
Jon reckons that 20% better price/
performance is enough to justify the
move, although in the panel session
later in the day people thought 2X
was more compelling.
The fastest growth market for data
center solutions is the Chinese
domestic market. Just like in the US
where we have Amazon, Microsoft,
Google, Facebook and more, they have
Baidu (search), Alibaba (shopping)
and Tencent (social media). But
demand exists for locally developed
I mentioned above. Various higher
levels of the stack, such as openstack,
are available.
ARM servers require standards to take
off. They need to "just work" the way
that Intel-based servers do today,
out of the box. Unbox, plug into
rack, provision via the network. In
short, give the users a phenomenally
"boring" experience.
To wrap up Jon talked about what not
to do, and then what you should do:
• Don't ship some hack with your
custom hacked-up distribution and
kernel of the day
• Don't ship special "OS" that has no
upgrade path
• Do ship a standards-compliant
platform upon which the user can
install the OS of their choice
• Do have a great plan for deploying
firmware updates, documentation,
overall user experience
• In short, standards, standards,
standards
Jon pointed out one great example of
what you should do: the Qualcomm
Software Development Platform. The
engineering is phenomenal and Red
Hat (and presumably Jon himself)
have found them a pleasure to work
with. The trick is to make using
an ARMv8 server as boring and
uneventful as using an Intel-based
server, and ensure that whatever
software you need "just runs."
We can only wait and see now.
Jon Masters, the chief ARM architect
technologies
(and
government
pressure may change to mandate).
Since ARM is an IP company, it is
easier to build a local-content ARM
server than a local-content x86 server.
Jon said that there are many serious
proof-of-concept projects in flight
with lots of rumors around the big
public clouds (such as the Google/
Qualcomm one). Server silicon is
now available from AppliedMicro,
Broadcom, Cavium, Qualcomm,
HiSilicon and AMD. A large number of
operating systems, not just Red Hat,
are available. Hypervisors such as Xen
are available. JVMs are available, as
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