Scaling Enterprise Java on 64-bit Multi-Core X86-Based Servers
Multi-core and 64-bit CPUs are the hottest commodities in the enterprise server market these days. In recent years, as the cost and power requirement of faster CPU clock speeds has increased, the growth in raw clock speed (usually measured in megahertz) of single CPUs has slowed down. Hardware manufacturers continue to improve X86-based server performance by increasing both the multitasking capability and internal data bandwidth. Both Intel and Advanced Micro Devices are shipping 64-bit processors with two internal CPU cores, and quad core processors are soon to follow. Ninth-generation servers from Dell exploit this new generation of chips. The PowerEdge 1955 blade server, for example, supports up to two 64-bit dual core processors in a blade configuration, with up to ten such blades in a 7-rack unit (12.25") chassis.