ARM processors from companies like Marvel and Calxeda are smaller, more power efficient, and easier to produce than traditional processors – but the market thus far has remained in the early stages of development with plenty of software and hardware improvements to be done. However, with Dell testing a 64-bit ARM processor from Applied Micro Circuits and Oracle proposing a version of Java SE for 64-bit ARM technology, it is only a matter of time until we see these ARM systems as primary offerings right next to other Intel and AMD based machines.How We See The ARM Server Technology Phenomenon Possibly Playing Out:
As soon as the large, dominant players in the market – Dell, Oracle, HP, etc. – give the “all-clear” to let ARM processors run in enterprise applications, we could very well see ARM begin selling licenses to the highest bidder that would allow them to begin building their own ARM processors. Inevitably, this would provide a boon to the semiconductor industry and we could even see Dell or Oracle acquiring a semiconductor manufacturer to exclusively build their ARM processors.
At this point, Red Hat could tailor a Linux OS that runs flawlessly on 32-bit and 64-bit ARM architecture, which would lead to a proliferation of the virtualization software market and within 10 years we could see entire server racks replaced with a single machine running a handful of ARM processors alongside SSD/Flash storage.
And voila, the first truly green data center is achieved! With low power consumption and a low heat output, these machines will leave a very small footprint and dramatically change the IT landscape for data centers. Although it is estimated that the first 64-bit ARM server won’t come to market until at least 2014, it could definitely be the beginning of an interesting story.
In the meantime, please feel free to check out all of our refurbished processors.
Recommended Reading:
- ServerMonkey Supports the Green IT Movement
- Servers 101: Refurbished vs. Remanufactured vs. Used
- Servers 101: HDD Interface Comparison – SCSI vs. SAS vs. SATA
- 5 Things to Watch for When Buying Refurbished IT Gear
