Technical white paper | HP ProLiant DL980 G7 and P2000 G3 MSA Storage
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Solution criteria
The Fast Track reference architectures are built on several different HP ProLiant server platforms, each targeting a different
tier of a SQL Server Data Warehousing solution. The HP Fast Track architectures gain greater throughput and scale by using
the following approach:
• Targeting query workloads patterned for large sequential data sets rather than small random data transactions
• Optimizing rapid data reads and query aggregations
HP currently supports both Fast Track 3.0 and, Fast Track 4.0 (SQL Server 2012). The configurations with external storage
leverage the HP P2000 G3 MSA FC Dual Controller SFF array, which allows for dual reads when drives are mirrored. For
sequential data reads from data warehouse queries, this capability enables tremendous throughput per storage volume.
The Fast Track approach, and supporting storage array architecture, is optimized for sequential reads. To support a non-
optimized, random I/O data warehousing workload, up to 2 to 3 times the number of drives would be required to achieve
the same throughput.
Current Fast Track 3.0 and 4.0 configurations are listed below in Tables 1 and 2. For 3.0 configurations, the entry level
ProLiant DL370 G6 configurations are aimed at new startup data marts with scan rate requirements of 1-1.8GB/sec, while
the ProLiant DL380p Gen8 and DL385 G7 configurations are ideal for data marts with a small departmental footprint of
query activity with a volume optimized at 10-30TB of compressed data capacity. The DL380p Gen8 SSD configuration is
targeted at high performance query applications with storage requirements of less than 11TB. The DL560 Gen8 along with
the DL580 G7 and DL585 G7 configurations targets the middle tier of data warehouse activity, with moderately complex
queries and concurrency. The DL980 G7 rounds out the top end at a rated capacity of 85TB. Table 1 summarizes Fast Track
3.0 configurations, while Table 2 references the Fast Track for SQL Server 2012 configurations.
Table 1. Fast Track 3.0 reference architectures with HP ProLiant servers and storage
(2) Intel® Xeon®
Model X5670
(2) Intel Xeon
Model X5670
(2) AMD Opteron
Model 6176SE
(4) AMD Opteron
Model 6176SE
The Fast Track for SQL Server 2012 configurations are highlighted in Table 2 below.
Table 2. Fast Track for SQL Server 2012 reference architectures with HP ProLiant servers and storage
(2) Intel Xeon
Model E5-2670
(14) 400/800GB
6G SATA MLC SSD
(2) Intel Xeon
Model E5-2690
(4) Intel Xeon
Model E5-4650
(4) Intel Xeon
Model E7-4870
(8) Intel Xeon
Model E7-4870
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