Memory tiering is emerging as a way to reduce server costs as dynamic random-access memory prices rise. In VMware Cloud Foundation 9.1, the technology shifts less frequently accessed pages to lower-cost nonvolatile memory express flash while keeping active data in DRAM.

Broadcom Inc. and Lenovo Group Ltd. have validated the capability on Lenovo ThinkAgile VX V4 systems. Lenovo reports that memory tiering can lower infrastructure acquisition costs by up to 45% while doubling virtual machine density and retaining more than 90% of performance.

“Memory tiering is an advanced technology within VCF that allows you to tier what you would normally have on DRAM to high-performance NVMe flash,” said Stuart McRae (pictured, left), executive director of Lenovo’s Enterprise Storage, Software and Solutions Offering Group. “It can save up to 45%. That’s where you get your savings.”

McRae and Mark Chuang (right), head of product marketing, VMware Cloud Foundation at Broadcom Inc., spoke with theCUBE Research’s Christophe Bertrand and co-host Alison Kosik at VMware Explore, during an exclusive broadcast on theCUBE, SiliconANGLE Media’s livestreaming studio. They discussed how the joint technology can lower the cost of new configurations and extend the life of existing servers. (* Disclosure below.)

Memory tiering extends new and existing servers

New servers can combine DRAM and NVMe rather than relying exclusively on higher-cost DRAM. Customers with memory-constrained existing systems can add NVMe capacity while avoiding long procurement lead times, according to Chuang.

“I was talking to a customer here at Explore, and they did their calculations, and they said they can save up to $70,000 per server if they configured it this way versus if they go pure DRAM,” he said. “It’s just crazy nowadays; a stick of memory is like the cost of a car.”

ThinkAgile VX delivers VCF as a factory-integrated system with validated firmware and drivers, guided deployment and ongoing lifecycle management. That approach reduces the work required to assemble and maintain individual infrastructure components as private cloud platforms expand to support AI, McRae noted.

“With VX, it all comes integrated, ready to go to help your day zero, day one experience,” he said. “It also provides full lifecycle management over the life of the product. You always know you have the latest, greatest BIOS, firmware [and] drivers to keep the system resilient, high-performance and secure.”

Here’s the complete video interview, part of SiliconANGLE’s and theCUBE’s coverage of VMware Explore:

(*  Disclosure: TheCUBE is a paid media partner for VMware Explore event. Neither Broadcom, the sponsor of theCUBE’s event coverage, nor other sponsors have editorial control over content on theCUBE or SiliconANGLE.)

Photo: SiliconANGLE