By Andrew Theurer, Senior Software Engineer, IBM Linux Technology Center
IBM recently published a new SPECvirt_sc2013 result, this time with Intel's newest processor, the Xeon E5-2600 V2, using a System X x3650M4 server and Red Hat Enterprise Linux v6.4. This result is of particular interest, not only because it sets the bar higher for leadership 2-socket SPECvirt_sc2013 performance, but it also helps us understand the relative performance improvement from the Intel E5-2600 V1 processors. Earlier this year, IBM achieved the #1 spot among 2-socket servers with a FLEX x240, using the Intel V1 processors. Comparing both of these results (624.90@37VMs and 947.90@53VMs), we see a 42% increase in VM density and a 51% increase in performance–quite a difference! Also, as with every other SPECvirt result IBM has produced, we continue to use KVM as our hypervisor. KVM continues to provide us with the absolute best virtualized performance and scalability, and this result is no exception.
For information on the evolution of SPECvirt from sc2010 to sc2013, read my blog, “KVM takes the performance lead again, this time with SPECvirt_sc2013.”