Oracle Exalogic
Encyclopedia
Exalogic is a computer appliance
made by Oracle Corporation
, commercially available since 2010. It is a cluster
of x86-64
-servers with preinstalled Fusion Middleware
.
Its full trade mark is Oracle Exalogic Elastic Cloud X2-2 (derived from the SI prefix
exa- and -logic, probably from Weblogic), positioned by the vendor as a preconfigured clustered application server to use in building blocks in clouds
with elastic computing
abilities.
conference in San Francisco in Septermber, 2010, as continuation of the Oracle appliance product line, started in 2008 with Exadata (preconfigured database cluster).
In December, 2010, Oracle announced a new version of Exalogic powered by 16-core nodes of SPARC T3 processors with the Solaris running, instead of the Intel Xeon hosts with Oracle Enterprise Linux
used in X2-2 version. As end of 2011, SPARC version still commercially unavailable.
of 42 units
, completed with servers
and network equipment. There are 3 configurations, at different prices, depending on what fills the rack (the following price list is for U.S. consumers):
The weight of the full rack is about 1 ton (more than 2000 lbs), a quarter rack weighs half as much .
s for operating system and swap space; a common storage area network
; and a set of InfiniBand
and Ethernet
switches A full rack contains 30 server nodes, a half rack, 16, and a quarter rack, 8. Each server node has installed 96 GB of RAM, 4 10 Gbit Ethernet cards, and a double Infiniband port. The storage area network for all configurations is similar, with 40 TB of raw space. The vendor's specifications and advertising content usually indicate the total parameters (360 processor kernels and 2.9 TB RAM for full rack).
version 5.5 or Solaris release 11 express. All servers have an installed cluster configuration of Oracle WebLogic Server
and distributed memory cache Oracle Coherence
. To run Java applications on a machine there is a choice of HotSpot
or JRockit
. Management of the appliance is available in the Oracle Enterprise Manager
toolset, which is also pre-installed in the appliance. A transaction monitor Tuxedo
is optionally supplied.
, presumes that any appliance principally lacks scalability for the end-user compared with the infrastructure, supplied as service
, and notes that the Exalogic approach is actually a rollback to the obsolete mainframe
concept. Also, commentators have expressed concerns about the appropriateness of placing the word "elastic" in the name, because, despite the ability to load balance, there are obvious computing limits of the box, and those limits cannot be transcended like they should be in a true elastic environment; the same criticism applies to all solutions designed for private cloud computing, in particular, it applies to EMC
and Hewlett-Packard
products.
Computer appliance
A computer appliance is generally a separate and discrete hardware device with integrated software , specifically designed to provide a specific computing resource. These devices became known as "appliances" because of their similarity to home appliances, which are generally "closed and sealed" –...
made by Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation
Oracle Corporation is an American multinational computer technology corporation that specializes in developing and marketing hardware systems and enterprise software products – particularly database management systems...
, commercially available since 2010. It is a cluster
Cluster (computing)
A computer cluster is a group of linked computers, working together closely thus in many respects forming a single computer. The components of a cluster are commonly, but not always, connected to each other through fast local area networks...
of x86-64
X86-64
x86-64 is an extension of the x86 instruction set. It supports vastly larger virtual and physical address spaces than are possible on x86, thereby allowing programmers to conveniently work with much larger data sets. x86-64 also provides 64-bit general purpose registers and numerous other...
-servers with preinstalled Fusion Middleware
Oracle Fusion Middleware
Oracle Fusion Middleware consists of several software products from Oracle Corporation. OFM spans multiple services, including Java EE and developer tools, integration services, business intelligence, collaboration, and content management...
.
Its full trade mark is Oracle Exalogic Elastic Cloud X2-2 (derived from the SI prefix
SI prefix
The International System of Units specifies a set of unit prefixes known as SI prefixes or metric prefixes. An SI prefix is a name that precedes a basic unit of measure to indicate a decadic multiple or fraction of the unit. Each prefix has a unique symbol that is prepended to the unit symbol...
exa- and -logic, probably from Weblogic), positioned by the vendor as a preconfigured clustered application server to use in building blocks in clouds
Cloud computing
Cloud computing is the delivery of computing as a service rather than a product, whereby shared resources, software, and information are provided to computers and other devices as a utility over a network ....
with elastic computing
Elastic computing
Elastic computing is the use of computer resources which vary dynamically to meet a variable workload. This is a feature of cloud computing such as the Amazon Elastic Compute Cloud.-References:...
abilities.
History
Exalogic was announced at the Oracle OpenWorldOracle OpenWorld
Oracle OpenWorld is an annual Oracle event for business decision-makers, IT management, and line-of-business end users. It is held in San Francisco, California; São Paulo, Brazil; and Shanghai, China. The world's largest conference for Oracle customers and technologists, Oracle OpenWorld San...
conference in San Francisco in Septermber, 2010, as continuation of the Oracle appliance product line, started in 2008 with Exadata (preconfigured database cluster).
In December, 2010, Oracle announced a new version of Exalogic powered by 16-core nodes of SPARC T3 processors with the Solaris running, instead of the Intel Xeon hosts with Oracle Enterprise Linux
Oracle Enterprise Linux
Oracle Linux, formerly known as Oracle Enterprise Linux, is a Red Hat Enterprise Linux-compatible distribution, repackaged and sold by Oracle, available under the GNU General Public License since late 2006....
used in X2-2 version. As end of 2011, SPARC version still commercially unavailable.
Form
Exalogic is a factory assembled 19-inch rack19-inch rack
A 19-inch rack is a standardized frame or enclosure for mounting multiple equipment modules. Each module has a front panel that is wide, including edges or ears that protrude on each side which allow the module to be fastened to the rack frame with screws.-Overview and history:Equipment designed...
of 42 units
Rack unit
A rack unit or U is a unit of measure used to describe the height of equipment intended for mounting in a 19-inch rack or a 23-inch rack...
, completed with servers
Server (computing)
In the context of client-server architecture, a server is a computer program running to serve the requests of other programs, the "clients". Thus, the "server" performs some computational task on behalf of "clients"...
and network equipment. There are 3 configurations, at different prices, depending on what fills the rack (the following price list is for U.S. consumers):
- quarter rack — $475,000;
- half-rack — $675,000;
- full rack — $1,075,000.
The weight of the full rack is about 1 ton (more than 2000 lbs), a quarter rack weighs half as much .
Hardware
The hardware component of the appliance consists of: a group of 1-unit Intel Xeon servers, each of equipped with two six-core 2.93 GHz processors and two solid-state driveSolid-state drive
A solid-state drive , sometimes called a solid-state disk or electronic disk, is a data storage device that uses solid-state memory to store persistent data with the intention of providing access in the same manner of a traditional block i/o hard disk drive...
s for operating system and swap space; a common storage area network
Storage area network
A storage area network is a dedicated network that provides access to consolidated, block level data storage. SANs are primarily used to make storage devices, such as disk arrays, tape libraries, and optical jukeboxes, accessible to servers so that the devices appear like locally attached devices...
; and a set of InfiniBand
InfiniBand
InfiniBand is a switched fabric communications link used in high-performance computing and enterprise data centers. Its features include high throughput, low latency, quality of service and failover, and it is designed to be scalable...
and Ethernet
Ethernet
Ethernet is a family of computer networking technologies for local area networks commercially introduced in 1980. Standardized in IEEE 802.3, Ethernet has largely replaced competing wired LAN technologies....
switches A full rack contains 30 server nodes, a half rack, 16, and a quarter rack, 8. Each server node has installed 96 GB of RAM, 4 10 Gbit Ethernet cards, and a double Infiniband port. The storage area network for all configurations is similar, with 40 TB of raw space. The vendor's specifications and advertising content usually indicate the total parameters (360 processor kernels and 2.9 TB RAM for full rack).
Software
Customers have a choice of two 64-bit operating systems to run on the server nodes of the appliance: Oracle Enterprise LinuxOracle Enterprise Linux
Oracle Linux, formerly known as Oracle Enterprise Linux, is a Red Hat Enterprise Linux-compatible distribution, repackaged and sold by Oracle, available under the GNU General Public License since late 2006....
version 5.5 or Solaris release 11 express. All servers have an installed cluster configuration of Oracle WebLogic Server
Oracle Weblogic Server
Owned by Oracle Corporation, Oracle WebLogic consists of a Java EE platform product-family that includes:* a Java EE application server, WebLogic Application Server* an enterprise portal, WebLogic Portal* an Enterprise Application Integration platform...
and distributed memory cache Oracle Coherence
Oracle Coherence
In computing, Oracle Coherence – a Java-based in-memory data-grid product – provides data caching, data replication and distributed computing services. It addresses issues with traditional database-centric applications, aiming to improve on reliability, scalability and performance. Coherence uses...
. To run Java applications on a machine there is a choice of HotSpot
HotSpot
HotSpot is a Java virtual machine for desktops and servers, maintained and distributed by Oracle Corporation. It features techniques such as just-in-time compilation and adaptive optimization designed to improve performance.-History:...
or JRockit
JRockit
JRockit, a proprietary Java Virtual Machine originally developed by Appeal Virtual Machines and acquired by BEA Systems in 2002, became part of Oracle Fusion Middleware in 2008....
. Management of the appliance is available in the Oracle Enterprise Manager
Oracle Enterprise Manager
The computer application Oracle Enterprise Manager aims to manage software produced by Oracle Corporation as well as by some non-Oracle entities.-Oracle Enterprise Manager Database Control :...
toolset, which is also pre-installed in the appliance. A transaction monitor Tuxedo
Tuxedo (software)
Tuxedo is a middleware platform used to manage distributed transaction processing in distributed computing environments...
is optionally supplied.
Criticism
Mark Benioff, founder of Salesforce.comSalesforce.com
Salesforce.com is an enterprise cloud computing company headquartered in San Francisco that distributes business software on a subscription basis. Salesforce.com hosts the applications off-site...
, presumes that any appliance principally lacks scalability for the end-user compared with the infrastructure, supplied as service
IAAS
IAAS can refer to the following:*Incorporated Association of Architects and Surveyors, British professional body renamed 1993 as the Association of Building Engineers* Institute of Agriculture and Animal Science, institute of Tribhuvan University, Nepal...
, and notes that the Exalogic approach is actually a rollback to the obsolete mainframe
Mainframe
Mainframe may refer to either of the following:* Mainframe computer, large and powerful data processing systems* Mainframe Entertainment, a Canadian computer animation and design company* Mainframe , a 1980s Electropop band...
concept. Also, commentators have expressed concerns about the appropriateness of placing the word "elastic" in the name, because, despite the ability to load balance, there are obvious computing limits of the box, and those limits cannot be transcended like they should be in a true elastic environment; the same criticism applies to all solutions designed for private cloud computing, in particular, it applies to EMC
EMC Corporation
EMC Corporation , a Financial Times Global 500, Fortune 500 and S&P 500 company, develops, delivers and supports information infrastructure and virtual infrastructure hardware, software, and services. EMC is headquartered in Hopkinton, Massachusetts, USA.Former Intel executive Richard Egan and his...
and Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard
Hewlett-Packard Company or HP is an American multinational information technology corporation headquartered in Palo Alto, California, USA that provides products, technologies, softwares, solutions and services to consumers, small- and medium-sized businesses and large enterprises, including...
products.