Oracle Exadata X3 Database In-Memory Machine

During his opening keynote address at Oracle OpenWorld, Oracle Corp.‘s CEO Larry Ellison announced the Oracle Exadata X3 Database In-Memory Machine – the latest generation of its Exadata Database Machines.

                 
Exadata X3-8 Database In-Memory Machine

The Exadata X3 Database In-Memory Machine is a key component of the Oracle Cloud.

Exadata X3-2 Database In-Memory Machine and Exadata X3-8 Database In-Memory Machine can store up to hundreds of terabytes of compressed user data in flash and RAM memory, virtually eliminating the performance overhead of reads and writes to slow disk drives, making these systems a database platform for the varied and unpredictable workloads of cloud computing.

In order to realize the highest performance at the lowest cost, the Exadata X3 Database In-Memory Machine implements a mass memory hierarchy that automatically moves all active data into flash and RAM memory, while keeping less active data on low-cost disks.

With a new eighth-rack configuration, the Exadata X3-2 Database In-Memory Machine delivers a cost-effective entry point for smaller workloads, testing, development and disaster recovery systems, and is a fully redundant system that can be used with mission critical applications.

Next-Gen Technologies With Performance Improvements
Exadata X3 Database In-Memory Machines use a combination of scale-out servers and storage, IB networking, smart storage, PCIe Flash, smart memory caching, and Hybrid Columnar Compression to deliver performance and availability for all Oracle Database Workloads.

They leverage next-generation technologies
to deliver performance enhancements, including:

• Four times the flash memory capacity of the previous generation; with up to 40% faster response times and 100GB/s data scan rates. Combined with Exadata’s Hybrid Columnar Compression capabilities, hundreds of terabytes of user data can now be managed entirely within flash;
• 20 times more capacity for database writes through updated Exadata Smart Flash Cache software. It also runs on previous generation Exadata systems, increasing their capacity for writes tenfold;
• 33% more database CPU cores in the Exadata X3-2 Database In-Memory Machine, using the 8-core Intel Xeon E5-2600 series of processors;
• Expanded 10GbEt connectivity to the data center in the Exadata X3-2 provides 40 10GbE network ports per rack for connecting users and moving data;
• Up to 30% reduction in power and cooling.

Configured for Business and Available
Exadata X3-2 Database In-Memory Machine systems are available in a full-rack, half-rack, quarter-rack, and the new low-cost eighth-rack configuration to satisfy a range of applications. Exadata X3-8 Database In-Memory Machine systems are available in a full-rack configuration, and both X3 systems enable multi-rack configurations for virtually unlimited scalability.

They are compatible with prior Exadata generations and existing systems can also be upgraded with Exadata X3-2 servers.

Exadata X3 Database In-Memory Machine systems can be used with any application certified with Oracle Database 11g R2 and Oracle Real Application Clusters, including SAP, Oracle Fusion Applications, Oracle’s PeopleSoft, Oracle’s Siebel CRM, the Oracle E-Business Suite, and thousands of other applications.

"Forward-looking enterprises are moving towards cloud computing architectures," said Andrew Mendelsohn, SVP, Oracle Database Server Technologies. "Oracle Exadata’s unique ability to run any database application on a fully scale-out architecture using a combination of massive memory for extreme performance and low-cost disk for high capacity delivers the ideal solution for cloud-based database deployments today."