Processor Value Unit - Technology Education July 25, 2006

1. Processor Value Unit Licensing for MiddlewareEvolving the Structure to Provide a Foundation for the Future Processor Value Unit - Technology Education July 25, 2006

2. Technology Education Agenda • What is a Processor • What is an nWay • Processor Performance • Historical • Strategies • Disparity • Processor Vendors are moving to Multi-core • Summary

3. Processor Definition is Important in Middleware Licensing • Single-core chips have 1 core per chip • Dual-core chips have 2 cores per chip • Quad-core chips have 4 cores per chip Multi-core chips Dual-core Chip Single-core Chip 1 2 1 2 1 1 2 1 1 IBM defines processor = core As do most Middleware Vendors…eg. Oracle and BEA However, some Hardware Vendors . . . Intel, AMD, and Sun define processor = chip

4. The Definition of nWay Differs by Hardware Vendor • 4 Processor Cores • 4 Single-core Chips • 8 Processor Cores • 4 Dual-core Chips Server Server 4 3 1 2 1 2 8 6 7 3 4 5 4Way 4Way or 8Way? • IBM System p & i, and HP 9000 call this an 8Way • Sun and all Intel/AMD vendors including IBM xSeries call this a 4Way All Hardware Vendors call this a 4Way

5. Most Middleware Vendors Count Processor Cores • 4 Processor Cores • 4 Single-core Chips • 8 Processor Cores • 4 Dual-core Chips Server Server 4 3 1 2 1 2 8 6 7 3 4 5 4Way 4Way or 8Way? Most Middleware Vendors say this Server has 8 Processor Cores Most Middleware Vendors say this Server has 4 Processor Cores

6. Year 1 4 Proc Year 3 1 Core 2 Proc Year 5 1 Core 1 Proc 1 Core 1 Core 1 Core 1 Core 1 Core Constant Workload 1 Core 1 Core 1 Core 1 Core 1 Core 1 Core 1 Core 1 Core 1 Core Same Workload Processor Cores Are Not All Created Equal Today • Historically, a constant workload required fewer processor cores over time • Some processor cores increased performance faster than others • Today, the number of processor cores required for a given workload varies by processor technology

7. One Processor Core Performance Time 1 2 Dual-core example Two Strategies to Improve Chip Performance • Increase the performance of each processor core • By increasing clock speed, adding threads, or adding cache • Packaging multiple cores on a single chip • Processor core performance can change or remain flat over time

8. One Processor Core Improve Core Strategy Core Disparity Core Performance Multi-core Strategy Time Processor Core Performance Disparity Expected to Grow Deliver Performance by improving performance of the processor core itself Deliver performance by increasing the number of cores on the chip Increasing processor core performance disparity means traditional per processor licensing is not sustainable

9. Processor Vendors Are Moving to Multi-core • IBM Power introduced dual-core chips in 2001 • Octi-core chips introduced by Sun in 2005 • Most x86 servers sold in 2006 will have dual-core chips A sustainable licensing structure that addresses the processor performance disparity on these multi-core chips is required

10. Summary • Processor definition is important in middleware licensing • IBM SWG defines a processor = core • Number of nWays and processors NOT always the same • Processor Core performance disparity is expected to grow • Not all processors are created equal today • Two Strategies to Improve Chip Performance • All vendors moving to Multi-core chips • A sustainable licensing structure that addresses multi-core is required

11. Backup

12. Reference Material • See the PVU Q&A for IBM Sales for more details. This, and other education material, will be available on the Passport Advantage web site • Questions should be directed through the normal software support structure. If they are unable to answer a question, they will have access to the Processor Value Unit licensing project office.