ScaleMP Pushes Virtual Machine Limits

vSMP Foundation is a layer of software that allows applications to see multiple instances of KVM or Xen virtual machine software as one logical resource, in effect creating the equivalent of a virtual symmetrical multiprocessor server.

Version 3.0 of vSMP Foundation not only expands the number of physical servers that can be accessed by an application, it allows each physical server to have up 128 cores to create a virtual fabric that can consist of up to 16,384 processors. The new release also support virtual machines that can access up to 64 TB of memory across a 160 gigabit-per-second backplane.

In addition, ScaleMP is previewing a new virtual machine-on-virtual machine capability that allows IT organization to consolidate virtual machines on top of other virtual machines that have access to larger sets of memory and processor horsepower as part of an effort to contain virtual machine sprawl.

According to Benjamin Baer, vice president of marketing for ScaleMP, customers can use vSMP Foundation to build clusters of virtual machines on Intel-class servers that for the cost of $300,000 can rival million dollar supercomputers in performance.

With the release of version 3.0 of vSMP, ScaleMP is adding support for Nehalem-class processor from Intel, 10GB Ethernet cards from Broadcom and next generation host bus adapters from LSI Logic and Emulex.