Consolidation of a Performance Sensitive Application: Virtualizing Electronic Sports League's Gaming Infrastructure

Conclusions

We have shown that ESL’s mission-critical, processor-intensive,

network latency-sensitive game servers can be very effectively

virtualized using the latest technologies. We achieved 18:1

consolidation ratios and saved almost 90 percent on power

consumption compared to the ESL physical servers, while

preserving game QoS and customer satisfaction.

This one data point does not prove that we can virtualize every

server application. Some demanding applications are still beyond

the reach of current technology. However, we do show that the

latest technologies can allow us to virtualize more workloads, even

those once thought “non-virtualizable” like the ESL game servers.

To gain the benefits that virtualization brings, we will have to

question our assumptions and evaluate the latest technologies

to see if we can virtualize these demanding applications. This is

the only way to deliver the ROI to our organizations.

At some point in the relatively near future, with the ongoing march

of hardware and software technologies, we do expect that practi-

cally all server applications will be virtualizable. So when you take

a look at your server application inventory, you may have applica-

tions that seem to be “non-virtualizable.” Perhaps there are some

new technologies you could evaluate to prove or disprove this

perception. It may be time to capture the ROI of virtualizing these

demanding applications for your corporation, too.

“ The new Six-Core Intel Xeon 7400 processor series

(“Dunnington”) was completely overwhelming in

all terms. The Intel Xeon MP servers with Intel

VMDq technology enable us to efficiently run

our servers with reduced costs and without any

negative impacts.”

— Bjoern Metzdorf, Director of Information Technology,

Electronic Sports League

White Paper Consolidation of a Performance-Sensitive Application