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iss enterprise solutions

august 2003

performance brief

scalability and performance of hp ProLiant DL360 G3 servers (with 3.06 GHz/1MB processors)
abstract: The HP ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server leads the

contents

introduction. 3 key features.. 4 performance testing overview.. 5 performance test results.. 12 SBC solution sizing. 14 summary.. 15 appendix a ProLiant servers in a SBC environment. 16 appendix b Microsoft Windows Server 2003. 17 appendix c Terminal Server in Windows Server 2003. 18 appendix d Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server FR3. 20
scale-out environment, combining concentrated 1U computing power with unmatched features such as embedded remote management and optional redundant power. Intel Xeon processors and a 533 MHz front-side bus combine with DDR SDRAM and PCI-X technologies to give the ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server even more computing power to handle transactional workloads for Web hosting, infrastructure applications and Server based Computing (SBC). This Performance Brief outlines scalability and performance metrics for a ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server in an SBC environment. HP projects the optimal number of users that can be supported by a server running Microsoft Windows Server 2003, Terminal Services and Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server FR3.
scalability and performance of hp ProLiant DL360 G3 servers (with 3.06 GHz processors)

notice

Copyright 2003 Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. The information contained herein is subject to change without notice and is provided as is without warranty of any kind. The warranties for HP products and services are set forth in the express limited warranty statements accompanying such products and services. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting an additional warranty. HP shall not be liable for technical or editorial errors or omissions contained herein. Microsoft and Windows are either registered trademarks or trademarks of Microsoft Corporation in the United States and/or other countries. Intel is a US registered trademark of Intel Corporation. Xeon is a trademark of Intel Corporation in the US and other countries.
august 2003 P/N 08/2003 1

introduction

The ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server is ideal for corporate data centers or Internet installations that value rack server density while needing greater internal flexibility and higher availability than ultra dense server solutions.

key benefits

Key benefits include: Configuration flexibility Embedded technologies and full-length slots deliver greater flexibility in a 1U form factor. Intelligent fault resilience The ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server offers more intelligent fault resilience per U than ever now with optional redundant power. Concentrated 1U computing power Xeon processors, DDR SDRAM and PCI-X technologies mean that the ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server can handle greater transactional workloads. Industry-leading management tools Designed with industry-leading management tools, network management and server deployment is easier.

this Performance Brief

This Performance Brief provides more information on the following topics: Key features Summarizes the key features of the ProLiant HP ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server Performance testing overview Outlines servers used in the tested environment Offers recommendations for configuring servers in the tested environment Outlines client machines used in the tested environment Describes tools and test scripts used to simulate users in a SBC environment Describes the test scenarios used to determine optimal numbers of users

Performance test results Provides sample test results; summarizes the optimal numbers of users supported SBC solution sizing Outlines some factors that can impact solution sizing; describes the online sizer tool Summary
Appendices A: More on ProLiant servers in a SBC environment B: More on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 C: More on Terminal Server in Windows Server 2003 D: More on Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server FR3

key features

Figure 1 shows the ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server.
Figure 1: ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server
Table 1 summarizes key features of the ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server.
Table 1. Key features Component Description

Processor

Up to two Intel Xeon 3.06 GHz processors 1 MB level-3 processor cache 533 MHz front-side bus
Chipset Memory Embedded technologies
ServerWorks GC LE chipset Up to 8 GB DDR SDRAM 266 MHz Two NC7781 PCI-X Gigabit NICs with WOL and PXE support Integrated Lights Out (iLO) remote management Smart Array 5i+ controller with RAID 0 or RAID 1

Hard drive

Up to two 1-inch Ultra320 hot-plug drives
The ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server is ideal for corporate data centers or Internet installations.

more information

More information on the ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server is available on the HP website.
performance testing overview
HP tested a ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server to determine the optimal numbers of users supported in a Server Based Computing (SBC) environment. Note: HP makes a distinction between the optimal number of users that can be supported on a particular server configuration and the maximum number. The optimal number is a more practical metric that reflects the number of users that can be supported without impacting response times. Historically, HP has defined the optimal number of users as the number of users that are active when processor utilization reaches 80%. Additional users are supported but response times may become unacceptable. This section provides information on the following topics: Tested environment illustrates the test environment deployed by HP Server configurations An overview of the servers used in the tested configuration Recommendations Recommendations for configuring servers in the tested configuration
Client machines An overview of the clients used in the tested configuration Test tools and scripts An overview of the tools and test scripts used by HP to simulate the activities of Heavy, Medium and Light Users Test scenarios An overview of the test scenarios used to determine optimal numbers of users

tested environment

Figure 2 illustrates the SBC test environment used to determine the optimal numbers of users supported by the ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server.
Figure 2: The tested configuration

server configurations

Table 2 summarizes the configurations of servers deployed in the test environment.
Table 2. Server Configurations

Server Software Hardware

Terminal Server
Windows Server 2003 Standard Edition, Terminal Services enabled Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server FR3 Microsoft Exchange
ProLiant DL360 G3 server with: Two Xeon 3.06 GHz/1MB processors 4 GB RAM 36.4 GB hard drive Two NC7781 Gigabit NICs Two ProLiant DL380 G2 servers, each with: Two-way 1.266 GHz Pentium III processor configuration 512 KB level-two cache 2 GB RAM Two hot-pluggable 9.1 GB 10,000 RPM Ultra SCSI-2 hard drives Integrated Smart Array 5i controller with RAID 1 Netelligent 10/100 TX PCI UTP controller

Exchange Server

Internet Information Server
Microsoft Internet Information Server 5.0
Two ProLiant DL380 G2 servers, each with: Two-way 1.266 GHz Pentium III processor configuration 512 KB level-two cache 2 GB RAM Two hot-pluggable 9.1 GB 10,000 RPM Ultra SCSI-2 hard drives Integrated Smart Array 5i controller with RAID 1 Netelligent 10/100 TX PCI UTP controller Two ProLiant DL580 Servers, each with: Two-way 700 MHz Pentium III processor configuration 512 KB level-two cache 512 MB RAM Integrated Smart Array controller with RAID 1 Four internal hot-pluggable 9.1 GB Ultra3 hard drives; RAID 1 Netelligent 10/100 TX PCI UTP controller

Domain Controller

Windows 2000 Advanced Server

recommendations

HP offers the following recommendations for configuring servers in the test environment: memory All applications reside and are executed on the server blade running Terminal Services. Adequate memory is essential to optimize system performance. HP makes the following recommendations based on user type: 5 6MB for each active Light User 8 10MB for each active Medium User 12 15MB for each active Heavy User
For more information on these user types, refer to the section on Test Scripts. NIC speed Since network traffic is light (only keystrokes, mouse clicks and display updates), HP set all server NICs to 100Mbps.

system summary

Table 3 summarizes the configuration of the Terminal Server.

Table 3. System summary System component Description
Operating system Version System name System model System type Processor BIOS version Windows directory System directory Boot device Locale User name Time zone

continued

Microsoft Windows.NET Server 2003 5.2.3718 Build 3718 DL360 HP DL360 G3 X86-based PC X86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel ~3066 HP P31 6/19/2003 C:\WINNT C:\WINNT\System32 \Device\Harddisk0\Partition1 United States Wellsfargo\Administrator Central Standard Time
Table 3. System summary (continued)
Total physical memory Available physical memory Total virtual memory Available virtual memory Page file space
4,013,588 KB 3,785,260 KB 9,433,128 KB 9,134,280 KB 5,419,540 KB

client machines

HP simulated a SBC environment using a variety of Pentium-based 800 MHz 1 GHz Evo workstations as clients. Each Evo was equipped with at least 256 MB of memory and operated at 640480/256-color resolution. HP set all client NICs to 10 Mbps.

test tools and scripts

HP used various testing tools and scripts to simulate actual SBC user sessions.
Terminal Services Scalability Planning Tools (TSScaling), a suite of tools developed by Microsoft, helps organizations with Windows Server 2003 Terminal Server capacity planning. These tools facilitate the placement and management of simulated loads on a tested server. Table 4 outlines the components of the TSScaling suite.
Table 4. Components of TSScaling TSScaling suite component Description

Automation tools

Robosrv.exe Robocli.exe
Drives the server-side of the load simulation Helps drive the client-side of the load simulation Determines if any scripts have failed and require operator intervention A script interpreter that helps drive the client-side load simulation Terminal Server bench scripting documentation A scalability test environment set-up guide A testing guide

Test tools

Qidle.exe Tbscript.exe

Help files

TBScript.doc TSScalingSetup.doc TSScalingTesting.doc

test scripts

HP used test scripts that simulated the activities of three types of users (Heavy, Medium and Light). Table 5 describes these users and their simulated activities.
Table 5. Simulated User Activities User Type Activities

Heavy User

Heavy Users (also known as Structured Task Workers) tend to open multiple applications simultaneously and remain active for long periods of time. Heavy Users often leave applications open when not in use. Heavy users have an average typing speed of words per minute. The Heavy User script included the following activities: Creating, saving and printing documents using Microsoft Word Browsing Web pages, and sending and receiving e-mail using Microsoft Outlook Performing extensive Microsoft Excel activity (using PivotTable dynamic views, graphing and charting data, and so on)

Medium User

Medium Users (also known as Knowledge Workers) are defined as users who gather, add value to, and communicate information in a decision-support process. Cost of downtime is variable but highly visible. These resources are driven by projects and ad-hoc needs towards flexible tasks. These workers make their own decisions on what to work on and how to accomplish the task. Example tasks include: marketing, project management, sales, desktop publishing, decision support, data mining, financial analysis, executive and supervisory management, design, and authoring. Medium Users tend to open and close applications more quickly than Heavy Users. These users typically do not leave applications open when not in use; they have an average typing speed of words per minute. The Medium User script included the following activities: Creating small documents with Microsoft Word Performing simple data entry with Microsoft Excel Sending and receiving e-mail with Microsoft Outlook Engaging in minimal browsing of an intranet site using Microsoft Internet Explorer 6.0

Light User

Light Users (also known as Data Entry Workers) input data into computer systems. Activities include transcription, typing, order entry, clerical work and manufacturing. The Light User script simulated simple Microsoft Excel data entry, entering 10 rows of data.
IMPORTANT: The test scripts described in Table 5 differ from those used by HP to determine the scalability of ProLiant servers running Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Terminal Services enabled, in a SBC environment. Further, these test scripts now use Microsoft Office XP rather than the Office 2000 used in earlier performance testing. Office XP consumes approximately 40% more system resources than Office 2000.

test scenarios

HP used the tested configuration shown in Figure 2 to simulate a SBC deployment. To simulate typical SBC workloads, HP ran a series of performance tests based on the Heavy, Medium and Light User scripts described in Table 5. For each test scenario, HP began by running the appropriate script (simulating Heavy, Medium, or Light Users, as appropriate) for a group of ten users. Start times were staggered to eliminate authentication overhead. After the sessions finished, HP added ten more users, then repeated the testing.
determining processor utilization
Primarily, HP monitored processor utilization to establish the optimal number of users supported by the ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server. By definition, the optimal number of users is active when processor utilization reaches 80%. Note: Historically, HP has defined the optimal number of users as the number of users that are active when processor utilization (% Processor Time) reaches 80%. Additional users are supported but response times may become unacceptable. To obtain this key performance metric, HP used the Performance Monitor analysis tool to monitor % Processor Time.

validation using a canary script
To validate the values obtained using % Processor Time, HP also ran a canary script to characterize Heavy User response times. With a single user on the system, HP ran the canary script; the time taken to execute the script was used to establish a baseline for the test. HP added more users to increase the load on the system, then ran the canary script again, obtaining a new value for the execution time. When the system reached a steady state, more users were added. This procedure was continued until execution times, which correspond to user response times, increased by more than 10% over the baseline. Note: In this scenario, HP has defined execution times that are within 10% of a baseline value to be acceptable.

performance test results

This section provides information on the following topics: % Processor Time Shows % Processor Time values for a typical test scenario the Heavy User scenario in this example User response times Shows the time taken to execute a canary script as more Heavy Users log on to the system Summary Summarizes test results for Heavy, Medium and Light Users
Note: HP determined that there were no disk, memory or network bottlenecks in the test environment.

% Processor Time

Figure 3 shows % Processor Time values for Heavy Users.
Figure 3: % Processor Time values for Heavy Users showing an optimal level of 110 Heavy Users
Figure 3 indicates that the ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server can support 110 Heavy Users before the % Processor Time value reaches 80%.

user response time

Figure 4 shows canary execution time values for Heavy Users.
Figure 4: Canary script execution times showing an optimal level of more than 120 Heavy Users
Figure 4 shows that over 120 Heavy Users are active when the baseline value is first exceeded by more than 10%. The results obtained in this test validate the 110 Heavy User value obtained when HP used % Processor Time to characterize optimal performance.

results summary

Figure 5 summarizes the optimal numbers of users supported by a ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server (based on % Processor Time values).
Figure 5: Optimal numbers of users supported

SBC solution sizing

As with any laboratory benchmark, the performance metrics quoted in this Performance Brief are idealized. In a production environment, these metrics may be impacted by a variety of factors, including the following: overhead Agents and services (virus scanning, backup and restore, provisioning, security, management and more) automatically consume overhead. Rogue applications can consume additional overhead. The system architect may wish to provide a 25% 30% buffer to accommodate this overhead. future growth To accommodate future growth, the system architect may wish to provide an additional buffer. Alternatively, servers can be added as needed, taking advantage of the MetaFrame XP server farms inherent ability to scale out. user profiles The particular application in use directly impacts the number of users supported by a particular server. Further, user behavior can also impact scalability: Increased typing rates correspond to fewer users. Opening and closing applications (rather than switching between them) or moving quickly between tasks can place a heavier load on the server.

For accurate sizing, system architects must closely match the profiles of the users in their production environments with those described in Table 5. If the profiles do not match, more are available using the online sizer tool (described below); alternatively, the system architect can consult HP Services for more information. background grammar checking Background grammar checking can significantly impact scalability, reducing the number of users supported by as much as 50%. HP disabled background grammar checking for the testing described in this Performance Brief.

online sizer tool

To minimize risk, HP offers an automated, online tool that can help the customer size a SBC1 solution. The algorithms and methodology used by the sizer are based on the results of customer surveys and thorough testing.
Also known as Thin Client Server Computing (TCSC)
Figure 6 shows a typical SBC sizer screen.
Figure 6: The SBC solution sizers User Specification dialog box
The sizer offers a quick, consistent methodology for determining the best-fit server for a specific SBC solution. Based on information provided by the customer, the sizer generates a Bill of Materials (BOM) for the selected solution.

summary

To characterize the performance of this server, HP selected a metric that relates directly to the user experience the number of Heavy Users that can be supported before response times start to become unacceptable. Test results show that a ProLiant DL360 G3 3.06 GHz/1MB server can support 110 Heavy Users, making this system ideal for corporate data centers or Internet installations that value rack server density while needing greater internal flexibility and higher availability than ultra dense server solutions.
appendix a ProLiant servers in a SBC environnent
Deploying ProLiant servers in a Server-Based Computing (SBC) environment offers many benefits to the customer: Lower application ownership costs Elimination of additional development, testing or deployment procedures for individual applications Accelerated application deployment Extended application availability Enhanced security Improved data backup and recovery Improved end-user support Uniform desktop experience from any network access point

server blades

Using ProLiant BL server blades to deploy a server farm in a SBC environment can offer additional benefits: Scalability The server farm can be scaled out to distribute risk and load while minimizing the impact on users. Rapid server deployment and redeployment Rapid deployment capability allows the customer to save valuable time by quickly deploying the SBC solution, then quickly and dynamically responding to changing business needs. It takes only seconds to install server blades and power supplies once the rack infrastructure is in place. This allows dynamic scaling without powering down the system. There is single-sided access to most pluggable components. ProLiant Essentials Rapid Deployment Pack (RDP) software allows the administrator to preconfigure each server bay before installing server blades. After installation, server blades configure automatically, assuming the role assigned by the administrator. RDP also provides rip-and-replace capability. When a server blade is replaced, the new server blade automatically assumes the role assigned to the original server blade. Reduced total cost of ownership ProLiant BL10e G2 server blades can further reduce Total Cost of Ownership (TCO) in the following ways: Consuming less power per user, which reduces utility and air-conditioning costs Supporting more users per rack, which reduces licensing and real estate costs Reducing cabling complexity

appendix b Microsoft Windows Server 2003
Microsoft has designed the Windows Server 2003 family to take the best of Windows 2000 Server technology and make it easier to deploy, manage, and use. In addition, Microsoft has improved and extended the Windows server operating system to incorporate the benefits of Microsoft.NET for connecting information, people, systems, and devices. Windows Server 2003 is a multipurpose operating system capable of handling a diverse set of server roles in either a centralized or distributed environment. Some of these roles include: Terminal server (as used in this White Paper) File or print server Web server or Web application services Mail server Remote access or virtual private network (VPN) server. Directory services, Domain Name System (DNS), Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (DHCP) server, or Windows Internet Naming Service (WINS). Streaming media server

benefits

Microsoft claims the following key benefits for Windows Server 2003: Dependable Windows Server 2003 is the fastest, most reliable, most secure Windows server operating system ever offered by Microsoft. Productive Windows Server 2003 offers tools that simplify deployment, management and administration while maximizing productivity. Connected Windows Server 2003 provides an extensible application platform for quickly building solutions that keep employees, partners, systems and customers connected. Economics When combined with products and services from hardware, software, and channel partners (such as those described in this White Paper), Windows Server 2003 offers choices that can help customers maximize the return on infrastructure investments.
This product overview explains the basics of the Windows Server 2003 family and includes links to more detailed information.
More information on Windows Server 2003 is available on the Microsoft website.
appendix c Terminal Server in Windows Server 2003
Terminal Services can deliver Windows-based applications or the Windows desktop itself to almost any computing deviceincluding devices that do not support Windows. Application execution takes place on the server; only keyboard, mouse and display information is transmitted over the network. Users see only their own individual sessions, which are managed transparently by the server and remain independent of any other client session. Terminal Server, the Terminal Services component of Windows Server 2003, builds on the solid application server functionality delivered by Windows 2000 Terminal Services.
Microsoft claims the following key benefits for Terminal Server in Windows Server 2003: Rapid, centralized deployment of applications Terminal Server can rapidly deploy Windows-based applications to computing devices across the enterprise even applications that are frequently updated, infrequently used, or hard to manage. When an application is managed on Terminal Server, and not locally, IT staff can be certain that users are running the latest version of the application. Low-bandwidth access to data Terminal Server can reduce the network bandwidth required for remote data access. Since only a screen view of the data is transmitted rather than actual data, Terminal Server can deliver effective remote access over bandwidth-constrained connections such as dial-up or shared WAN links. Windows anywhere Terminal Server helps users become more productive by providing access to current applications from any deviceincluding under-powered or non-Windows devices. Further, users can take advantage of extra processing capabilities from newer, lighter-weight devices such as the HP iPAQ Pocket PC.

new features and enhancements
Terminal Server includes significant enhancements in Windows Server 2003: Improved scalability Terminal Server now supports more users on each ProLiant server than on Windows 2000. Further, Session Directory in Windows Server 2003, Enterprise Edition provides support for Microsoft's network load balancing and other third-party load balancing technologies. Improved manageability Terminal Server improves remote manageability by taking advantage of technologies like Group Policy. Complete remote management capabilities are available through a comprehensive read/write Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) provider.
Enhanced Remote Desktop Protocol (RDP) When connecting to Terminal Server using an RDP 5.1 client, many local resources are available within the remote session, including the client file system, Smart Card functionality, audio output, serial port, printers (including network printers) and the clipboard. Users can easily take advantage of the capabilities of their client devices within remote sessions for example, files can be opened, saved or printed on the local device whether the application is running locally or remotely. Easy-to-use Remote Desktop Connection Remote Desktop Connection client features an improved user interface, allowing users to save connection settings, easily switch between windowed mode and full-screen mode and to dynamically alter the remote experience based on available bandwidth. Greater color depth and screen resolution With RDP 5.1, color depth can be selected from 256 colors (8-bit) to True Color (24-bit); resolution can be set from 640 x 480 up to 1600 x 1200. Additional enhancements Terminal Server takes advantage of many Windows Server 2003 features, such as software restriction policies, roaming profile enhancements and new application compatibility modes.
More information on Terminal Server enhancements in Windows Server 2003 is available on the Microsoft website.
appendix d Citrix MetaFrame XP Presentation Server FR3
MetaFrame XP Presentation Server FR3 uses Server 2003 as its core platform, leveraging new features such as software restriction policies, enhanced scalability and group policy enhancements.
extending the capabilities of Terminal Server
Citrix claims that MetaFrame XP Presentation Server extends the capabilities of Terminal Server by delivering a combined solution with improved flexibility, manageability and security. Benefits include: Rapidly publish applications to users across the enterprise Simplify the deployment of applications, client software updates or other files by pushing icons not entire applications to user devices. Provide a seamless user experience Integrate local and server-based applications into a local Windows desktop for a seamless user experience without the need for additional training. Access any application on any device Seamlessly access applications from more than 20 client platforms. Securely access applications over the Internet Access applications and information ondemand from any Web browser, even public Internet kiosks, without the need for pre-installed client software. Use the secure gateway feature to provide a single point of entry and SSL/TLSencrypted access to MetaFrame XP Presentation Servers. Extend the user experience Speed application display and response times and give users better performance and more responsive scrolling when viewing graphics-intensive Web applications with SpeedScreen. Web-enable existing applications Bridge Windows and.NET-connected environments, provide the same user experience for the entire organization. Instantly Web-enable existing applications without rewrites. Easily manage server farms from a single interface Gain control over a complex, heterogeneous environment. Centrally manage servers, applications, licenses, printers and users from any location. Optimize server efficiency Maximize server resources and application performance by centrally configuring server load criteria, ensuring that processing is carried out by the leastbusy server. Centrally monitor and manage servers Monitor and control the health and performance of servers and applications from a central location, generating real-time reports on system status and application usage. Set alarm thresholds and alert mechanisms.

Simplify printer management Enhance printer management with universal printing functionality that eliminates the need for multiple print drivers while delivering high-quality color output. Simplify the administration and replication of print drivers across the server farm; ensure that printing does not cause network congestion. Increase wireless security Give mobile employees secure access to full-function enterprise applications on wireless devices and networks. Provide authentication, access control and server-to-client encryption. Extend the infrastructure investment Deliver new-generation applications while protecting existing investments in hardware, networks and applications.

enhancements

Citrix claims multiple enhancements (shown in Table 6) for MetaFrame XP Presentation Server Feature Release 3 (FR3).
Table 6. Enhancements in MetaFrame XP Presentation Server FR3 Feature Description Benefit

SpeedScreen enhancements

Enhanced browser acceleration provides more responsive scrolling, increases performance and improves usability when viewing HTML content with JPEG or GIF images. A single, universal print driver is used for color or high-resolution printing. Administrators can activate, extract or back up multiple licenses.
Improve the user experience when viewing graphically intensive Web applicationsespecially over low bandwidth connectionswith published Microsoft Outlook or Outlook Express. Improve manageability while enhancing server stability and print quality. Save time and effort when activating multiple MetaFrame XP Presentation Server licenses; easily back up installed licenses.
Universal printing Simplified license activation
MetaFrame XP Management Pack for Microsoft Operations Manager 2000* Enhanced resource manager*
Server farm monitoring is integrated into Conveniently monitor the server farm Microsoft Operations Manager (MOM), from the same console used to manage providing comprehensive event other Windows servers. management, monitoring and alerting, reporting and trend analysis. Configurable Simple Mail Transfer Protocol (SMTP) e-mail alerts are issued for potential problems with more detailed informational being displayed in a snapshot, printed report. Quickly isolate the root cause of server problems; fix problems before they can occur.

Table 6. Enhancements in MetaFrame XP Presentation Server FR3 (continued)
Enhanced installation manager* Remote server management
A command line interface that allows administrators to deploy applications from a script.
Install applications without touching the server using a scripted build.
The administrator can connect remotely Remotely manage MetaFrame XP to a specific MetaFrame XP Presentation Presentation Servers and perform tasks Server from the management console. as though logged on locally. For example, the administrator can connect remotely to the Microsoft Windows Server 2003 server console. The management console has been enhanced to provide a farm summary screen, total counts object, and quick navigation and detailed views that persist through separate sessions. Support has been expanded to include the Tablet PC, custom windows shapes, dynamic client names and NT LAN Manager (NTLM) proxy authentication. This client includes new functionality such as seamless windows, session sharing, improved performance and server-to-client content redirection. Take advantage of enhanced usability.
Enhanced management console

ICA Client for Win32

Take advantage of additional functionality.

ICA Client for Java

Take advantage of additional functionality with reduced disparities between Win32 and Java clients. Receive a consistent experience when connecting to MetaFrame XP Presentation Server from unconfigured or locked-down client devices. Receive a consistent experience when connecting to MetaFrame XP Presentation Server applications from clients running Mac OS X. Access multiple MetaFrame XP Presentation Server farms using a single set of credentials. Take advantage of inherent security enhancements. Leverage the secure gateway on Windows Server 2003.

ICA Client for Mac OS X

Users of the latest Macintosh operating system can access Windows applications via a MetaFrame XP Presentation Server session. Existing applications are Web-enabled without rewrites. Web interface enhancements include RSA SecurID support, multi-farm support and Federal Information Processing Standards (FIPS) 140 compliance. Windows Server 2003 is supported.

Web interface

Secure gateway
Windows 2003 Server Windows Server 2003 (Standard support Server, Enterprise Server and Datacenter Server) is fully supported.
Build on the improved foundation for hosting MetaFrame XP Presentation Server. Leverage the performance and stability enhancements offered by this new platform. Take advantage of Citrixs compatibility with Microsoft server and desktop platforms.

Windows certification

FR3 is certified for use on Window 2000 Server and Windows Server 2003 (Standard Server, Enterprise Server, and Datacenter Server). Citrix ICA Clients are certified for use on Windows 2000 Professional, Windows XP and Pocket PC 2002.
* Enterprise Edition only

ActiveAnswers

einfrastructure group

november 2002

performance brief
scalability and performance of HP ProLiant DL360 Generation 3 servers (with 2.8GHz processors)
abstract: This Performance Brief outlines scalability and performance metrics for an HP ProLiant DL360 Generation 3 (G3) density-optimized server in a Thin Client Server Computing (TCSC) environment.
G3 servers feature the latest Intel Xeon Prestonia processors (2.8GHz) with a 512KB level-3 cache that is twice the size of earlier models. In this Performance Brief, HP projects the optimal number of users that can be supported by one-way and two-way HP ProLiant DL360 G3 2.8GHz servers running Microsoft Windows 2000 Server, Terminal Services and Citrix MetaFrame XP. HP determined that ProLiant DL360 G3 2.8GHz servers offer significant performance gains 62% over the ProLiant DL360 G2 1.266GHz server and 45% over the ProLiant DL360 G2 1.4GHz server. The performance gains are in large part due to the Xeon processors hyper-threading technology, faster clocking rates and faster system bus. Test results validated HPs belief that, as processor speeds increase, the System Page Table Entry (PTE)/System Address Pool limitation inherent in the 32-bit Windows 2000 operating system would be reached. In this particular test environment, two-way ProLiant DL360 G3 2.8GHz servers with hyper-threading enabled were limited to 150 users. Overall, test results indicate that HPs G3 ProLiant Density Line servers are industry leaders.

contents

introduction. 3 audience.. 3 overview.. 4 key changes.. 7 new processor technologies.. 8 performance testing overview.. 9 tested configuration. 10 performance test results.. 16 Summary.. 25 appendix a Windows 2000 Terminal Services. 26 appendix b Citrix MetaFrame XP.. 28

notice

The information in this document is subject to change without notice. Copyright Hewlett-Packard Company 2002 november 2002 5981-4548enk

5981-4548enk

introduction
This performance brief discusses the HP ProLiant DL360 Generation 3 (G3) 2.8GHz server, a member of the Density Line of servers recommended by HP for Thin Client Server Computing (TCSC) applications. The Density Line is density-optimized for rack-mount environments and includes the ProLiant DL380, DL580 and DL760 models. TCSC solutions featuring Density Line servers offer many benefits to the customer: lower application ownership costs accelerated application deployment extended application availability enhanced security improved data backup and recovery (all functions managed by two or three machines) improved end-user support elimination of additional development, testing or deployment procedures for individual applications uniform desktop experience from any network access point

audience

This performance brief is intended for the use of field systems engineers, resellers and other professionals.

overview

Figure 1 illustrates the ProLiant DL360 G3 server.
Tool-free cover Xeon Processor DP (one shown) Floppy drive 24X CD-ROM drive Two 1-inch Wide Ultra320 drives Rack side rails Two full-length PCI-X slots Memory slots
Figure 1: ProLiant DL360 G3 server

benefits

The benefits of using a ProLiant DL360 G3 2.8GHz server include: Power Concentrated 1U computer power with: up to two Intel Xeon Processor DP (2.4GHz or 2.8GHz) 533MHz system bus 512KB level-two cache hyper-threading technology up to 8GB of two-way interleaved DDR SDRAM running at 266MHz
Embedded technologies Standard with each ProLiant DL360 G3 server: integrated Lights Out (iLO) remote management dual embedded 10/100/1000 Fast Ethernet NICs with WOL and PXE support Smart Array 5i+ with RAID 0 or RAID 1 advanced ECC redundant ROM optional hot-pluggable redundant power supply optional battery-backed write cache new universal rack rails for tool-free deployment in racks with round or square holes optional universal sliding rack rails for in-rack serviceability optional Telco rack support

High availability

Flexibility

features

Table 1 lists the key features of the ProLiant DL360 G3 2.8GHz server.
Table 1. Key Features System Component Kay Features

Processor

NetBurst technology gives the next-generation Xeon processor higher frequencies and a faster front-side bus. The large, high-speed data bus increases throughput and performance to critical processor, memory and I/O subsystems, providing peak data transfer rates up to 3.2GB per second. Intels hyper-threading technology allows a single physical processor to appear as two logical processors to the operating system and applications. Using shared hardware resources, the logical processors can execute different tasks simultaneously. Since the shared resources may otherwise have been idle, hyper-threading technology gives a performance boost to multi-threading and multi-tasking operations.

Hyper-threading technology

continued

Table 1. Key Features (continued)
Two full-length PCI-X slots are available, delivering unprecedented flexibility in a 1U form factor: Placing the embedded NICs on individual PCI-X busses improves critical I/O subsystem performance. One PCI-X slot can deploy an optional redundant power supply
The level-3 cache stores commonly used data closer to the processor. Data transfers occur on every clock cycle, reducing memory access times and improving cache performance. The Smart Array 5i+ controller supports optional battery backup for the write cache. If the server fails, the controller can be moved to another server to recover data from the cache.

Memory

Double Data Rate (DDR) architecture allows the DIMM interface to transfer two data words per clock cycle. Dual interleaving doubles the amount of data obtained in a single memory access. Advanced ECC memory delivers more robust error detection and correction capabilities. Redundant ROM reduces risk associated with system upgrades by backing up the current ROM set-up during a BIOS upgrade.

Redundant power

The optional hot-plug power supply brings redundant power to the 1U form factor. Twin power cords can benefit installations that deliver redundant power to the rack. NOTE: A PCI-X slot is lost when deploying a redundant power supply.
Automatic Server Recovery System management
Automatic Server Recovery 2 (ASR-2) increases server availability by restarting the server automatically after a system hang or shutdown without human intervention. Integrated Lights Out (iLO) remote management capability combines management functionality and diagnostics with virtual presence and control, allowing remote management of ProLiant servers across the data center or across the world.

System management

ProLiant Essentials Foundation Pack, shipped with each ProLiant server, speeds up system installation and configuration, manages change and ensures operational continuity:

Table 2. New Processor Technologies (continued)

Rapid execution engine

Two Arithmetic Logic Units (ALUs) on the Xeon processor run at twice the core processor frequency, allowing basic integer instructions (such as Add, Subtract, Logical AND, and Logical OR) to execute in one-half of a clock cycle. The Xeon Processor DP features a 533MHz system bus with throughput capabilities up to 3.2GB per second (as opposed to 1.06GB per second delivered by the Pentium IIIs 133MHz system bus). 533MHz capability is enabled by: Physical signaling scheme The processor quad-pumps data transfers over a 100MHz clocked system bus. Buffering scheme The processor supports sustained 533MHz data transfers.

533MHz system bus

Hyper-pipelined technology
Hyper-pipelined technology can significantly increase the performance, frequency, and scalability of the processor. The pipeline depth of the Xeon processor is double that of the Pentium III; for example, the branch prediction/recovery pipeline is now implemented in 20 rather than 10 stages.
performance testing overview
HP tested one-way and two-way ProLiant DL360 G3 2.8GHz servers in a TCSC environment to determine the following critical performance characteristics: Performance HP has made a distinction between the optimal number1 of users that can be supported by a particular server configuration and the maximum number. The optimal number is a more practical metric that reflects the number of users that can be supported without impacting response times. The performance testing used various metrics to establish the optimal number of users for ProLiant DL360 G3 2.8GHz servers. System Paged Table Entry/Paged Address Pool limitation The performance testing was also intended to determine if lack of System Paged Table Entry (PTE) or Paged Address Pool space could limit server performance when there were no other system bottlenecks.
Historically, HP has defined the optimal number of users as the number of users that are active when processor utilization reaches 80%. Additional users are supported but response times may become unacceptable.

performance metrics

Performance metrics monitored by HP included the following: Processor utilization to establish the number of users at various levels of processor utilization Processor queue length to establish the lengths of the processor queues at various levels of user activity Canary time to establish the number of users that are active when response times exceed the baseline by over 10%
Note: HP used the Windows NT Performance Monitor analysis tool to monitor processor utilization (%CPU Utilization) and processor queue length (Processor Queue Length) metrics. Because users share the Terminal Servers processors to run applications, the speed and number of processors are critical for maximizing server performance. Though Terminal Services divides processing type equally between each user, processor-intensive applications may degrade overall performance.

tested configuration

This section provides information on the following topics: Server configurations An overview of the servers used in the tested configuration Recommendations Recommendations for configuring servers System summary A system summary of the server under test Client machines An overview of the clients used in the tested configuration Test scripts An overview of the test scripts used by HP to simulate the activities of Heavy, Medium and Light Users
Figure 2 illustrates the test environment.
Figure 2: The tested environment
Users accessed applications running on the ProLiant DL360 G3 server from HP Evo client machines with various configurations. HP varied the numbers of users and the levels of complexity of the work being carried out.

server configurations

Table 3 summarizes the configurations of servers deployed in the test environment.
Table 3. Server Configurations
Server Software Hardware Configuration

Terminal Services

Windows 2000 Advanced Server, Terminal Services enabled (see IMPORTANT below) Citrix MetaFrame XP
One ProLiant DL360 G3 server with: One-way or two-way 2.8GHz Xeon processor configuration 512KB level-two cache 4GB RAM Two hot-pluggable 18.2GB 15,000RPM Ultra3 hard drives Integrated Smart Array 5i+ controller with RAID 1 Netelligent 10/100 TX PCI UTP controller Two ProLiant DL380 G2 servers, each with: Two-way 1.266GHz Pentium III processor configuration 512KB level-two cache 2GB RAM Two hot-pluggable 9.1GB 10,000RPM Ultra SCSI-2 hard drives Integrated Smart Array 5i controller with RAID 1 Netelligent 10/100 TX PCI UTP controller

Exchange Server

Microsoft Exchange
Internet Information Server
Microsoft Internet Information Server 4.0
Two ProLiant DL380 G2 servers, each with: Two-way 1.266GHz Pentium III processor configuration 512KB level-two cache 2GB RAM Two hot-pluggable 9.1GB 10,000RPM Ultra SCSI-2 hard drives Integrated Smart Array 5i controller with RAID 1 Netelligent 10/100 TX PCI UTP controller
Table 3. Server Configurations (continued)

Database Server

Microsoft SQL Server 6.5
Two ProLiant DL580 Servers, each with: Four-way 700MHz Pentium III processor configuration 512KB level-two cache 512MB RAM Four internal hot-pluggable 9.1GB Ultra3 hard drives ProLiant storage system with six 9.1GB hard drives Integrated Smart Array controller with RAID 1 Netelligent 10/100 TX PCI UTP controller

Domain Controller

Two ProLiant DL580 Servers, each with: Two-way 700MHz Pentium III processor configuration 512KB level-two cache 512MB RAM Integrated Smart Array controller with RAID 1 Four internal hot-pluggable 9.1GB Ultra3 hard drives; RAID 1 Netelligent 10/100 TX PCI UTP controller

IMPORTANT: With users logged on, a Terminal Services server may intermittently stop responding for up to 30 seconds. HP has had limited experience with this issue but there have been numerous reports from other end-users. Microsoft has responded to this issue in Windows Service Pack 3 (SP3) but an additional hotfix is still required. For more information, refer to the Microsoft website. The customer may not achieve the test results detailed in this Performance Brief unless the Terminal Services server is running SP3 with the hotfix.

recommendations

HP offers the following recommendations for configuring servers in the test environment: Memory All applications reside and are executed on the server running Terminal Services. Adequate memory is essential to optimize system performance. HP makes the following recommendations based on user type: 5 6MB for each active Light User 8 10MB for each active Medium User 12MB for each active Heavy User
For more information on these user types, refer to the section on Test Scripts. NIC speed Network traffic is light only keystrokes, mouse clicks and display updates all server NICs in the HP lab are set to 100Mbps.

system summary

Table 4 provides a system summary of the ProLiant DL360 G3 server under test.
Table 4. System Summary System Component Description
Operating system Version System name System model System type Processors BIOS version Windows directory System directory Boot device Locale User name Time zone Total physical memory Available physical memory
Microsoft Windows 2000 Advanced Server 5.0.2195 Build 2195 5.0.2195 Service Pack 3 Build 2195 Administrator4 HP ProLiant DL360 G3 X86-based PC X86 Family 15 Model 2 Stepping 7 GenuineIntel~37826MHz 10/09/2002 C:\WINNT C:\WINNT\System32 \Device\Harddisk0\Partition1 United States \Administrator Central Daylight Time 4,013,588KB 3,785,260KB
Table 4. System Summary (continued)
Total virtual memory Available virtual memory Page file space
11,158,716KB 10,850,820KB 7,390,888KB

client machines

HP simulated a TCSC environment using a variety of Pentium-based 800MHz 1GHz Evo workstations as clients. Each Evo was equipped with at least 256MB of memory and operated at 640480/256-color resolution. HP set all client NICs to 10Mbps.

test scripts

HP used test scripts that simulated the activities of three types of users (Heavy, Medium and Light). Table 5 describes these users and their simulated activities.
Table 5. Simulated User Activities User Type Activities

Heavy user

Heavy Users (also known as Structured Task Workers) tend to open multiple applications simultaneously and remain active for long periods of time. Heavy Users often leave applications open when not in use. Heavy users have an average typing speed of words per minute. The Heavy User script included the following activities: Creating, saving and printing documents using Microsoft Word Browsing Web pages, and sending and receiving e-mail using Microsoft Outlook Performing extensive Microsoft Excel activity (using PivotTable dynamic views, graphing and charting data, and so on)

Medium user

Medium Users (also known as Knowledge Workers) tend to open and close applications more quickly than Heavy Users. Medium Users typically do not leave applications open when not in use. Medium Users have an average typing speed of words per minute. The Medium User script included the following activities: Creating small documents with Microsoft Word Performing simple data entry in Microsoft Excel Sending and receiving e-mail with Microsoft Outlook (seven e-mail messages per hour) Engaging in minimal browsing of an intranet site using Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.5
Table 5. Simulated User Activities (continued)

Light user

Light Users are also known as Task Workers. The Light User script simulated a single line-of-business application a call-center application that started a Visual Basic program to access an SQL database. The script queried the database, read, wrote, and printed information.

performance test results

This section provides information on the following topics: Individual performance metrics Uses individual performance metrics to determine the optimal numbers of Heavy Users supported by one-way and two-way servers System PTE/Paged Address Pool limitation Shows how server performance was limited by a lack of Paged Address Pool space Results Displays the optimal numbers of users supported by one-way and two-way servers with hyper-threading capability turned on Performance summary Tabulates the performance of one-way and two-way servers Performance comparison Compares the optimal numbers of users supported by one-way and two-way servers Canary execution time Offers an alternative performance metric to identify the optimal number of Heavy Users supported by one-way and two-way servers

Note: HP determined that there were no disk, memory or network bottlenecks in the test environment.
individual performance metrics
HP used individual performance metrics (such as processor utilization and processor queue length) to quantify server performance. HP varied the following characteristics to create a series of test scenarios: Server configuration one-way or two-way User type Heavy, Medium, or Light Hyper-threading ON
For each test scenario, HP began by running the appropriate script (simulating Heavy, Medium, or Light Users, as appropriate) for a group of ten users. Start times were staggered to eliminate authentication overhead. After the sessions finished, HP added ten more users, then repeated the testing.
This methodology allowed HP to obtain the following performance metrics: Optimal number of users Historically, HP has defined the optimal number of users as the number of users that are active when processor utilization reaches 80%. Additional users are supported but response times may become unacceptable. Queue length G1 servers became congested with a queue length of 10 15. However, higher clocking rates, larger caches, and new processor technologies such as Hyper-threading allow G3 servers to process the queue more quickly while still maintaining optimal response times.
For example, Figure 3 shows performance metrics for a two-way ProLiant DL360 G3 server with Heavy Users and hyper-threading ON.
Figure 3: Individual performance metrics for a two-way server with Heavy Users and hyper-threading ON
Figure 3 shows that 80% processor utilization first occurred with more than 150 Heavy Users logged on. In addition, Figure 3 shows that, with 150 Heavy Users, the processor queue length was 8, 4 per processor. Note that HP is placing less importance on processor queue length as a server performance metric.
system PTE/Paged Address Pool limitation
The 32-bit Windows 2000 operating system can directly address up to 4GB of address space. By default, 2GB of this space is allocated to processes, 2GB to the kernel. The kernel area includes the following areas: Paged Address Pool memory allocations for users System Paged Table Entry (PTE) area kernel stack allocations
If available memory space becomes low in one of the areas, the system may exhibit unexpected errors or the inability to accept new logins, effectively limiting system performance even though there are no other resource limitations.
Figure 4 shows performance test results for Medium Users on a two-way ProLiant DL360 G3 server, demonstrating a performance limitation due to System PTE or Paged Address Pool space becoming low.
Figure 4: Test results showing the impact of low System PTE or Paged Address Pool resources
Figure 4 shows that, in this test scenario, the server was able to support a maximum of 150 users; after this time, no additional users were able to log in. Note: The number of users supported when the System PTE/Paged Address Pool limitation occurs is system-specific the ProLiant DL380 G3 2.8GHz and ProLiant DL580 G2 1.6GHz servers are limited to 175 Medium Users. In addition, HP has determined that the limitation varies based on user-type.

This performance limitation was not caused by processor or physical memory bottlenecks. Figure 4 shows that the System PTE/Paged Address Pool space was almost consumed (as demonstrated by the Free System Page Table Entries value leveling out at 50KB), which imposed a limit on server performance. At this time, approximately 70% of processor power and 36% of the 4GB memory array were still available for use. HP was able to determine that performance was limited by a lack of Paged Address Pool space (rather than System PTE space); however, this conclusion could not be supported explicitly using Performance Monitor. The current version of the operating system, by default, sizes System PTE to be as large as possible2, maximizing the space available to the kernel. While it is possible to reconfigure System PTE space to increase or decrease the space available to the Paged Address Pool, HP does not recommend this. Reducing the space available to the kernel may make the system unstable, outweighing the benefits of additional user support. More information on tuning System PTE and Paged Address Pool resources is available on the Microsoft website.

results

HP tested one-way and two-way ProLiant DL360 G3 servers with hyper-threading ON.

one-way server

HP determined the optimal numbers of users (as shown in Figure 5) supported by a one-way server with hyper-threading ON.
Figure 5: Test results for a one-way server with hyper-threading ON
As shown in Figure 5, a one-way ProLiant DL360 G3 server with hyper-threading ON can support up to 108 Light Users, 95 Medium Users, or 86 Heavy Users before the users begin to experience unacceptable response times.
On a server with Terminal Services enabled

two-way server

HP determined the optimal numbers of users (as shown in Figure 6) supported by a two-way server with hyper-threading ON.
Figure 6: Test results for a two-way server with hyper-threading ON
As shown in Figure 6, a two-way ProLiant DL360 G3 server with hyper-threading ON can support up to 150 Heavy Users before the users begin to experience unacceptable response times. Alternatively, the server can support 150 Medium Users or 150 Light Users before lack of System PTE/Paged Address Pool space limits server performance.

performance summary

Table 6 summarizes performance test results with hyper-threading ON. IMPORTANT: In a different TCSC environment, the performance of a ProLiant DL360 G3 server may not match the results summarized in Table 6. To identify server configurations for alternate applications, please use the online sizer tool.

Table 6. Performance Summary with Hyper-threading ON Processor Type Number Speed Memory Optimal Number of Users Heavy Medium Light

Xeon Xeon

2.8GHz 2.8GHz

4GB 4GB

86 150

95 150*

108 150*
* This is the maximum number of users that can be accommodated before lack of System PTE/Paged Address Pool space limits system performance. When this limitation occurs, processor utilization is still below the 80% threshold.

performance comparison

Figure 7 compares the optimal numbers of users supported by one-way and two-way ProLiant DL360 G3 servers with hyper-threading ON.
Figure 7: Performance comparison

canary execution time

HP often uses canary execution time as a performance metric. With no load on the system, the canary script is executed and the time taken to execute the canary is recorded to establish a baseline. As each group of users is added and a steady state achieved, the canary is executed again. Canary scripts are executed until execution time has increased by more than 10% over the baseline. Table 7 lists canary execution times for a two-way server with Heavy Users
Table 7. Canary Execution Times Elapsed Time 0:00 0:19 0:39 0:58 1:18 1:37 1:57 2:16 2:36 2:55 3:15 3:34 3:54 4:13 4:33 4:52 Number of Heavy Users Execution Time 10:16 10:09 10:10 10:12 10:17 10:11 10:08 10:15 10:08 10:11 10:08 10:24 10:15 10:09 10:21 136:15:00
Table 7 indicates that the two-way server can support Heavy Users before canary execution time exceeds the baseline by 10%3. This validates the figure of 150 Heavy Users obtained using 80% processor utilization as the performance threshold.

At 11:18

sizing recommendations
As with any laboratory benchmark, the performance metrics quoted in this Performance Brief are idealized. In a production environment, these metrics may be impacted by the following factors: Overhead Agents and services (virus scanning, backup and restore, provisioning, security, management and more) automatically consume overhead. Rogue applications can consume additional overhead. The system architect may wish to provide a 25% 30% buffer to accommodate this overhead. Future growth To accommodate future growth, the system architect may wish to provide an additional buffer. Alternatively, servers can be added as needed, taking advantage of the Citrix MetaFrame XP server farms inherent ability to scale out. User profiles For accurate sizing, the system architect must closely match the profiles of the users in the production environment with those described in Table 5. If the profiles do not match, more are available from the TCSC online sizer; alternatively, the system architect can consult Compaq Global Services for more information.

System PTE/Paged Address Pool considerations
There is a new sizing consideration with ProLiant DL360 G3 2.8GHz servers, which are susceptible to performance limitations caused by lack of System PTE or Paged Address Pool space. The customer should size the server to accommodate the desired workload while ensuring that there will always be adequate System PTE or Paged Address Pool space available. HP recommends allowing a 25% buffer between the desired number of users and the number of users supported when the performance limitation occurs. This buffer should ensure that there is always sufficient System PTE or Paged Address Pool space available to accommodate the workload. In addition, HP recommends considering the impact of workload on available System PTE or Paged Address Pool space: Heavier workload Performance on a server with a heavy workload tends to be limited by processor power rather than lack of System PTE or Paged Address Pool space particularly since customers tend to deploy additional memory for heavier users (or reduce the number of users) Light-to-medium workload Performance on a server with a light-to-medium workload is more likely to be limited by a lack of System PTE or Paged Address Pool space since operations are less processor-intensive and there tend to be more users.

Summary

To quantify server performance, HP selected a metric that relates directly to the user experience the number of Heavy Users that can be supported before response times start to become unacceptable. Test results show that a two-way ProLiant DL360 G3 2.8GHz server can support 150 Heavy Users, delivering the following improvements over earlier ProLiant Density Line servers: ProLiant DL360 G2 1.266GHz 62% ProLiant DL360 G2 1.4GHz 45%
Overall, test results show that the ProLiant DL360 G3 2.8GHz server is a performance leader.
appendix a Windows 2000 Terminal Services
Terminal Services is an integral part of Windows 2000, allowing desktops to access Windowsbased applications running on the server. Windows 2000 Terminal Services expands the capabilities available with Windows NT, using Remote Display Protocol (RDP) to connect multiple, diverse clients to the server. Terminal Services is an optional feature that can be enabled on any Windows 2000 server (standard, Advanced or Datacenter). Terminal Services provides the following benefits: Lower cost of ownership and improved manageability: Deploying applications on the server rather than on the client reduces administrative costs by 35% to 50% over the life of the system because management of back-ups, updates, troubleshooting, and many help-desk requests can be centralized on the server instead of being performed on individual clients. In addition, task-based users can utilize thin clients with no performance degradation since the server handles storage, memory, and processor demands. Strong limited-bandwidth application performance: Mouse clicks, keystrokes, or screen updates consume minimal bandwidth. Terminal Services reduces an applications network usage by as much as 90% and allows users to enjoy excellent performance even with limited bandwidth or during periods of heavy network traffic. Windows applications compatibility: Terminal Services can run 16-bit or 32-bit Windows-based applications that operate on a Windows 2000 system. Typically, clients require no further modifications to use the software, regardless of the hardware configuration. Deployment in new environments: Terminal Services allows the deployment of Windows 2000 applications in new environments. For example, task-based users such as bank tellers, insurance claim adjusters or fast food operators can use a stationary client with a single business application in an office setting. At the same time, mobile task-based users can use Terminal Services to take restaurant orders, register car rental returns or monitor bedside terminals in hospitals. Network load balancing: Terminal Services allows the deployment of applications across server farms, providing higher availability and easy expansion to create a NonStop solution for applications availability.

more information

A summary of the features of Terminal Services More about Terminal Services, including system architecture, client licensing, remote administration, and optimizing applications for use with Terminal Services Links to additional technical information on Windows 2000
appendix b Citrix MetaFrame XP
Citrix MetaFrame XP for Microsoft Windows offers a complete solution for organizations that want more from their application serving environments. IT administrators need more reach to connect with users in any location, on any device, over any network, and more power to manage applications from a single, centralized location. Based on proven Citrix technology, Citrix MetaFrame XP extends the reach of the Windows 2000 Server family as well as advanced platforms. It securely deploys Windows-based applications with the highest levels of manageability so administrators can easily scale servers as organizations grow. Citrix MetaFrame XP offers a more predictable, cost-effective computing experience for all users. Single-point control over applications, servers and server farms, licenses and resources means better utilization of limited IT departments.

MetaFrame XP family

Citrix specifically customized the MetaFrame XP family into three tailored solutions that accommodate a wide spectrum of customer requirements for functionality and scale: MetaFrame XPs: Delivers the level of control that departmental workgroups require to extend the reach of Windows 2000 servers to multiple devices MetaFrame XPa: Maximizes the availability of applications across the Internet for growing organizations MetaFrame XPe: Offers extensive scalability and manageability, as well as rapid application deployment, for global enterprises in a Windows 2000 server-based environment.
The MetaFrame XP family features a highly scalable communications and management foundation that provides the capability to manage and deploy applications across the enterprise. MetaFrame XP delivers much more than application support. It gives IT managers the ability and confidence to maintain a fast, predictable, and efficient application-serving network.

key benefits

Unparalleled manageability and scale systems, applications and users MetaFrame XP offers the power to manage servers and server farms anywhere across an enterprise, with robust system management capabilities that can be integrated with third-party network management solutions. At last IT managers can centrally configure and manage software distribution to multiple servers in numerous locations in just minutes, as well as monitor and control application usage, resource utilization and user activity. With these capabilities, IT managers can proactively predict system requirements and maximize availability and performance across the network. Total Net leverage integration, personalization and control The adoption of the Internet is the driving force behind the concept of a universal Net the seamless integration of LANs, WANs, the Internet, intranets and extranets that enables organizations to optimize their communications. Citrix NFuse empowers businesses with the ability to deliver any application to a single portal view without rewriting code. This is the fastest way to provide single-point access to applications and content information through any device that supports a standard Web browser improving productivity and delivering true user mobility. Ultimate flexibility any application, any device, over any Net connection MetaFrame XP provides the power to deploy any application to any device via any Net connection quickly and with a reduced total cost of ownership. By shifting application processing to the server, administrators can ensure the rapid, user-friendly deployment of business-critical applications with a higher level of performance predictability. The flexibility of seamless application access from PCs, Macintosh computers, UNIX or Linux workstations, laptops, wireless devices and other network appliances means fewer hardware roadblocks and far less technology churn. It affords a consistent user experience across the enterprise, complete freedom and mobility, unparalleled speed, and simplified management. MetaFrame XP is the powerful, behind-the-scenes framework that makes it all happen.

For more information on MetaFrame XP, please refer to the Citrix website.