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Technology Stocks : Advanced Micro Devices - Moderated (AMD)
AMD 252.09-0.3%Jan 29 3:59 PM EST
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To: tecate78732 who wrote (257565)12/27/2008 2:33:19 AM
From: rudedogRead Replies (2) of 275872
 
CPU upgrades are not all that uncommon in blade installations - but they are not done by replacing the CPUs on-site. Instead, blades with new processors are swapped into a rack, and the blades removed have their firmware and CPUs upgraded offsite - the process continues until all the blades are upgraded. This can be done without taking the main systems down if the system has sufficient redundancy.

This was also common in older systems (pre-blade), but without the ease of upgrade. ProLiant (both pre and post HP) had the ability to shut down and 'hot swap' a processor (and it's related power module if power characteristics changed) without taking the server down - this was true for higher-end 2, 4 and 8 way boxes. I was involved in planning of several upgrades of installations with more than 1000 servers, which are not small in any sense. Swapping of a processor could be done in under 10 minutes, start to finish, by an experienced technician.

Arrangements to maintain refreshed hardware can be a part of an enterprise support agreement. OEM vendors work out the cost of upgrades over the life of the contract pretty carefully, often making that compliance a part of design acceptance. Obviously a silicon vendor who maintains socket compatibility presents a better value both to the OEM and to the customer.

This is very common in GSA contracts, Telco companies, and other segments where long term business planning is tightly integrated with technology roadmaps.
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