Intel now offers CPU performance that is pay as you go.
Intel’s pay as you go CPU platform, in which system administrators must pay to enable particular accelerators, has officially launched.
The business expects to send out less hardware as a result of its new Intel on Demand software-defined silicon (SDSi) service, which also enables customers to digitally upgrade their equipment.
The company’s fourth-generation Xeon Scalable Sapphire Rapids processors, which are anticipated to eventually ship in early 2023 after a series of delays, will probably be used in the initiative.
The service’s pricing information has not yet been made public
Sapphire Rapids Xeon CPUs now have access to Intel’s new “On Demand” service, which charges users to access some accelerators and other features that are already included in the server processors.
The introduction of Intel’s software-defined silicon (SDSi) service heralds a significant change in how consumers will go forward with their purchases of and usage of Intel chips.
The projected launch date for Intel’s 4th Generation Xeon Scalable Sapphire Rapids processors is early 2023. Not all users will always require the security measures and specialised accelerators that come with these processors.
With its new “On Demand” service, Intel hopes to reduce the amount of hardware it sends to clients while enabling them to update servers virtually on a pay-as-you-go, as-needed.
Intel on Demand
Among the technologies that Intel apparently plans to make available on demand are Dynamic Load Balancing (DLB), Software Guard Extensions, Data Streaming Accelerator (DSA), In-Memory Analytics Accelerator, and Quick Assist Technology (QAT).
Due to the fundamentally distinct types of workloads that each On Demand technology addresses, Intel expects that very few customers will require all of them at once. However, as businesses continue to grow their data centres or shift their focus to new endeavours, they might eventually require some. The On Demand feature will be useful in this situation.
The cost of Intel’s “On Demand” service is not currently known to the public. Instead, the business altered its “Intel on Demand” webpage, where it now lists Lenovo as a provider of both its consumption and production.
A single model type will be the focus of companies like HPE and Supermicro. The consumption model claims to “dynamically align” infrastructure and demand, in contrast to the activation model, which imposes a one-time price to access additional services. The On Demand programme includes H3C, Inspur, Supermicro, Phoenix NAP, Variscale, along with Lenovo and HPE.
It is unlikely that end users will be able to buy these products on the market since Intel’s On Demand programme is currently only available for server hardware.
With the EPYC Genoa 9004 CPU line up, AMD does not provide any such “On Demand” option; instead, it gives customers access to every capability out of the box.
Through Intel’s new “On Demand” offering, customers might spend little, but charging a premium for features previously built into the CPU could result in losses for Intel. Given the current state of the tech sector, the company’s Data Centre division will want to prevent this.
According to Intel, the programme would enable businesses to spend less on processors that give performance they would typically not require and will see Intel turning on specific capabilities on an as-needed, pay-as-you-go basis.
Intel intends to implement this programme by making Software Guard Extensions, Dynamic Load Balancer, Intel Data Streaming Accelerator, Intel In-Memory Analytics Accelerator, Intel In-Memory Analytics Accelerator, and Intel Quick Assist Technology all on-demand.
The cost of Intel on Demand has not yet been disclosed because there has been no formal announcement. Instead, Lenovo is listed as a provider of its consumption and activation models on the company’s redesigned Intel on Demand page, with businesses like HPE and Supermicro concentrating on just one model type.
The consumption model promises to “dynamically synchronise” infrastructure and demand, while the activation model employs a one-time fee to access more capabilities, according to The Register.
All of this is being done in an effort to boost revenue as the corporation anticipates a challenging period of cost-cutting, beginning with a $3 billion decrease in 2023.
How can I locate my computer’s Intel® software license?
For Intel® Software Development Products, the default licencing folder looks like this:
- on Linux: /opt/intel/licenses on Mac: /Users/Shared/Library/Application Support/Intel/Licenses on Windows: Program Files/Common Files/Intel/Licenses.
How do I manage my licenses?
- Enter your username and password to sign in at the Intel Registration Centre.
- Expand a licence to see the licencing details.
- Under the Actions heading:
- Click the email button to send a copy of your licence to your email.
- Click the download button to access the licence file.
- Select (…) and then click Manage License to manage the licence. You may carry out the following
- Control the users a multiuser licence is assigned to, including the owner, administrator, and developers
- Click the Rehost (refresh) button to make sure the named-user licence is up to date.
- Click the Rehost (refresh) button to check and update the host details for a floating licence.
- Select (…), then select for more information, including reseller details, on support renewal prices.
What is the Intel® Software Manager?
Using the programme Intel® Software Manager, users can:
- Update your Intel® Software Development Products by downloading and installing them.
- Control the software you have installed subscription status.
- Get serial numbers going?
- Manage licences by adding new licences, updating current ones, or removing existing licences.
- Learn about the most recent information regarding Intel Software Development Products.
Conclusion
Pay-as-you-go from Intel the CPU platform has officially debuted, with system administrators having to pay to enable specific accelerators. With the launch of its new Intel on Demand software-defined silicon (SDSi) service, the company anticipates sending out less hardware.
With the help of Intel’s On Demand service, organisations will be able to use certain features on an as-needed, pay-as-you-go basis while spending less on processors that provide performance they would ordinarily not need. There hasn’t been an official announcement, thus the price of Intel on Demand hasn’t been made public yet.
The activation model uses a one-time fee to acquire new capabilities, while the consumption model tries to “dynamically coordinate” infrastructure and demand. All of this occurs as the business prepares for a difficult phase of cost-cutting that will start soon.
