Red Hat Enterprise Linux Achieves Performance World Record

Red Hat is excited to announce today a new world-record 4-processor result on Linux on the two-tier SAP® Sales and Distribution (SD) standard application benchmark. The results achieved were on the IBM System x®3850 X5 running IBM DB2® 9.7, Red Hat® Enterprise Linux 6, and SAP enhancement package 4 for the SAP ERP application Release 6.0. With more capabilities available in smaller systems and the option of integrated virtualization, enterprises can more flexibly and cost-effectively deploy leading enterprise applications on Red Hat Enterprise Linux with the confidence of industry-leading performance.

Red Hat’s constant commitment to put our customers first by delivering choice, value, and innovation is reflected by the continuing performance leadership of Red Hat Enterprise Linux. In addition to today’s performance announcement, recent Red Hat Enterprise Linux leadership milestones, including an update on hardware and software certifications, can be found in a February 20, 2012 news blog Red Hat Enterprise Linux Leadership.

SAP SD benchmark key highlights include:

The IBM System x3850 X5 achieved 12,560 SAP SD benchmark users with 0.99 seconds average dialog response time, 68,580 SAPS, measured throughput of 4,115,000 dialog steps per hour (or 1,371,670 fully processed line items per hour), and an average CPU utilization of 98% for the central server.1

The new result beats the previous-best 4-processor result of 12,204 SAP SD benchmark users on Linux achieved by the HP ProLiant DL580 G7 running SUSE Linux Enterprise Server. 2

The solution achieved 12,560 SAP SD benchmark users with 0.99 seconds average dialog response time, 68,580 SAPS, measured throughput of 4,115,000 dialog steps per hour (or 1,371,670 fully processed line items per hour), and an average CPU utilization of 98% for the central server.3

The x3850 X5 was configured with four Intel® Xeon® E7-8870 processors at 2.40GHz with 30MB shared L3 cache per processor (4 processors/40 cores/80 threads), 512GB of memory, 64-bit DB2 9.7, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.2, and SAP enhancement package 4 for SAP ERP 6.0. The server accessed the DB2 9.7 database on the storage on an IBM System Storage® DS4800 disk system.

Results referenced are current as of February 20, 2012. For the latest SAP benchmark results, visit: http://www.sap.com/benchmark.

IBM, System x, System Storage and DB2 are trademarks or registered trademarks of IBM Corporation. Intel and Xeon are registered trademarks of Intel Corporation. Linux is a registered trademark of Linux Torvalds in the USA and/or other countries. Red Hat is a registered trademark of Red Hat, Inc. SAP, MaxDB and all SAP logos are trademarks or registered trademarks of SAP AG in Germany and in several other countries. All other company/product names and service marks may be trademarks or registered trademarks of their respective companies.

1 This benchmark fully complies with the SAP Benchmark Council regulations and has been audited and certified by SAP AG (certification number 2012006). Details can be obtained from IBM and SAP. The benchmark was performed at IBM Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, by IBM engineers.

2 Statement of comparison is based on highest-performing system using four Intel Xeon processors and running Linux and the SAP enhancement package 4 for SAP ERP 6.0. Minimum data for the HP ProLiant DL580 G7 results on the two-tier SAP SD standard application benchmark: 4 processors/40 cores/80 threads, Intel Xeon Processor E7-4870, 2.40GHz, 64KB L1 cache and 256KB L2 cache per core, 30MB L3 cache per processor, 512GB main memory, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP1, the SAP MaxDB™ 7.8 database, SAP enhancement package 4 for SAP ERP 6.0. Certification number 2011031.

3 This benchmark fully complies with the SAP Benchmark Council regulations and has been audited and certified by SAP AG (certification number 2012006). Details can be obtained from IBM and SAP. The benchmark was performed at IBM Research Triangle Park, NC, USA, by IBM engineers.