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Microsoft is improving the landscape of cloud computing with the introduction of Azure Boost. It is a new hardware upgrade from Microsoft, designed to elevate virtual machine performance on the Azure cloud platform. In a recent announcement, the tech giant outlined how Azure Boost is set to transform the traditional dynamics of server virtualization processes, offering a host of benefits ranging from improved networking to enhanced security.
At the core of Azure Boost’s capabilities lies the innovative Microsoft Azure Network Adapter (MANA). This addition to Azure Boost-compatible VM (virtual machine) hosts opens the door to improved bandwidth, reaching up to 200 Gbps. The integration of MANA offers the benefit of offloading server virtualization processes from the conventional hypervisor and host OS onto purpose-built software and hardware, resulting in a substantial boost in performance.
Azure Boost could allow users to operate their business with fewer resources
Azure Boost doesn’t stop at networking enhancements — it extends its impact to storage operations. Local storage experiences a remarkable upgrade with up to 17.3 GBps and an impressive 3.8 million IOPS (Input/Output Operations Per Second) and remote storage also sees a significant throughput increase, reaching up to 12.5 GBps, accompanied by 650 K IOPS. These improvements promise not only faster data transfer but also a more seamless and efficient storage experience for users.
Azure Boost is already compatible with 17 instance types, covering a wide range of user needs. Microsoft ensures that future Azure virtual machines will also seamlessly integrate with Azure Boost, making it a forward-looking solution for evolving cloud computing requirements.
Azure Boost is designed to cater to users across different operating systems. The MANA driver, a critical component of Azure Boost, already provides support from various versions of Linux VMs, including Ubuntu (20.04 and 22.04 LTS), and Windows VMs, including Windows Server versions 2016, 2019, and 2022. This broad support ensures that Azure Boost’s advantages are accessible to a wide user base.
A parallel in the cloud: AWS Nitro and Microsoft’s Azure Boost
Drawing parallels with AWS, Microsoft’s Azure Boost concept aligns with AWS Nitro, both aiming to offload functions to dedicated hardware and software. The shared goal is to enhance performance and optimize cost efficiency. It allows users to operate with fewer resources. This not only benefits businesses but also contributes to a more eco-friendly approach to cloud computing.