Behind the News
Analysis of Industry Events
The advantages for the enterprise of going to 64 bits may not
come immediately. The World Wide Web is giving affordable exposure to candidates
in local elections.
Run or Walk to 64-Bit Computing?
When you add it up, the advantages of 64-bit computing over current 32-bit
technology seem obvious: processing eight bytes at a time versus four bytes
at a time. The conclusion also is obvious: The IT world will rush to it,
just as everyone is rushing now from 16-bit to 32-bit PC computing.
Actually, this stampede may not happen overnight. The march toward 64-bit
operating systems, applications and microprocessors is inevitable, but for
users the transition to enterprise-wide 64-bit computing will be a complex
and, in some cases, a costly one. Vendors will be expected to deliver on
their promises to develop hardware and software standards.
More significantly, the performance advantages that are obvious in the move
from 16-bit to 32-bit PC computing aren't so apparent with 64-bit servers
for enterprise and midrange systems. In fact, at this point 64-bit computing
may not even deliver better performance or functionality for all applications,
all of the time.
When I'm 64
Having said that, it remains easy to point to what is better about 64-bit
technology. First and foremost, a 64-bit machine can address more memory
directly without using complex indexing or register-addressing schemes.
Because internal memory is several orders of magnitude faster than most
storage devices, combining a 64-bit processing architecture with more internal
memory enables a CPU to pull more data into memory and operate on it directly,
thereby increasing performance.
A 64-bit file system also can improve disk management. Rather than having
to take a large disk, such as a 9GB storage module, and be forced to segment
it down into 32-bit chunks (2GB each), you can address the entire disk.
That can help, for example, both database performance and the performance
of the operating system itself.
The move to 64 bits will help primarily users who need access to very large
data stores. This category includes applications in CAD/CAM, science and
engineering, human resources, online analytical processing (OLAP) and financial
modeling. Users working with these compute-intensive applications will probably
see immediate improvement with 64-bit machines over 32-bit machines running
at the same clock rate and with similar memory capacity.
Standards and Coordination
What complicates the move to 64 bits, for both end users and vendors that
develop and sell the technology, involves the careful coordination of several
factors, starting with software standards. A 64-bit version of Unix is being
developed jointly by Hewlett-Packard, the Santa Cruz Operation and Novell.
Their plan is to issue, perhaps in 1997, a single Unix operating system
designed to run on the 64-bit P7 chip now being developed by HP and Intel.
In addition, over 50 companies, including DEC, HP, IBM, Informix, Intel
and SunSoft, have announced an initiative for a 64-bit Unix application
programming interface (API) to be delivered to X/Open, the standards consortium,
in the first quarter of 1996. As designed, this Unix API will enable developers
to write applications that will run on any 64-bit Unix architecture.
As with other standards, each company has vested interests in this one.
DEC, Sun and others already have 64-bit products on the market. These companies
realize that now is the time to agree on 64-bit standards, as they face
pressure from independent software vendors (ISVs) and users to work together.
William O'Leary, IBM spokesperson in Sommers, NY, supports the Unix API
initiative. "We all realize that if you suddenly go off on a new path
and cause any work done by the ISVs to be nullified, you're going to tick
off a lot of ISVs," he says. "The ground rule going into this
64-bit development is to preserve work or build on it."
In addition, both hardware and software 64-bit products must be introduced
at about the same time. Some 64-bit machines can process both 64-bit and
32-bit instructions, and translators exist to convert 32-bit programs to
slow but functional 64-bit programs. For the most part, however, a 64-bit
machine needs a 64-bit operating system and 64-bit applications; and a 64-bit
operating system runs only on a 64-bit machine. Therefore, all parts of
the technology should emerge together, so one area of development doesn't
act as a drag on the others.
DEC learned that lesson the hard way by being first at the dance with the
Alpha chip. The company didn't have any partners: Not enough 64-bit applications
had been written for users to take advantage of Alpha processors. "DEC
leaped to 64-bit, but then they found that they had to convince the world
that it was necessary," says Jim Turley, editor of the newsletter Microprocessor
Report in Mountain View, CA. "It's been rather a hard sell."
Moving Expenses
Another factor to consider is the basic cost of moving to 64-bit hardware
and software platforms. Major vendors and developers in the industry assert
that the transition to 64-bit doesn't have to be painful.
Phiroze Petigura, systems software program manager at Hewlett-Packard in
Cupertino, CA, says, "The basic objective is not to require any port
to 64-bit." He claims that HP will provide full compatibility with
32-bit applications, so ISVs will be able to move their applications through
binary compatibility. Later they can reengineer aspects of the applications
for 64 bits.
Other observers aren't so sanguine. They contend that, although users might
be able to save some storage modules and input/output (I/O) devices, or
mix 32-bit and 64-bit platforms through networking protocols such as TCP/IP
or IBM's SNA to ease the migration, the move will be a big one. If processors
are upgraded to 64 bits, the operating system for them will have to be upgraded
as well, along with all the applications, unless the microprocessor makes
allowances for running the old code in some away. Each addition to this
process adds cost.
Not So Fast
The final reason that might delay this emerging market is that 64-bit computing
doesn't always guarantee increased performance. "Microprocessor architecture
is not an absolute metric of performance. There are many different factors,"
says Dan Kusnetzky, research director for Unix and server operating environments
at International Data Corp. in Framingham, MA.
Kusnetzky suggests that the performance of PC applications, for example,
might not be significantly better with 64-bit computing. When the operating
system is screen- and graphics-oriented, the bottleneck will be the screen
and graphics hardware. If a machine is doing database access, the bottleneck
moves to the storage subsystem. With a network server, it's the network
subsystem. "If an application is waiting on the disk," he says,
"it doesn't matter if it's a 32- or 64-bit application waiting."
For another instance, many word processing applications deal with text in
the form of characters, one character at a time. Some 32-bit processors
have better character instructions than, say, 64-bit reduced instruction
set computing (RISC) processors. RISC architecture has limited character
instructions, and this forces the developer to use more complicated programming
to pull individual characters out of a word and manipulate them. This additional
work slows the word processing application enough so it might actually run
faster on a 32-bit machine.
The Ultimate Goal
IT vendors have found time and again that business customers seldom jump
to new technology for its own sake. Benefits must justify the costs of migration,
and the cost/benefits calculation has to include whether less expensive
alternatives can be used, at least as an interim solution.
If the goal is to improve performance by having more data reside in memory,
one alternative to 64-bit processing would be to use a solid-state storage
device with intelligent controllers. Rather than touching the disk, which
takes multiple milliseconds, the processor touches solid-state memory that
is on the other end of a SCSI channel. Response times drop to the microsecond
range, so performance would improve dramatically, even with 32-bit processors.
Jerry Huck, manager of architecture for HP's PA-RISC microprocessor development
in Cupertino, CA, stresses that the decision to move to 64-bit processing
should serve an apparent need. "You need some sort of capacity problem
where you're going though a lot of trouble to mimic large addresses or larger
data types," he explains. "If you really don't need 64-bit, don't
get on it."
Huck predicts that the transition of applications to 64 bits won't be as
fast as in 16-bit-to-32-bit migrations. He points out that predictions about
the rate of migration to 64-bit computing are being moved back because memory
systems aren't growing as fast as anticipated and the performance downside
of moving to 64-bit is more noticeable, partly because of the reasons mentioned
above and partly because 64-bit applications usually deal with greater amounts
of data.
If a user has a huge database, 64-bit computing will handle it more efficiently.
But Huck warns users to be cautious. "If you go willy-nilly into the
64-bit world, you might find yourself in a worse position than before."
--Richard Cole
Chasing the Online Vote
As we all know, this presidential election year will be filled with rhetoric
in the form of television, radio and print advertising. The 1996 election
will also see extensive use of the World Wide Web by parties putting forth
their positions, criticizing their opponents and receiving e-mail from the
voters. Each of the current Republican presidential contenders has his own
Web page. This even includes Pat Paulsen, the comedian from the 1960s Smothers
Brothers television show (http://www.amdest.com/Pat/pat.html).
While everyone expects this broad use of the Web in national politics, it
is having an even greater effect on the local political scene.
In Virginia, as in many other states, off-year elections are for local government
positions such as the school board, members of the general assembly and
other state and county officials. During the campaign our street corners
and telephone polls become covered with posters showing the names and faces
of people most of us have never heard of. We also find numerous flyers on
our doorsteps and car windshields, briefly giving the qualifications of
the individuals or sometimes only a negative message about the candidate's
opponent. It's hard to get excited about the impending election unless you
have a particularly important issue at stake.
That was my situation this past November. Virginia was holding elections
for our representatives to the state and local governments, school boards
and so on. One day I received a flyer from Charles Waddell, a man running
for state senator from my district. After scanning Waddell's flyer and just
before throwing it away, I noticed a Web address printed at the bottom,
inviting people to visit his home page (http://www.shirenet.com/waddell).
When I logged onto that page I found the candidate's biography, current
positions on key issues, a legislative schedule and a link to an e-mail
connection. I was able to read his position on a tax initiative that was
of particular interest to me. I sent electronic mail asking Waddell to explain
his position more fully and received a response the following day. My use
of the Web drew me into the campaign more than usual.
Cost-Effective Campaigning
My experiences with that election made it obvious that political contests
have taken a turn. Many of us get our political information from television
and radio sound bites, and newspaper articles. This includes paid advertising
by the candidates. But for the person running for local office this is a
difficult, expensive process. In the DC area, as in other large metropolitan
areas, the local politician doesn't get nearly as much free media coverage
as do those running for national office. The Washington Post, for
example, spends most of its space covering the presidential and congressional
candidates. It gives little space to the state candidates and virtually
none to those running for offices such as the local school board. With two
states (Maryland and Virginia) and the District of Columbia in its subscription
base, the Post cannot provide complete coverage of the local issues.
By using the Web, a candidate can get his or her message out for a modest
fee. The Web page can be updated daily with the latest position or details
of the opponent's latest miscues. E-mail between the electorate and the
candidate can serve as an adjunct to the required "pressing of the
flesh." The person running for a local office can have essentially
the same exposure as Bill Clinton or Bob Dole. Furthermore, those of us
who find it difficult to follow these issues are being better informed and
therefore are able to cast a more intelligent vote.
According to Dave Whitmer, who provided the Web pages to Charlie Waddell
and several other candidates in northern Virginia, the Web provides a more
level playing field. A candidate with limited resources can get a Web site.
The large number of people with access to the Web in an urban area makes
its use even more justifiable. During Waddell's campaign, his Web page averaged
approximately 800 to 1,000 hits per month. While most were from this area,
some came from other parts of the country and even from overseas. Although
a few messages were from people of the same name asking about his ancestry,
a majority were from his district asking about the issues.
No Guarantees
A total of six candidates in northern Virginia had Web pages. Interestingly,
they were all Democrats or Independents with support from the Democratic
Party. Of the six, only two won their elections, which indicates that using
the Web doesn't guarantee victory.
Charlie Waddell was one of the winners. He feels that the Web will never
replace public hearings and other face-to-face meetings for candidates and
elected officials. However, it does increase communications with the citizens.
Waddell calls the Web a "powerful tool" for politicians. He says
that while it wasn't the overriding factor in his election, it did help,
and he plans to continue using it.
Whitmer is currently modifying Waddell's home page from "campaign mode"
to one that will provide constituent support services to Virginia's 33rd
legislative district. In it will be the status of current bills, electronic
mail to Waddell and his staff and links to the State of Virginia's home
page (http://www.state.va.us/dlas/welcome.htm).
Waddell claims that he really "doesn't know the technology" but
that it doesn't matter. The Web allows him to reach out to the public, which
(as a politician) he does know a lot about.
The Web is providing many politicians another platform for getting their
messages across. For those who have limited advertising budgets, such as
state and local candidates, the Web is proving to be an indispensable tool.
In addition, it's allowing us voters to participate more fully in the process.
If a candidate has a Web page or simply e-mail capability, we no longer
can sit back and complain that the process doesn't easily take our inputs.
By using the Web, we are able to compare the positions and press releases
of the candidates in far more depth than sound bites. And if one of the
candidates doesn't have a Web page, I predict that, lacking other sources
of information, we will likely not cast our vote for that person.
In any highly competitive market, everyone seeks an extra edge; the Web
is providing that edge. The use of the Web by some politicians will require
all the others to follow suit. Candidates will still try to get the press,
television and radio coverage. Countless meetings will still be attended,
and "rubber chicken" dinners served at fund-raisers will still
be eaten. But the local candidate now has a new tool to get the message
out and perhaps reach a different demographic slice of the electorate.
I must go now. In my quest to be a better informed voter, I need to get
Pat Paulsen's take on Bosnia.
--Gary Donnelly