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Intel's Xeon Adds Metal to Microsoft Dynamics CRM

Microsoft and Intel on Wednesday touted the ability of Microsoft Dynamics CRM to expand to meet multiple user needs when powered by Intel's Xeon 5500 processor.

Intel introduced its Xeon 5500 four-core chipset in March, and announced the next generation Xeon Nahelem-EX eight-core chipset late last month. The 45-nanometer Xeon 5500 features performance improvements over the earlier Xeon 5100, as well as increased power savings. The chipset is designed for enterprise, datacenter and research applications.

Microsoft and Intel claimed that use of the Xeon 5500 processor enables Dynamics CRM to scale its support to more than 50,000 concurrent users with a high-volume workload.

Tests and production runs were completed using Microsoft Windows Server 2008 and SQL Server 2008. The hardware configuration wasn't disclosed in Microsoft and Intel's announcement, but the companies pointed to an executive summary that will be available here.

The scalability improvement also applies when using Intel's technology in combination with Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and Microsoft partner-hosted applications, according to a Microsoft spokesperson.

"Microsoft Dynamics CRM and Microsoft Dynamics CRM Online and partner hosted all run on the same code base and have the same performance characteristics," the spokesperson explained in an e-mail.

Microsoft currently has more than 18,000 Dynamics CRM customers and upwards of 900,000 users across all deployment models. Individual customers range from as few as five seats to more than 10,000 users per deployment.

"We support customers in a diverse range of industries including financial services, manufacturing, retail, hospitality, health and life sciences, travel, entertainment, and the public sector," the spokesperson explained.

About the Author

Herb Torrens is an award-winning freelance writer based in Southern California. He managed the MCSP program for a leading computer telephony integrator for more than five years and has worked with numerous solution providers including HP/Compaq, Nortel, and Microsoft in all forms of media.

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