Implement Accelerated Networking for Azure virtual machines

Introduction:

Accelerated Networking is a feature in Azure that can significantly enhance the networking performance of Azure virtual machines. By offloading the processing of networking tasks to dedicated hardware, it reduces the latency and CPU utilization, resulting in better throughput and lower network jitter. In this article, we will explore how to implement Accelerated Networking for Azure virtual machines and the benefits it brings to SAP workloads.

Enabling Accelerated Networking for virtual machines:

To enable Accelerated Networking for an Azure virtual machine, you can follow these steps:

1. Create a new virtual machine or select an existing virtual machine that supports Accelerated Networking. Currently, Accelerated Networking is supported on specific VM series, such as D/DSv2, D/DSv3, E/ESv3, F/Fs, and Ms/Mms.
2. During the creation or configuration of the virtual machine, locate the “Networking” tab. Under the “Network interfaces” section, select the network interface associated with the virtual machine.
3. Within the network interface settings, click on the “IP configurations” tab and select the IP configuration associated with the virtual machine.
4. In the IP configuration settings, you will find the option to enable Accelerated Networking. Toggle the switch to enable Accelerated Networking for the virtual machine.
5. Save your changes and wait for the configuration to take effect. The virtual machine will need to be restarted for the changes to be applied.

Benefits for SAP workloads:

Enabling Accelerated Networking for Azure virtual machines hosting SAP workloads brings several benefits:

1. Improved network performance: SAP workloads often rely on high-speed, low-latency networking for efficient communication between various components. Accelerated Networking reduces the network latency and CPU utilization, resulting in improved network performance and reduced packet loss.
2. Enhanced scalability: SAP workloads often require high scalability to handle increased user demand or workload. With Accelerated Networking, virtual machines are better equipped to handle higher network throughput, allowing for seamless scalability without impacting performance.
3. Better network jitter: Network jitter, which refers to the variation in packet delay, can impact the performance of SAP workloads. Accelerated Networking helps to reduce network jitter by offloading network processing to dedicated hardware, resulting in smoother and more predictable network communication.
4. Lower TCO: By offloading networking tasks to dedicated hardware, Accelerated Networking reduces the CPU utilization of virtual machines. This reduction in CPU utilization translates to cost savings, as fewer virtual machines are required to handle the same workload, ultimately lowering the total cost of ownership (TCO).

Conclusion:

Accelerated Networking is a powerful feature in Azure that can significantly enhance the networking performance of Azure virtual machines, especially for SAP workloads. By enabling Accelerated Networking, you can take advantage of improved network performance, enhanced scalability, reduced network jitter, and lower TCO. It is essential to review the documentation and ensure that the virtual machine series you choose supports Accelerated Networking. With the right configuration and enabling this feature, you can optimize the performance of your SAP workloads in Azure.