Hardware Lifecycle Management: Building Sustainable Cloud Infrastructure

At Scaleway, we know first-hand how complex managing a cloud infrastructure at scale can be. While topics like networking and virtualization get significant attention, one critical aspect often goes unnoticed: hardware lifecycle management. Today, we're diving deep into how we approach hardware refresh cycles and why they matter for cloud infrastructures.

The technical reality of cloud infrastructure

The cloud may seem virtual, but it runs on very real hardware. Every server, network switch, and storage device in our data centers follows the same fundamental laws of physics and time: components degrade, efficiency decreases, and failure risks increase. When a server has been running workloads for years, it doesn't just become less reliable – it becomes increasingly power-hungry, delivering less computational power while consuming more electricity.

This degradation isn't just a matter of aging hardware. As organizations modernize their cloud workloads, the demand for increasingly sophisticated security features and performance capabilities increases. And as hardware ages, it becomes harder to implement the latest security patches and firmware updates. Eventually, manufacturers stop producing compatible components altogether, making it impossible for cloud providers to maintain certain hardware versions in our offering.

Performance and security: a delicate balance

The relationship between hardware age and performance isn't linear. As components age, they don't just slow down – they begin to interact with each other in increasingly unpredictable ways. Memory errors become more frequent, storage devices slow down, and CPU performance becomes less consistent. These issues compound each other, creating a snowball effect that impacts overall system reliability.

Security considerations add another layer of complexity. Modern cloud security relies heavily on hardware-level features and regular firmware updates. When hardware becomes too old to support the latest security features, it's not just a performance issue – it becomes a potential vulnerability. This is particularly crucial for a sovereign cloud provider like Scaleway, where maintaining control over our infrastructure security is paramount.

The sustainability view

Hardware lifecycle management sits at the intersection of performance, security, and sustainability. Simply replacing hardware at the first sign of degradation would be wasteful and environmentally irresponsible. As Scaleway aims at integrating sustainability in each of our products, for example through our Environmental Footprint Calculator, we've developed a more nuanced approach.

When hardware no longer meets the requirements for its primary workload, we evaluate it for potential secondary uses. Some servers that might not be suitable for high-performance computing tasks can still excel at less demanding workloads. This approach not only extends hardware lifespan but also helps us optimize resource utilization across our infrastructure.

Migration: the hidden challenge

Perhaps the most complex aspect of hardware lifecycle management is the migration process. Replacing hardware isn't as simple as swapping out old servers for new ones. Customer workloads need to be transferred seamlessly, without disruption or data loss. This requires careful planning, robust automation, and clear communication with our customers.
We've learned that successful migrations depend on proactive planning. By monitoring hardware performance trends and planning refreshes well in advance, we can avoid emergency replacements and give our customers ample time to prepare for any necessary transitions.

Live migration: a game-changer

Our recently implemented live migration capabilities have transformed how we approach hardware lifecycle management. This technology allows us to move running instances between hypervisors without service interruption. Think of it as moving a plant without disturbing its roots – the plant continues to grow while being carefully transplanted to new soil.
Live migration not only improves our maintenance operations but also enhances platform resilience. When hardware needs attention or replacement, we can now seamlessly relocate workloads to healthy hosts, significantly reducing the impact on our customers' operations.

Rethinking the generational approach

Traditional cloud providers often emphasize hardware generations in their offerings, marketing each new generation as a significant upgrade. While this approach makes sense for performance-intensive workloads, it raises an important question: do all cloud workloads really need the latest hardware generation?
Many cloud workloads – from development environments to basic web servers – don't require cutting-edge performance. For these use cases, stable, reliable hardware often is more important than having the latest generation processors. This realization has led us to reconsider the traditional generational model.
Instead of forcing all customers onto the latest hardware generation, it might be good to move toward a more nuanced approach. By offering a spectrum of options – from latest-generation instances for high-performance workloads to more cost-effective options for less demanding applications – we can better match resources to actual needs.

This shift from a strict generational model to a more flexible, subscription-based approach offers several advantages:

1. It allows for more efficient resource utilization. Older but still reliable hardware can continue serving appropriate workloads instead of being prematurely retired.
2. It provides more cost-effective options for customers whose primary concern is stability rather than maximum performance.
3. It simplifies lifecycle management by allowing to migrate workloads based on actual requirements rather than arbitrary generational boundaries.

This is a vision shift we’re seriously considering in the near future, as an opportunity to provide technical and cost-optimized offers more aligned with our customers needs and understanding.

Sovereignty in practice

As a European cloud provider committed to digital sovereignty, our hardware lifecycle management strategy extends beyond our data centers. We maintain strong relationships with European suppliers and carefully manage our supply chain to ensure we're not dependent on single sources or regions for critical components.

This approach to sovereignty influences every aspect of our hardware lifecycle management, from initial procurement to final decommissioning. When we plan hardware refreshes, we're not just thinking about technical specifications – we're considering the entire supply chain and its implications for our independence and reliability.

Looking forward

The future of cloud computing demands an increasingly sophisticated approach to hardware lifecycle management. As workloads become more complex and security requirements more stringent, the way we manage our physical infrastructure becomes even more critical.

At Scaleway, we're continuing to evolve our approach, finding new ways to balance performance requirements with sustainability goals. This isn't just about maintaining service quality – it's about building a more sustainable and sovereign cloud infrastructure for the future.