SanDisk made a simple but potentially significant claim April 11: After it updated its frontline all-flash storage system with 1G-bps SAS connectivity to produce 2 million input-output operations per second (IOPS), it determined that it is now twice as fast as it was previously.
Let’s put this into a different perspective: If we all doubled the speed of our performances, how much faster and more efficient would our world be? Suffice to say that if its claim is true, then SanDisk is making the data storage world a faster and more efficient place to process large loads of data.
SanDisk’s InfiniFlash IF150 system is the latest addition to the Milpitas, Calif.-based solid-state storage company’s product line, aimed squarely at big data and hyperscale workloads. The upgraded connectivity enables use cases that were previously unattainable, including high-performance computing (HPC), big data analytics, media services and other high-capacity, extreme performance-demanding applications.
SanDisk said the IF150 system is suited for both the scale-out and scale-up environments required by new-gen enterprise, cloud and hyperscale data centers because it solves scalability and availability problems. As an integrated hardware, software and open-source system, it offers up to half a petabyte (512 terabytes) of flash storage in one three-rack-unit (3U) system. It can directly connect up to eight off-the-shelf-servers.
Massive Capacity in Building-Block Modules
Like all of SanDisk’s InfiniFlash systems, the company said, the IF150 offers massive all-flash storage capacity at about $1 per GB for raw flash; compression and deduplication capability in storage software, available separately from SanDisk Infiniflash ecosystem partners, can further reduce the effective price per GB.
“While all-flash arrays continue to exhibit strong double-digit growth, the cost of these solutions is undergoing an increasingly downward trend,” said IDC Research Director Eric Burgener. “As these flash alternatives reach price parity with HDD-based [hard-disk-drive-based] systems, we are starting to see more data center customers able to consider them for their storage requirements.”
This pricing dip is happening largely because of two factors: a) production of silicon flash media is up; and b) so much competition in the flash storage sector from companies such as NetApp SolidFire, Pure Storage, HPE, EMC, Kaminario, Tegile, Nimble, Violin Memory, Cloudian and several others.
IF150 features and specifications, according to the company, include the following:
—Performance: Features an enhanced 12G-bps SAS interface, which can produce up to 2 million IOPS, providing new levels of speed and performance in read/write-intensive environments.
—Economics and reduced OPEX: Offers up to an 80 percent reduction in total cost of ownership (TCO) advantage over HDD-based systems. Because there are no moving parts to break down, it is generally believed inside the industry that all-flash arrays are 10X more reliable than HDD-based arrays, greatly reducing maintenance and FRU expenses.
—Low-power consumption: The IF150’s 450-watt average power consumption is among the best of any high-capacity flash storage system in the industry and can significantly reduce data center operating expenses.
—Downsized data center footprint: The IF150 offers high-density–512TB in 3U–saving costly rack space in the data center and making more efficient use of available power and floor space.
In addition to the introduction of IF150, SanDisk is now expanding customer support for InfiniFlash systems with the addition of two new options: FlashStart, a professional service for all InfiniFlash storage systems and SanDisk ION Accelerator customers that ensures that all hardware and software is optimally installed and configured; and FlashAssure, a customer support service, including warranty coverage, selectable service level agreement (SLA) options and on-site field technicians.