Nimbus Gemini Defines New Set of Standards for Flash Memory Arrays
Flash memory arrays almost always win the efficiency and performance battles when compared to hard disk drive storage arrays. It is for these reasons that comparisons between the two need to be redefined to reflect the distinctive features of each. Nimbus Data Systems Gemini breaks new ground with high availability, higher storage density, flash memory endurance and performance as well as new flexibility to configure storage networking ports. Combined these features illustrate how flash memory arrays should no longer be compared to hard disk drive storage arrays and instead be measured by a new set of standards.
Flash Memory vs HDD-based Arrays - Its Apples and Oranges
Comparing flash memory arrays to hard disk drive (HDD) based storage arrays is commonplace but as flash memory arrays establish themselves comparing the two becomes like comparing apples and oranges.
There are certainly similarities between the two in terms of how they deliver data availability and data protection. However it is their respective uses of flash and HDDs that require flash memory arrays diverge to accommodate the up to 20x improvements in read performance and up to 8x improvements in write performance that they offer over HDD-based arrays. To do this, flash memory arrays need to take specific steps to preserve the integrity and longevity of data residing on flash as well as facilitate its superior performance that HDD-based arrays do not need to take.
These factors make the head-to-head comparisons between flash memory and HDD-based arrays less relevant going forward. Instead flash memory arrays need to be evaluated by a new set of standards that are based on how well they optimize flash.
These types of hardware optimizations are evident in the Nimbus Data Systems Gemini flash memory array as they do more than improve its density and performance. They set a baseline for how flash memory array features should be measured going forward.
Defining Set of Features on Nimbus' Gemini
Like the prior Nimbus flash memory arrays the new Nimbus Gemini continues to exclusively use flash memory in its arrays. The difference is that in this newly designed Nimbus flash array takes significant steps to further optimize the density, endurance, longevity and performance.
Optimized Flash Memory Life with Flash Lifecycle Management Software
It is self-evident that an all flash memory array contains nothing but flash memory cells. What is easy to overlook is that all individual flash memory cells are NOT created equal.
Each individual multi-level cell (MLC) used in the Gemini have wear cycles that range anywhere from 3,000 to 8,000 erasure cycles. Since a flash memory array cannot risk that data on an MLC will be compromised or lost, it has to use the lowest common denominator (in this case 3,000 erase cycles) when managing these MLCs. So even if an MLC has potentially another 5,000 erase cycles left, it has to retire the MLC and mark it as unusable to prevent the possibility of data loss.
The Nimbus Flash Lifecycle Management software found on Nimbus' new Gemini flash array changes this approach. Instead of managing MLCs collectively it instead monitors and manages them individually. This way it can track which individual cells can handle more erasures and then write to those cells until they reach their individual MLC erasure threshold whether it is 3,000 or 8,000.
The other technique that the Nimbus Flash Lifecycle Management software uses to extend the life of individual MLCs is to do page aligned writes. Page aligned writes ensure that a write starts exactly at the beginning of a physical page on an MLC sector. This serves to both reduce the number of pages in an MLC sector that a write consumes and the need to later erase the contents of the cell and rewrite data.
The better management of MLCs in the Nimbus Gemini has a threefold effect.
The Nimbus Gemini Flash Memory array achieves almost a 5x improvement in storage density over its previous Nimbus arrays as 1PB of raw storage capacity now fits in a single rack. It accomplishes this while also increasing performance by over 50% from its previous arrays using the following techniques.
First, it uses Nimbus developed 2.5" 2TB enterprise flash drives (EFDs) in lieu of 400 GB drives to achieve the increase in storage capacity. Yet the risk that such an increase in capacity presents is that its internal architecture must accommodate this increase in performance.
Nimbus' parallel memory architecture takes care of this with a non-blocking design. Each 2 TB EFD has a dedicated 6 Gbps SAS connection so the Gemini may take full advantage of each EFD's storage capacity and performance. (All flash drives run at full line rate simultaneously.)
Further, every Nimbus Gemini includes a large NAND reserve (28% of its total raw storage capacity) which permits the continuous occurrence of garbage collection in the background. This ensures that the Gemini's 50% increase in performance remains consistent over its life with the continuous garbage collection keeping free flash pages always available.
These improvements in Gemini's density, endurance and performance contribute to making the Gemini a viable storage solution for much longer than the 3-5 years of HDD-based arrays. This longevity requires the Gemini to account for upgrades in the storage networking infrastructure to which it is attached and which will almost certainly occur during its life.
Flexibility in Configuring Storage Networking Ports
Nimbus' Gemini addresses this final concern with its new Nimbus developed Gemini System Controllers. The Gemini offers single or dual System Controllers that may be run in active-standby or active-active configurations and which facilitate non-disruptive software updates and capacity expansion
These play two specific roles when organizations go to manage storage networking ports. Rather than selecting ports that get used for the life of the array, these storage networking ports may be upgraded at any time to faster storage networking protocols or even alternative protocols without hardware changes.
Using the Gemini organizations are no longer bound to using a single protocol (Ethernet, FC or Infiniband) for the life of the array on a port. The Gemini System Controllers and its software facilitate a dynamic change between Infiniband and Ethernet or between FC and Ethernet without experiencing any hardware outage.
The flexibility that the Gemini offers in managing storage networking protocols also extends to upgrading the port to a newer, faster speed. This means that if an organization only needs 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet now but expects to upgrade the ports to 40 Gb Ethernet at some point in the future, it may again accomplish this using the Gemini System Controllers without any hardware outages.
Nimbus' New Gemini Defines New Hardware Standards for Flash Memory Arrays
Flash memory arrays and HDD-based arrays are diverging and as that occurs so is the set of standards by which these two classes of arrays are measured. The Nimbus Gemini provides insight into how the features on flash memory arrays need to evolve separately from their HDD-based counterparts.
By increasing the endurance of MLC, delivering higher levels of density, efficiency and performance and accommodating dynamic changes in the storage networking ports, Nimbus does more than demonstrate why flash memory arrays need to be measured by different standards than HDD-based arrays. It illustrates the set of standards by which all flash memory arrays should be measured and compared against going forward.
Flash Memory vs HDD-based Arrays - Its Apples and Oranges
Comparing flash memory arrays to hard disk drive (HDD) based storage arrays is commonplace but as flash memory arrays establish themselves comparing the two becomes like comparing apples and oranges.
There are certainly similarities between the two in terms of how they deliver data availability and data protection. However it is their respective uses of flash and HDDs that require flash memory arrays diverge to accommodate the up to 20x improvements in read performance and up to 8x improvements in write performance that they offer over HDD-based arrays. To do this, flash memory arrays need to take specific steps to preserve the integrity and longevity of data residing on flash as well as facilitate its superior performance that HDD-based arrays do not need to take.
These factors make the head-to-head comparisons between flash memory and HDD-based arrays less relevant going forward. Instead flash memory arrays need to be evaluated by a new set of standards that are based on how well they optimize flash.
These types of hardware optimizations are evident in the Nimbus Data Systems Gemini flash memory array as they do more than improve its density and performance. They set a baseline for how flash memory array features should be measured going forward.
Defining Set of Features on Nimbus' Gemini
Like the prior Nimbus flash memory arrays the new Nimbus Gemini continues to exclusively use flash memory in its arrays. The difference is that in this newly designed Nimbus flash array takes significant steps to further optimize the density, endurance, longevity and performance.
Optimized Flash Memory Life with Flash Lifecycle Management Software
It is self-evident that an all flash memory array contains nothing but flash memory cells. What is easy to overlook is that all individual flash memory cells are NOT created equal.
Each individual multi-level cell (MLC) used in the Gemini have wear cycles that range anywhere from 3,000 to 8,000 erasure cycles. Since a flash memory array cannot risk that data on an MLC will be compromised or lost, it has to use the lowest common denominator (in this case 3,000 erase cycles) when managing these MLCs. So even if an MLC has potentially another 5,000 erase cycles left, it has to retire the MLC and mark it as unusable to prevent the possibility of data loss.
The Nimbus Flash Lifecycle Management software found on Nimbus' new Gemini flash array changes this approach. Instead of managing MLCs collectively it instead monitors and manages them individually. This way it can track which individual cells can handle more erasures and then write to those cells until they reach their individual MLC erasure threshold whether it is 3,000 or 8,000.
The other technique that the Nimbus Flash Lifecycle Management software uses to extend the life of individual MLCs is to do page aligned writes. Page aligned writes ensure that a write starts exactly at the beginning of a physical page on an MLC sector. This serves to both reduce the number of pages in an MLC sector that a write consumes and the need to later erase the contents of the cell and rewrite data.
The better management of MLCs in the Nimbus Gemini has a threefold effect.
- Extends the life of MLCs from just a few years to as many as 10 years.
- Can better forecast how much life is left in each MLC so organizations may better predict Gemini's Enterprise Flash Drive life
- Gemini performance is more consistent since all MLCs wear evenly
The Nimbus Gemini Flash Memory array achieves almost a 5x improvement in storage density over its previous Nimbus arrays as 1PB of raw storage capacity now fits in a single rack. It accomplishes this while also increasing performance by over 50% from its previous arrays using the following techniques.
First, it uses Nimbus developed 2.5" 2TB enterprise flash drives (EFDs) in lieu of 400 GB drives to achieve the increase in storage capacity. Yet the risk that such an increase in capacity presents is that its internal architecture must accommodate this increase in performance.
Nimbus' parallel memory architecture takes care of this with a non-blocking design. Each 2 TB EFD has a dedicated 6 Gbps SAS connection so the Gemini may take full advantage of each EFD's storage capacity and performance. (All flash drives run at full line rate simultaneously.)
Further, every Nimbus Gemini includes a large NAND reserve (28% of its total raw storage capacity) which permits the continuous occurrence of garbage collection in the background. This ensures that the Gemini's 50% increase in performance remains consistent over its life with the continuous garbage collection keeping free flash pages always available.
These improvements in Gemini's density, endurance and performance contribute to making the Gemini a viable storage solution for much longer than the 3-5 years of HDD-based arrays. This longevity requires the Gemini to account for upgrades in the storage networking infrastructure to which it is attached and which will almost certainly occur during its life.
Flexibility in Configuring Storage Networking Ports
Nimbus' Gemini addresses this final concern with its new Nimbus developed Gemini System Controllers. The Gemini offers single or dual System Controllers that may be run in active-standby or active-active configurations and which facilitate non-disruptive software updates and capacity expansion
These play two specific roles when organizations go to manage storage networking ports. Rather than selecting ports that get used for the life of the array, these storage networking ports may be upgraded at any time to faster storage networking protocols or even alternative protocols without hardware changes.
Using the Gemini organizations are no longer bound to using a single protocol (Ethernet, FC or Infiniband) for the life of the array on a port. The Gemini System Controllers and its software facilitate a dynamic change between Infiniband and Ethernet or between FC and Ethernet without experiencing any hardware outage.
The flexibility that the Gemini offers in managing storage networking protocols also extends to upgrading the port to a newer, faster speed. This means that if an organization only needs 1Gb or 10Gb Ethernet now but expects to upgrade the ports to 40 Gb Ethernet at some point in the future, it may again accomplish this using the Gemini System Controllers without any hardware outages.
Nimbus' New Gemini Defines New Hardware Standards for Flash Memory Arrays
Flash memory arrays and HDD-based arrays are diverging and as that occurs so is the set of standards by which these two classes of arrays are measured. The Nimbus Gemini provides insight into how the features on flash memory arrays need to evolve separately from their HDD-based counterparts.
By increasing the endurance of MLC, delivering higher levels of density, efficiency and performance and accommodating dynamic changes in the storage networking ports, Nimbus does more than demonstrate why flash memory arrays need to be measured by different standards than HDD-based arrays. It illustrates the set of standards by which all flash memory arrays should be measured and compared against going forward.
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