Use flash memory to optimize IT infrastructure

HDS has recently upgraded its cloud infrastructure solutions, including the HUS VM all-flash array, the HUS and HNAS platforms, and the enhanced UCP (Converged Infrastructure). According to Chen Ge, director of HDS China’s solution and professional services division, HDS has comprehensively improved the performance and efficiency of its infrastructure cloud platform from the perspective of virtualization, unification, convergence and automation.

Develop your own flash memory module

Previously, SSDs (Solid State Drives) were also used in HDS storage systems. However, those SSDs were commercialized by third-party flash memory vendors. They could not fully meet enterprise-level application requirements in terms of continuous performance, bad disk rates, etc. . Therefore, Hitachi Accelerated Flash Storage (HAFS) was developed by HDS in its HUS VM all-flash array.

Chen Ge said that the main differences between HDS's own developed HAFS and commercialized SSDs are as follows: First, the continuous performance of HAFS is five times that of ordinary SSDs; Second, the unit capacity and storage density of HAFS are SSDs. The third, the average life of the SSD is 3 years, and the average service life of the HAFS is 5 years, which is also the replacement cycle of the usual IT equipment; Fourth, the unit cost of the HAFS is also lower than the SSD. The reason why HAFS outperforms ordinary SSDs in terms of performance, longevity, etc., is that HDS adopts many innovative technologies. For example, HAFS uses a flash memory control chip developed by HDS, and a flash module includes 128 MLC flash memory chips. Ensure that flash memory has continuous high performance. For another example, HAFS adopts a series of technologies that can effectively extend the life of flash memory. On-line data compression technology can reduce the amount of data written by 94%. Data integrity assurance technology and flash cell life management technology can effectively extend the life of flash memory.

"The HUS VM All Flash Array is a flash memory designed specifically for enterprise applications with higher performance and reliability and lower cost," concluded Chen Ge. The uniqueness of the HUS VM all-flash array is not only reflected in the use of HDS' own flash acceleration module, but also because it is an overall framework optimized for flash memory applications, including HDS proprietary flash acceleration modules, HUS VM operating system, next-generation file modules, and flash acceleration software.

While releasing the HUS VM all-flash array, HDS also announced the roadmap for the development of flash memory products. In the future, HDS will continue to improve its flash memory storage controllers on the one hand, and on the other hand, it will focus on applications and integrate server-side flash memory with storage-side flash memory. "The flash memory solutions we have introduced have been able to take full advantage of SSDs and protect users' existing investments," said Chen Ge. "In the future, it is also possible that the entire storage architecture will be newly designed for flash memory."

Build an efficient infrastructure

Among the HDS infrastructure cloud platforms, HUS, HNAS, and UCP are three important pillars. In this product update, the biggest change in HUS and HNAS is a two-fold increase in performance, and it can save 90% of storage space, the overall cost of ownership can be reduced by about 30%; UCP ratio improvement of the representative of the converged infrastructure solutions There have also been twice as many performance improvements and a 30% reduction in overall cost of ownership. Chen Ge said: “The era of high capital purchases has already ended. Today's customers focus on business transformation, but also need to improve business processes and simplify IT. Our cloud infrastructure solutions can meet the needs of users, for the enterprise. Private cloud and big data applications build a flexible, solid foundation.”