Today’s FLASH.NEXT live webcast introduced the “EMC Xtrem Family” or EMCs Xtrem Team, the family re-confirms EMCs Flash everywhere strategy as a single product family, bringing together Flash technologies from server to all Flash arrays.
So, what’s in the Xtrem Family? The Xtrem Family includes: XtremSF, XtremSW Cache and XtremIO. Of course, XtremIO (Previously Project-X) is a full feature storage array, built from the ground up with Flash in mind. Storagezilla reviewd the details “XtremIO: XIOS 1.0 (Now shipping). Much more on XtremIO to come!
The bigger story today! XtremSF & XtremSW Cache!
XtremSF expands EMCs server side PCIe Flash portfolio to include both SLC (single-level cell) and eMLC (enterprise multi-level cell) technologies. With capacities ranging from 350GB to 2.2TB, EMC offers the best performance, density and TCO in the half-height, half length PCIe form factor. XtremSF can be used as local storage or as a caching device in conjunction with EMC XtremSW Cache, host based Flash caching software. So… What used to be EMC VFCache (Combination SLC PCIe hardware and caching software) has been separated into XtremSF (Hardware) and XtremSW Cache (Software). XtremSF hardware is available in both SLC (350GB and 700GB) and eMLC (550GB and 2.2TB) capacities, all half height half length. XtremSF can be deployed as local capacity and/or deployed with EMC XtremSW Cache. Need high performance local capacity for temporary datasets like: Analytics/Reporting, Data Modeling, Database indexes or temp Space? We have you covered. Prefer a caching solution? Add EMC XtremSW Cache to the mix. XtremSW Cahce will support both the SLC and MLC PCIe cards.
The story within the story; It has been incredible for me to watch the evolution of Flash technologies. Since EMC first introduced Flash in the form of SSD in 2008, followed bybeen separated into XtremSF (Hardware) and XtremSW Cache (Software). XtremSF hardware is available in both SLC (350GB and 700GB) and eMLC (550GB and 2.2TB) capacities, all half height half length. XtremSF can be deployed as local capacity and/or deployed with EMC XtremSW Cache. Need high performance local capacity for temporary datasets like: Analytics/Reporting, Data Modeling, Database indexes or temp Space? We have you covered. Prefer a caching solution? Add EMC XtremSW Cache to the mix. XtremSW Cahce will support both the SLC and MLC PCIe cards.
PCIe Flash in early 2012, one thing is clear. Flash Hardware will continue to evolve. While the XtremSF “drag race” showed that EMC is twice the performance of the competition, we all know hardware will evolve. It’s the standard technology evolution; SLC to MLC to eMLC to T.N.T. (The Next Thing – after all, it’s dynamite and will change everything!)
How do you exploit the capabilities of the latest hardware? Software! EMC has traditionally been viewed as a hardware company, but in reality, it’s the software that enabled the original integrated cache disk array, Symmetrix 1.0 (released 1990, at whopping 24GB of capacity). Adding Flash technology to existing EMC Storage arrays in 2008 was only half the story. The introduction of FAST (Fully Automated Storage Tiring), the software, was the enabler. That software foundation continues today. EMC XtremSW Cache provides the software necessary for enabling the Flash hardware in the data center. By separating the hardware and software the road has been cleared for running EMC XtremSW Cache software regardless of the physical hardware. Have SLC PCIe Flash, sure you can run EMC XtremSW Cache. Have MLC, or TNT (The Next Thing), not a problem. The software is designed to leverage the best capabilities of EMC.
EMC XtremSW Cache introduced cache deduplicaiton with version 1.5, easy, we were able to borrow intellectually propriety from the EMC patent wall… others need to make it. The EMC XtremSW
introduces the first piece of a suite of software products, all designed to enable the latest in Flash hardware, keeping application high availability and performance front and center.
The real value is in the software, and the future is bright with features others haven’t even thought of yet… stay tuned to insideflash.emc.com for the latest feature demonstrations and product releases.
See you at EMCWorld… sam.marraccini@emc.com
XtremSF Data Sheet :
Download H11411-xtremsf-ds
XtremSW Cache Data Sheet :
Download H9581-xtremswcache-ds
