All-flash storage array vendor Pure Storage announces FlashBlade-- a rack-scale storage architecture designed for multi-protocol access to unstructured data.
FlashBlade combines high-performance all-flash storage with software handling cloud-scalable unstructured data platforms. It scales to up to 1.6 Petabytes in a 4U form factor with 10Gbps performance, and customers can choose between either 8 or 52TB blades, mixing and matching in the same chassis.
On the software side the system runs on Elasticity, a scalable OS featuring services such as data reduction, encryption and N+2 erasure coding, and scale-out protocol services such as NFS (file) and S3 (object), as well as low-level flash management and LDPC error correction. All layers across Elasticity share a common extensible metadata engine and garbage collection, increasing global system efficiency.
Built into FlashBlade is Elastic Fabric, a software-defined low-latency 40Gbps ethernet network combining blade-to-blade chassis interconnect and client connectivity in one network.
Also launched by the company is the FlashArray//m10-- an entry-level flash storage array available in either 5 or 10TB raw capacity configurations. The array includes all software and supports the Evergreen Storage model. Customers can buy the FlashArray//m10 as part of the FlashStack Mini, a converged infrastructure combining Cisco UCS servers and networking and Microsoft or VMware virtualisation software within a form factor occupying 9 rack units.
FlashBlade is currently available as part of an Early Access program for select customers, before launch on H2 2016.