IBM announces 3 additions to the FlashSystem all-flash array portfolio-- the A9000, A9000R and DS8888, all promising a minimum latency of 250μs (microsecond) for the rapid access of data in cloud-based workloads.
Inside the arrays are MicroLatency modules, proprietary flash drives Big Blue says are superior to alternative technologies by being able to transfer data within the flash array via hardware instead of (slower) software.
The A9000 is a full-configured 8U system featuring 3 controllers designed for cloud, VDI and VMware workloads, while the A9000R is a racked grid-design system for mixed-use and cloud workloads. Both offer data reduction features such as pattern removal, deduplication and real-time compression, a REST API, multi-tenancy capabilities, noisy-neighbour removal capabilities and integration with Microsoft, VMware, OpenStack and IBM SoftLayer environments.
Meanwhile the all-flash DS8888 is a successor to the DS8000, and features the same data management services and mainframe affinity. Optimised for enterprise-class servers, it is ideal for customer databases and data-intensive applications.
“The drastic increase in volume, velocity and variety of information is requiring businesses to rethink their approach to addressing storage needs, and they need a solution that is as fast as it is easy, if they want to be ready for the Cognitive Era,” the company adds. “IBM’s flash portfolio enables businesses on their cognitive journey to derive greater value from more data in more varieties, whether on premises or in a hybrid cloud deployment.”