IBM announces all non-mainframe storage array offerings-- be it entry-level, mid-range or high-end-- now fall under the FlashSystem product line, reducing complexity and helping customers better control costs.
The FlashSystem line aims to address the storage requirements of organisations ranging from startups to large-scale enterprises. Nearly all products are based on NVMe flash, with only the lowest-end entry-level arrays using SAS-connected flash, and all run on Spectrum Virtualise. The platform features storage virtualisation capability the company claims can pool storage from over 500 products from other vendors, with the same software, API and management covering on-premises to hybrid multicloud deployments spanning bare metal, virtualised container and hybrid cloud environments.
In addition, Big Blue says FlashSystem hardware offers more IOPS for a lower prices compared to previous generation products, while Flash Core and Storage Class Memory technologies provide enterprise-class services including advanced cyber resiliency, AI-driven management, data placement and support, transparent migration and existing storage hardware virtualisation. Systems also support Red Hat Ansible automation, and an upcoming update for Red Hat OpenShift and Kubernetes will provide full backup, restore and reuse functionality for container environments.
Currently the range consists of the high-end FlashSystem 9200, the fully assembled FlashSystem 9200R, the mid-range FlashSystem 7200 and the entry level FlashSystem 5010, 5030 and 5100. As mentioned earlier, the products carry Intel Optane NVMe SSDs with 375 and 750GB capacity and Samsung Z-SSDs with 800GB and 1.6TB capacity. Customers can also mix IBM GCMs or NVMe flash in the system.
“IBM’s FlashSystem announcement is a transformational change for the storage market,” the company says. “By combining multiple award-winning solutions into one family, IBM is not only protecting existing customers’ investments, they are also providing strong innovation into the future. FlashSystem creates a highly scalable, incredibly adaptable, flexible and seamless solution from entry level to high end, extending to our clients’ hybrid multicloud environments. And since it is predominantly a channel-based family, it is extremely well suited to the partner environment.”