Hyper-scale deployments, common in cloud environments, can have hundreds of rack-mounted servers running content-based applications, such as media streaming, video on demand or web services. These mostly read-intensive workloads require the strong storage performance of server-side flash, but hyper-scale infrastructures can also have tight cost restrictions so many cloud data centers have turned to consumer-grade SATA SSDs.
Unfortunately, these “client drives” don’t have the high-read reliability or endurance that hyper-scale environments need. But traditional enterprise-level SSDs are too expensive, and have more write performance than they need. If client drives are overmatched for these hyper-scale workloads then true enterprise SSDs are overkill for this use case. What’s needed is a high-performance SATA SSD with endurance and reliability similar to enterprise drives at a price point closer to client drives. This is the environment that OCZ’s new Saber 1000 line of SSDs was designed for.
Saber 1000 SSDs
These cloud data centers create workloads that are fairly predictable and mostly read-intensive, not the mixed read/write workloads that are more common in compute-intensive environments like server virtualization or big data. The Saber 1000 SSDs are designed specifically for these kinds of high volume deployments, with read performance up to 95K IOPS (enough to saturate the SATA III bus) but with the wear-leveling and over-provisioning required to maintain consistent performance over a longer life.
The Saber 1000 series is also designed for a lower TCO, from its 7% over-provisioning model (about one-third of what the typical enterprise SSD allocates) to its thinner form-factor. As a product from OCZ, a division of Toshiba, Saber 1000 customers can enjoy real enterprise support as well, from a vertically integrated, global technology leader.
When a true enterprise-class SSD is required, for servers running critical applications or unpredictable workloads, customers can use OCZs Intrepid line. These drives feature full write protection and a design that provides enterprise-level performance and reliability in a high-read or high-write environment. This SSD decision can be made on a server-by-server basis enabling companies to run a mix of Saber 1000 and Intrepid SSDs in the same data center, since both drives can be managed by the same Storage Peak Central flash management software.
StorageSwiss Take
There’s a gap in the current drive form-factor products available to companies in the hyper-scale market. These cloud data centers need a high-performance SSD solution that can still meet stringent cost targets, and deliver the reliability and endurance they’re accustomed to. OCZ’s new Saber 1000 line of SATA SSDs appears to do just that.
Click Here To Sign Up For Our Newsletter
Eric is an Analyst with Storage Switzerland and has over 25 years experience in high-technology industries. He’s held technical, management and marketing positions in the computer storage, instrumentation, digital imaging and test equipment fields. He has spent the past 15 years in the data storage field, with storage hardware manufacturers and as a national storage integrator, designing and implementing open systems storage solutions for companies in the Western United States. Eric earned degrees in electrical/computer engineering from the University of Colorado and marketing from California State University, Humboldt. He and his wife live in Colorado and have twins in college.
StorageSwiss.com - The Home of Storage Switzerland 